AMES - Iowa State’s offensive line was always going to look different heading into 2026. But no one expected this level of turnover.
When the Cyclones wrapped up their season with a win in Stillwater, there was still a sense of continuity. That changed quickly once Matt Campbell accepted the head coaching job at Penn State in early December.
From that moment, the roster movement started churning like turnstiles at Jack Trice on a crisp fall Saturday. Players left.
Coaches moved on. And suddenly, Iowa State was staring down a full-blown rebuild in the trenches.
Enter Jimmy Rogers.
The new head coach wasted no time getting to work. One of his first priorities?
Reinforcing the offensive line - and he’s doing it with urgency. Rogers brought in Jake Thornton, a seasoned offensive line coach who’s made stops at Ole Miss and Auburn, to lead the group.
Thornton will begin his first season in Ames in 2026, and he’s already helping lay the foundation for a unit that’s going to look - and play - very differently.
One of the early pieces in that rebuild is Gavin Broscious, a transfer from Michigan State who brings both experience and toughness to the room. Broscious made the move after the Spartans parted ways with head coach Jonathan Smith, who was let go after two underwhelming seasons in East Lansing.
For Broscious, the decision to come to Ames wasn’t just about playing time or scheme fit - it was about culture.
“Iowa State is a place where as soon as I got on campus, something just felt right,” Broscious said. “It’s the definition of being gritty in the trenches.”
That quote says a lot - about him, and about what Rogers and Thornton are trying to build. Iowa State isn’t looking for flash. They’re looking for linemen who want to get their hands dirty, who embrace the grind, and who understand that games are still won and lost at the line of scrimmage.
The Cyclones have a long way to go before this offensive line is fully formed, but with Rogers setting the tone and Thornton directing the details, the rebuild is already underway. And if Broscious is any indication of the type of player they’re bringing in, Iowa State’s front five could be tougher - and meaner - than people expect.