Iowa State Announces 2023 Recruiting Class

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell announced the addition of 21 early signees from the high school ranks, as well as two four-year transfer student-athletes and 13 preferred walk-ons during the 2023 early signing period on Wednesday.

The high school class ranks 34th nationally according to Rivals, the second-highest ranking ever by the outlet, and features 10 offensive players and 11 defensive players joining Iowa State from 10 different states.

"We are very excited about this outstanding group of young men that will be joining our program," Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said. "This class is excited about joining this University and is a group that we believe will impact our program positively in many ways over the course of the next five years. It is important to our program to recruit high-character young men that take great pride in their academics and in playing the game of football. This class embraces our values and we look forward to the future with them."

With a priority on recruiting players that come from winning programs, Campbell and his staff signed eight players that have competed in state championship games and another six that reached the quarterfinals in their high school careers.

The class features seven signees from the State of Iowa, including four-star quarterback and Cyclone legacy JJ Kohl. The Ankeny, Iowa, native, is the second-highest ranked recruit in the internet rankings era according to 247sports.com. Kohl, whose father Jamie was a kicker for the Cyclones in the 90s, is the ninth-ranked quarterback in Rivals rankings after passing for 42 touchdowns the last two seasons at Ankeny High School.

Kohl's senior year teammate Jamison Patton, a three-star safety and a top-50 athlete nationally by Rivals, is the highest-rated defensive player in the class.

Another Iowan, Southeast Polk's Abu Sama III was the Des Moines Register's All-Iowa Player of the Year after helping the Rams to their second consecutive Class 5A title. Sama was the talk of the state after breaking the title game record with 372 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He rushed for 1,408 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior.

The Cyclones added two four-year college transfers in this class. Former four-star running back Arlen Harris Jr. (Stanford), who joins the Cyclones as a redshirt freshman transfer, and redshirt sophomore linebacker Zach Lovett (Missouri).

The spring Signing Day will be February 1.

Incoming Scholarship Student-Athletes
Name   Pos.   Ht.   Wt.   Yr.   Hometown (School)
Brendan Black   OL   6-4   310   Fr.   Yulee, Fla. (The Bolles School)
   A top-100 interior offensive lineman by ESPN and On3; three-star by all major recruiting outlets.
Kai Black*   WR   6-3   215   Fr.   Urbandale, Iowa (Urbandale HS)
   Three-star receiver; top WR in Iowa by 247Sports Composite; two-time Class 5A all-state.
Benjamin Brahmer   TE   6-6   215   Fr.   Pierce, Neb. (Pierce HS)
   Listed as No. 3 player in Nebraska and the No. 22 TE nationally by Rivals; had 11 receptions for 249 yards in state championship game.
Trevor Buhr   OL   6-4   260   Fr.   Washington, Mo. (Washington HS)
   Three-star OL prospect and top-100 OL by ESPN and On3; MOFBCA 5A First Team All-State.
David Caulker   DE   6-4   250   Fr.   Des Moines, Iowa (Des Moines North HS)
   Top-100 edge rusher, three-star prospect and the No. 6 player in Iowa by 247Sports Composite; had 34 tackles, 23 for a loss, as senior.
Anthony Cunningham*   DE   6-4   270   Fr.   Belleville, Ill. (Belleville East HS)
   Three-star defensive lineman and No. 33 player in Illinois by 247Sports Composite; 2022 Post-Dispatch Top 30 player in St. Louis.
Norris Davis Jr.   S   6-2   180   Fr.   Tampa, Fla. (Tampa Bay Tech HS)
   Ranked as the No. 58 safety in the nation by ESPN; 2022 All-Western Conference selection; helped team go 23-4 final two seasons.
Kooper Ebel   LB   6-3   215   Fr.   Hartley, Iowa (Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn HS)
   Three-star recruit; Des Moines Register All-Iowa Elite Team member; two-time IPSWAA All-State.
Carson Hansen   RB   6-1   200   Fr.   Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville South HS)
   Minnesota AP Player of the Year; Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year; 4,555 rushing yards and 57 rushing touchdowns in his career.
Zaimir Hawk   DL   6-2   295   Fr.   Hillside, N.J. (Hillside HS)
   2022 Patriot Silver First Team selection; Rivals two-star recruit; team went 9-2 and advanced to state quarterfinals.
Ta'Shawn James   S   6-2   185   Fr.   Oklahoma City, Okla. (Carl Albert HS)
   Three-star safety by all major recruiting outlets; top-100 safety by ESPN; 2022 Oklahoman Super 30 selection.
JJ Jean-Louis*   LB   6-2   220   Fr.   Centerville, Ohio (Centerville HS)
   Three-star linebacker; No. 32 ranked recruit in Ohio; OHSAA Division I First Team All-State.
JJ Kohl*   QB   6-7   235   Fr.   Ankeny, Iowa (Ankeny HS)
   Consensus four-star recruit; ranked as a top-10 QB by ESPN (8) and Rivals (9); 2023 Under Armour All-American game participant.
Beni Ngoyi*   WR   6-4   195   Fr.   Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln HS)
   Three-star wide receiver; No. 7 player in Nebraska; top-125 wide receiver by 247Sports composite.
Michael Parkes   WR   6-1   185   Fr.   Palm Bay, Fla. (Bayside HS)
   Four-star wide receiver and No. 35 at the position by ESPN; 2022 Brevard County South All-Star.
Jamison Patton   S   6-2   195   Fr.   Des Moines, Iowa (Ankeny HS)
   Three-star by all major recruiting outlets; tabbed as the No. 45 athlete nationally; Des Moines Register All-Iowa Elite Team
Carson Rhodes   ATH   6-7   245   Fr.   Nevada, Iowa (Nevada HS)
   Missed senior season due to injury; three-star tight end; 2021 IPSWA Third-Team All-State.
Jack Sadowsky*   LB   6-2   232   Fr.   Batavia, Ill. (Batavia HS)
   Three-star linebacker and No. 28 player in Illinois by 247Sports Composite; Two-time all-conference selection.
Abu Sama III   RB   5-11   185   Fr.   Des Moines, Iowa (Southeast Polk HS)
   Three-star athlete; DMR Player of the Year; 2022 US Army Bowl participant; 372 rushing yards and six TDs in state title game.
Samuel Samé*   DE   6-5   210   Fr.   Wichita, Kan. (Derby HS)
   Four-star recruit and No. 24 edge rusher by On3; named to 247Sports Class of 2023 Biggest Freaks List.
Cam Smith*   S   5-11   200   Fr.   Austintown, Ohio (Fitch HS)
   Three-star athlete and No. 35 player in Ohio by 247Sports Composite; 2022 All-American Conference Co-Defensive Player of Year.

