Iowa State football is still unwrapping late holiday gifts, and the latest comes in the form of a promising defensive lineman.
Jake Jones, a 2026 prospect out of Campo Verde High School in Gilbert, Arizona, has flipped his commitment from Washington State to Iowa State. The announcement came Saturday via Jones' social media, adding another key piece to the Cyclones’ growing defensive line class.
Jones, ranked No. 222 among defensive linemen by 247Sports and No. 38 overall in Arizona for the 2026 cycle, is listed as the No. 2,288 player in the 247Sports Composite. While those numbers might not jump off the page, Jones had drawn interest from 10 Group of Five programs before originally signing with Washington State earlier this month. That kind of attention speaks to his upside - and now, he’s bringing that potential to Ames.
The connection here is clear: Jones is following Jimmy Rogers, the former Washington State defensive coordinator who was recently named Iowa State’s new head coach. Rogers has made no secret of his desire to bolster the defensive line - and for good reason.
His scheme leans on a four-man front, which demands both depth and versatility in the trenches. Jones fits into that vision.
He joins a defensive line group that already includes Ajibola Afuye and Daniel Howard, giving the Cyclones a trio of young, developmental linemen who could grow into key roles under Rogers’ system. And this might just be the beginning. With players like Landon Kalsbeck and Bradley Esser already in the fold, Iowa State is clearly not done building out its defensive front.
For a program looking to reestablish itself in the Big 12, stacking talent on the line of scrimmage is a smart place to start. Jones may not be the headline name in this class, but he’s another brick in what Iowa State hopes will become a formidable defensive wall.