Iowa State’s linebacker room is one of the more intriguing parts of the 2026 puzzle, and it comes with plenty of fresh faces, a few familiar ones, and a lot to sort out before training camp opens on August 5.
The biggest question starts with the holdovers. Iowa State didn’t keep much of its roster after the coaching change, but Carson Willich, Rylan Barnes and Bea Goodwin all made it back to Ames. Whether any of them can climb near the top of the depth chart is one of the main things to watch as the Cyclones get set for camp.
There’s also a potential centerpiece already in place. Sullivan Schlimgen is only heading into his second season of college football in 2026, but he already has starting experience from 2025 at Washington State. The question now is whether he can turn that into a bigger role and become a standout in the middle of Jesse Bobbit’s defense.
Then there’s the transfer group, which gives this room a very different look. Tristan Exline, Willie Breland and Montreze Smith Jr. are all stepping up to the Power Conference level. Exline arrives after being a former Division II superstar, Breland brings the kind of athleticism that made him a capable FBS prospect after starting as a JUCO player, and Smith is looking for stability after playing at three different schools already.
That mix of returning Cyclones, a proven starter from another program and a trio of transfers gives Iowa State plenty of options at linebacker. The challenge now is figuring out which of them can turn opportunity into production once camp begins.
In Other News...
Xzavion Mitchell Still Has A Chance To Matter For Iowa State
Xzavion Mitchells Iowa State season started in the kind of role that often goes unnoticed unless a game gets out of hand. He was used sparingly in the early part of the 2025-26 campaign, mostly in late-game minutes during lopsided wins, and T.J. Otzelberger pointed to Mitchells versatility as one reason the staff kept him in the mix. Even in a small sample, the message was clear enough for a young player on a deep roster: stay prepared, because opportunities can arrive in different ways.
Mitchells path took a tougher turn once an injury ended his year before it could really develop, but that does not erase the value of the minutes he already logged or the place he still holds in the programs future plans. For a team that leans on depth and flexibility, players like Mitchell often matter most when the season changes shape and the rotation needs another option. Otzelbergers emphasis on being ready suggests Iowa State still sees a role there, even if the timeline for it has been pushed back. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa States New Defensive Identity Rests On These Key Transfer Pieces
Iowa States new era under Jimmy Rogers is already taking shape around defense, with Jesse Bobbit following him in as coordinator and the staff clearly putting an emphasis on toughness and structure for the 2026 season. A big part of that reset comes from the transfer market, where the Cyclones have pieced together a group of newcomers who should help define what this unit looks like under a fresh coaching staff.
Isaac Terrell, Taase, Montreze Smith Jr., Singletary and Crawford all bring different backgrounds and levels of experience, and that mix is exactly why they matter to this roster. Some have already proven they can handle bigger stages, while others arrive with the kind of upside that can be shaped quickly if the new staff gets the fit right, and how those pieces come together will go a long way toward telling the story of Iowa States defense next fall. [Read more 🡒]
Killyan Toure Could Define How Far Iowa State Can Go
Killyan Toure arrives at this season with a clear lane to carve out for Iowa State: be the kind of on-ball defender that changes games before the offense ever has to catch up. T.J. Otzelberger has gone so far as to say the sophomore guard could be the nations best at that job, and that kind of trust fits the way the Cyclones have built their identity around pressure, toughness and making opposing guards miserable for 40 minutes.
Toure seems to welcome the assignment, but the broader challenge is what he adds beyond stopping the ball. Iowa State would love for his scoring and shot-making to become steadier as his role grows, because when a defense-first guard starts tilting possessions at both ends, it can change the ceiling of the whole team. The Cyclones already know what he means to their backbone; the question is how much more he can become while carrying it. [Read more 🡒]