Iowa State’s loss to Utah didn’t exactly brighten the mood in Jack Trice Stadium, but it may have helped the Cyclones make another impression on one of their top Class of 2028 targets.
The Cyclones fell 31-17 in Week 4, dropping to 2-2 after an early deficit proved too steep to erase. Still, the second-half response stood out to Israel Johnigan, a four-star tight end from Center High School Yellowjackets who was in Ames for his third visit to Iowa State.
“You could tell they’re a fighting team, and you could tell they came out with a different fire in the second half,” he said, via Bill Seals of Cyclone Report (subscription required). “You could just tell the difference.
I like Coach Rogers’ intensity on the sidelines. Being so close, I could really see that in everything.”
Johnigan first picked up an Iowa State offer while playing varsity as a sophomore in 2025, and he’s been on the radar ever since. In that season, he caught 13 passes for 213 yards while also adding 271 yards passing and 224 yards rushing, scoring four total touchdowns.
Now in the middle of a breakout junior year, he has added 10 more Power 4 offers to the mix. Iowa State isn’t alone in chasing him, either. Kansas, Arizona, Kansas State and Iowa have all extended offers, putting the Cyclones in a crowded race.
What gives Iowa State an edge is familiarity. Johnigan has already been to Ames three times, and each trip has added another layer to the relationship.
“This was my third time up there,” said the 6-foot-5, 215-pound recruit. “I’ve already seen the facilities the first time during spring practice, then I came up there for camp and got coached up by Coach (Seth) Hestness.”
Johnigan’s production this season has only fueled the attention. Halfway through the 2026 season, he has 19 catches for 493 yards and six touchdowns. He’s also become a legitimate force on defense for Center High School, where he has 21 tackles, four tackles for loss, two pass deflections and one sack.
Even with that two-way production, Iowa State is recruiting him as a tight end, and the fit appears to appeal to him. He pointed to the way the Cyclones deploy the position as a major reason for his interest.
“I love how they use the tight ends, the motions, the 12-personnel, all that,” he said. “They can give them the ball, they can doink it in open space, let them run, let them run over people. I like how they use the tight ends, for sure.”
For now, Iowa State has plenty of company in the chase, but after another visit, the Cyclones clearly remain in the mix.
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