Iowa State’s new staff has been racing to catch up on the recruiting front, and this weekend’s Cy-Hawk game could give the Cyclones another chance to leave a mark.
Jimmy Rogers and his staff inherited a tough situation after Matt Campbell departed. Iowa State had built one of the strongest classes in program history, only to watch most of those players decommit. Rogers has worked to steady the Class of 2026, and he’s also moved quickly to keep the future classes on track.
That effort is already showing in the Class of 2027. Iowa State’s group sits at No. 43 nationally with 24 hard commits, according to 247Sports, and the class is led by running back Isaiah Hansen and offensive lineman Will Slagle.
The next wave is still coming together, but the Cyclones have already brought in several Class of 2028 prospects for visits. One of them is three-star defensive lineman Hunter Mosolino, who will be in Iowa City this weekend for the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Cy-Hawk Rivalry Game.
That gives Iowa State a shot to make an impression on the Prairie Ridge High School product while he’s on the other side of the rivalry. The in-state matchup arrives in Week 2, and Mosolino’s visit adds another recruiting wrinkle to the day.
Mosolino is listed at 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds and checks in as a top-500 national prospect. He’s ranked No. 419 overall with an 88 composite, making him the No. 43 defensive lineman in the Class of 2028 and a top-20 player in Illinois.
So far, Iowa State and Iowa are two of the six schools that have offered him. The full group is made up entirely of Power Four programs, with Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin and Northwestern also in the mix.
Another target for Rogers and his staff will also be in attendance this week. Quarterback Chase Grove, a North Central product from Indianapolis, is visiting Iowa as well.
Grove is viewed as one of the better players in Indiana, though 247Sports has not yet ranked him. He already holds 12 offers, including seven from Power Four programs, along with one from Notre Dame.
For Iowa State, the recruiting angle is a small but real bonus heading into a tough trip to Kinnick Stadium. Having prospects like Mosolino and Grove on hand only adds to the importance of what the Cyclones do on the field this weekend.
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Iowa Just Landed An Early Recruiting Chance Fans Should Notice
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Kellys appeal is easy to see from an Iowa perspective. He brings shooting, playmaking, size and rebounding to the table, which makes him a fit for a modern frontcourt wing spot, even if evaluators still have questions about his quickness. With multiple Big Ten and Big East programs in the mix, this visit gives Iowa a chance to make an impression early and start shaping what could become a meaningful recruitment down the line. [Read more 🡒]
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What may matter most in the rivalry matchup is how much help Raynor gets around him. The article points to Iowa States running game as a key piece in making his passing life easier, especially if the Cyclones want to stay on schedule and keep the Hawkeyes from putting him in obvious passing situations. Raynor showed he can make plays with his legs and hit some bigger throws, but Iowa is a different test, and it may require a much more complete offensive day than fans were hoping to see this early. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Just Unveiled A Defensive Tweak That Could Matter Later
Against Northern Illinois, Iowa rolled out a third-down look that quietly stood out: three linebackers, five defensive backs and just three defensive linemen. The package showed up only in those obvious passing situations, and it paid off quickly with two sacks in four plays, a reminder that the Hawkeyes are still willing to tinker when the matchup calls for it.
Kirk Ferentz described it as a tactical adjustment tied to the personnel on hand, a way to add versatility while getting more linebackers on the field and easing some of the burden on a less experienced defensive line. It was just one wrinkle in an early-season game, but for a defense that has built its identity on being difficult to solve, it could become a useful option as the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]