In the early hours of December 27, Iowa State continued to reshape its 2026 recruiting class, flipping another former Washington State commit-this time, offensive lineman Kingston Fotualii out of Seattle’s O’Dea High School.
Fotualii becomes the fourth ex-Cougar pledge to join the Cyclones, following offensive lineman Derek Worden and linebackers Landon Kalsbeck and Bradley Esser. It’s a clear sign that new head coach Jimmy Rogers is wasting no time putting his stamp on the program-and he’s doing it by building relationships and leveraging existing ones.
At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, Fotualii brings size and potential to the trenches. He’s ranked as the No. 1,868 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite and slotted as the No. 146 interior offensive lineman in the class. While those rankings might not jump off the page, don’t be fooled-this is a player with upside, and Iowa State believes in his trajectory.
Fotualii chose the Cyclones over offers from Washington State and Montana, flipping his commitment amid a wave of movement following the coaching change in Ames. With Matt Campbell out and Rogers stepping in, Iowa State saw its offensive line class take a hit.
Mason Bandhauer and Pete Eglitis both committed to Penn State, while Owen Winder and Ethan Beckman remain uncommitted. That left a major void in the trenches-one Rogers and his staff are now working quickly to refill.
Landing Fotualii and Worden in close succession is a critical step toward rebuilding that foundation. And there’s a good chance Jake Thornton, the expected offensive line coach for Iowa State and a former Auburn assistant, is playing a key role behind the scenes. Thornton has already been linked to Worden’s recruitment, and it’s likely he’s also been in Fotualii’s ear.
Over at Washington State, Fotualii was clearly held in high regard. Offensive line coach Taylor Lucas didn’t hold back in his praise, calling him a “winner” and the first real offensive line offer the Cougars made under the new staff.
“His background, who he is, his maturity, his ability as a player is tremendous,” Lucas said. “But the person who is behind that fired us up about him.”
That kind of endorsement says a lot. Iowa State isn’t just landing players-they’re bringing in guys with leadership qualities, maturity, and a hunger to compete. Fotualii may not be the highest-ranked prospect in the class, but he fits a mold that Rogers and his staff seem to be targeting: tough, coachable, and ready to help lay the groundwork for a new era in Ames.
With five former Washington State signees now committed to the Cyclones, it’s clear that Rogers is tapping into familiar territory to jumpstart his first full recruiting cycle. And if Fotualii develops the way Iowa State believes he can, this flip might end up being one of the more important building blocks for the Cyclones' future in the trenches.