Landon Kalsbeck Follows Coaching Staff to Iowa State: “I’ve Never Been to Iowa, But I’m All In”
Landon Kalsbeck is betting big on belief - in himself, in his coaches, and in a program that’s entering a new era. The Littleton, Colorado native may have never set foot in Iowa, but he’s committed to spending the next four years there, suiting up for the Iowa State Cyclones.
On December 26, Kalsbeck made a bold move, flipping his commitment from Washington State to Iowa State. He became one of the first recruits to follow head coach Jimmy Rogers and defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit from Pullman to Ames, as the new staff begins assembling its foundation in the post-Matt Campbell era.
“I’ve never been to Iowa,” Kalsbeck said. “But I’m a Midwest guy.
All my family’s in South Dakota. I’ve lived in Denver my whole life, and we’re in South Dakota a bunch of weeks out of the year.”
That Midwest connection, combined with the opportunity to play Power Five football in the Big 12, made the Cyclones a compelling fit. But this wasn’t just about geography - it was about trust. Kalsbeck is following coaches who’ve believed in him from the start.
Rogers, previously Washington State’s defensive coordinator, was named Iowa State’s head coach on December 5 - just minutes after Matt Campbell officially accepted the Penn State job. That announcement came roughly 24 hours before Kalsbeck played in Colorado’s state championship game, capping off his high school career. The timing wasn’t lost on him.
Now, with Rogers and Bobbit leading the charge in Ames, Kalsbeck sees a clear path forward. The Cyclones are in transition, but they’re not in rebuild mode - they’re reloading with purpose. And for a player like Kalsbeck, who’s eager to prove himself on a Big 12 stage, the opportunity couldn’t be more appealing.
“I think for me, just having an opportunity to prove myself at a Big 12 school like Iowa State - with the fanbase, the investment going into that program - it’s going to motivate me to be the best version of myself,” he said.
Kalsbeck’s move is emblematic of a larger trend in college football, where coaching changes don’t just shift the sidelines - they reshape rosters. In this case, Iowa State isn’t just getting a promising recruit; they’re getting a player who already knows the system, the expectations, and the men calling the shots.
He may not know the streets of Ames yet, but he knows where he’s headed. And for Landon Kalsbeck, that’s more than enough.