Signed Financial Aid Agreement To Attend ISU As A Transfer
Name   Pos.   Ht.   Wt.   Yr.   Hometown (School)
Arlen Harris Jr.*   RB   5-11   195   RFr.   Wentzville, Mo. (Lutheran St. Charles HS/Stanford)
   Former four-star recruit; redshirted last season at Stanford after playing in one game.
Zach Lovett*   LB   6-2   230   RSo.   Melbourne, Fla. (Rockledge HS/Missouri)
   Former three-star recruit; played largely on special teams at Missouri.

*Mid-Year Enrollee

Signed Letter Of Admission To Attend ISU As A Preferred Walk-On
Name   Pos.   Ht.   Wt.   Yr.   Hometown (School)
Wyatt Archer   S   5-10   180   Fr.   Omaha, Neb. (Skutt Catholic HS)
   2022 All-Nebraska Football Team selection; helped team reach state quarterfinals.
Rylan Barnes   LB   6-3   200   Fr.   Britt, Iowa (West Hancock HS)
   2022 IPSWA Class A First-Team All-State; District Defensive Player of the Year; 80.5 tackles, 14 TFL, 3 FR, 2 INT as a senior.
Vince Benetti   ATH   6-5   220   Fr.   Adel, Iowa (ADM HS)
   2022 IPSWA Class 3A First-Team All-State; 80.5 tackles, including 25.5 for a loss and 12 sacks.
Tucker Clark   ATH   6-6   225   Fr.   Center Point, Iowa (Center Point-Urbana HS)
   Had 20 receptions for 220 yards and two touchdowns as a senior; 34.5 tackles, including seven for a loss and three sacks.
Kade Gilbertson   LB   6-1   205   Fr.   Rosemount, Minn. (Rosemount HS)
   2022 Minnesota AP All-State pick; Metro South Defensive Player of the Year; Minnesota Mr. Football Finalist.
Aidan Gilmore   OL   6-5   275   Fr. Dallas, Texas (Parish Episcopal HS)
   2022 All-District selection; led offensive line that rushed for 147.6 yards per game and 27 rushing touchdowns.
Jacob Lyftogt   LS   5-11   216   Fr.   Waunakee, Wis. (Waunakee HS)
   51st-ranked long snapper in the nation according to Kohl's rankings.
Ryan Millmore   P   6-3   235   Fr.   Normal, Ill. (Normal HS)
   2022 All-Matson selection; No. 32 punter nationally according to Kohl's rankings.
AJ Petersen   ATH   6-1   210   Fr.   Long Grove, Iowa (North Scott HS)
   Cyclone legacy; 2022 IPSWA Class 4A First-Team All-State; 45.5 tackles, including 11 for a loss.
Dillon Ranck   WR   6-3   185   Fr.   Norwalk, Iowa (Norwalk HS)
   2022 IPSWA Class 4A First-Team All-State; 54 receptions for 903 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Nick Reinicke   LB   6-4   220   Fr.   Midlothian, Iowa (Dike-New Hartford HS)
   2022 IPSWA Class 1A First-Team All-State; 106 tackles, 13 for a loss and two sacks.
Jonathan Vande Walle   WR   6-0   170   Fr.   Sun Prairie, Wis. (Sun Prairie East HS)
   2022 WFCA First-Team All-State; Career: 75 receptions, 1,354 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Tripp Walsh   TE   6-5   215   Fr.   Arrowhead, Wis. (Arrowhead HS)
   2022 Classic 8 First-Team All-Conference; 25 receptions, 443 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior.

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