Iowa State’s quarterback room enters 2026 with more questions than answers, and that makes it the most fascinating spot on the roster heading into training camp on August 5.
The Cyclones are set to spend the coming weeks sorting through a group that includes a fresh transfer addition, a former Big 12 quarterback looking for a reset, and a young passer trying to climb back up the depth chart. At the center of it all is the same reality every program lives with: if the quarterback position is right, everything else gets easier.
The biggest name in the mix is Jaylen Raynor, who arrived at Iowa State from Arkansas State after the 2025 season. Raynor brings three years of starting experience and a productive run in the Sun Belt, and now the challenge is clear - taking that game to the Power Conference level under a new coaching staff. There is at least one built-in advantage for him, though: he already knows Iowa State quarterbacks coach Keith Heckendorf.
Another option is Zane Flores, the Oklahoma State transfer who appeared in nine games last season for the Cowboys. His 2025 numbers left room for growth, with more interceptions than touchdowns, and the question now is whether his third college season can bring a real step forward.
Then there’s Moberly, who was Iowa State’s QB2 during the historic 2024 season. But the depth chart shifted in 2025, when true freshman Alex Manske moved ahead of him before later transferring to Penn State. That leaves Moberly back in the mix as the Cyclones sort out who can settle the position.
For Iowa State, quarterback is where the entire 2026 conversation starts. And with camp approaching, it’s the spot that could shape everything that follows.
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Iowa State Commit May Have Just Answered A Major Shooting Question
Jack Kohnen gave Iowa State fans another reason to keep an eye on his development at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam, where the Cyclones commit turned in a big scoring night for Team Herro. In a key game that mattered for tournament advancement, Kohnen showed the kind of perimeter touch that made him such an appealing pledge in the first place, pairing a high-volume scoring effort with enough all-around production to stay involved when the game tightened up.
The shooting line was the real eye-opener. Kohnen hit 12 of 15 shots overall and knocked down five threes, the sort of efficiency that can change how a prospect is viewed in a hurry, especially for a program that values spacing and shot-making. For Iowa State, it was the latest reminder that his offensive game may already be closer to ready than the average incoming commit, even if the bigger question is how that touch translates once he gets to Ames. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa States Frontcourt Reload May Hinge On One Crucial Newcomer
Tre Singleton arrives in Ames with the kind of rsum that makes him hard to ignore, and Iowa State needs him to settle in quickly. The Northwestern transfer is expected to help absorb the frontcourt minutes left behind by departing pieces, and his blend of physicality and defensive versatility gives the Cyclones a different look inside as they reshape the rotation.
The adjustment now is less about talent than fit, which is where the offseason work comes in. Singleton has been spending time with assistants Erik Crawford and Nate Schmidt as he learns the right spots on the floor and tries to round out his game, including a jump shot that could raise his ceiling if it comes along the way Iowa State hopes. [Read more 🡒]