Iowa State is trying to juggle two timelines at once.
On one hand, the Cyclones are heading into a season that already carries a rebuilding feel after the departure of Matt Campbell and the wave of talent that followed him into the transfer portal. On the other, Jimmy Rogers and his staff are already laying groundwork for the future, and that includes getting in early on one of the more intriguing quarterback prospects in the 2028 class.
That prospect is Luke Toland, a Florida quarterback who is starting to pick up real momentum. Chad Simmons of On3 recently wrote about Toland’s recruiting, and the list is already growing fast: he now has 10 scholarship offers.
Toland is also trending upward on the field. He has been putting in work and is now getting the chance to start for Bolles School, which gives him a bigger stage as his profile continues to rise. Iowa State’s connection in this recruitment runs through new quarterback coach Keith Heckendorf, who offered Toland and has known him since his time with the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
“We’ve had that relationship since my freshman year,” Toland said to Simmons. “It’s been great continuing to build that.
I spent more time with him, and I got to see the campus. We flew into Des Moines, then I got to Iowa State, and it was a nice college city.
It felt awesome up there.”
Heckendorf now has the task of helping shape the next wave of quarterbacks in Ames. For this season, that means working with Jaylen Raynor, a player he already knows from Arkansas State. But beyond that, the staff has to keep one eye on what comes next at the position.
Right now, the quarterback room behind Raynor includes Zane Flores, Connor Moberly, Wyatt Bohm and freshman Hudson Kurland. That group should provide competition, and the Cyclones will be hoping that battle brings out the best in all of them.
The bigger picture is still in the early stages. Iowa State does not yet have a commit in the 2028 class, and the 2027 quarterback spot is currently filled by three-star Cash Hollingshead. There is work to do, and plenty of time to do it.
For now, Toland is one of the names to watch as his visits begin and the Cyclones try to stay in the mix.
In Other News...
Iowa States 2027 Commits Are Trending In Very Different Directions
247Sports latest update to the 2027 basketball recruiting class brought a mixed read for Iowa States early commitments, with three Cyclones heading in different directions as the summer circuit continues to shape their stock. Josiah Harrington slipped from No. 40 to No. 48 in the new rankings, while Jack Kohnen inched up from No. 60 to No. 57, giving Iowa State a little bit of movement on both sides of the ledger.
The bigger picture is still forming through their work with Team Herro on the Nike EYBL circuit, where summer performances are becoming a major part of how evaluators sort out the class. Kohnen, Davis and Harrington all logged enough visible run to factor into the conversation, and for Iowa State the intrigue is less about where the rankings stand today than how much they could keep shifting before this class is finished taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State's Backfield Battle Could Shape Its Big 12 Chances
Fall camp has offered an early look at how Iowa State wants to build its offense under new head coach Jimmy Rogers and offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl, and the backfield is already a focal point. Aiden Flora and Cameron Pettaway have had their practice reps managed to keep them fresh for the season, but both are expected to play major roles as runners and receivers in a group the Cyclones hope can do a lot more than just carry the load on early downs.
The depth behind them is part of what makes the position worth watching. Tulane transfer Arnold Barnes gives Iowa State another option to work into the mix, while Caleb Francois and Easton Miller are also expected to get opportunities. How that rotation settles in could wind up mattering far beyond camp, because the Cyclones are looking for a backfield that can stay healthy, stay versatile and give this offense enough balance to matter in Big 12 play. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Just Entered The Big 12s New Experience Arms Race
Iowa States backcourt took a hit when point guard Killyan Toure went down with a shoulder injury that is expected to keep him out for about half of the season. For a Cyclones team trying to stay sharp in a Big 12 that has leaned hard into veteran experience, that kind of absence matters even more now, especially with roster construction changing around the league.
The new 5-for-5 eligibility rule has given players five years to use five seasons, and it has already pushed more proven older transfers into Big 12 lineups. Several conference teams have gone shopping for fifth-year seniors, raising the bar for experience and making depth a bigger part of the conversation in Ames. For Iowa State, the challenge is not just replacing minutes, but keeping pace in a league that keeps finding new ways to stockpile it. [Read more 🡒]