Iowa State’s path in 2026 is going to be shaped by how quickly a few unproven pieces turn into dependable ones, and Montreze Smith Jr. sits right at the center of that conversation.
The Cyclones are trying to steady themselves after a coaching change that sent Matt Campbell to the Penn State Nittany Lions, leaving Jimmy Rogers to take over after his hire away from the Washington State Cougars. With less talent on hand, Iowa State is going to need players who can tilt the field without much help. Smith Jr. fits that description better than almost anyone.
He arrives as one of the most interesting names on the roster because of what he did after leaving Duke. Smith Jr. redshirted with the Blue Devils, saw limited action, then dropped to the FCS level and made the move pay off in a big way. His production was all over the stat sheet: 73 total tackles, a pass deflection, four sacks, a forced fumble and three interceptions.
That kind of stat line jumps out because it shows impact in every phase of the defense. Smith Jr. wasn’t just piling up tackles; he was making plays behind the line, disrupting throws and taking the ball away. For a team searching for difference-makers, that’s exactly the kind of profile that matters.
There’s still a real leap he has to make, though. Smith Jr. has not yet proven himself in FBS football, much less against Power Four competition. And Iowa State has other defenders who may have the edge simply because they’ve already done it at the FBS level, whether that comes with the Cyclones, in Rogers’ system or elsewhere at a high level.
Even with that uncertainty, Smith Jr. stands out as a player with real upside. He has three years of eligibility left, and the ceiling is obvious if his game translates the way Iowa State hopes it will.
The Cyclones may not have the depth or proven talent they’d like, but they do have intrigue. If Smith Jr. delivers, he could become a starter and one of the defining faces of a defense Iowa State will need to lean on if it wants to put together a competitive season and get back to a bowl game in 2026.
In Other News...
Josiah Harrington Keeps Proving Iowa States 2027 Class Is No Fluke
Josiah Harrington keeps adding to the case that Iowa States 2027 recruiting haul is more than just a rankings win. The Cyclones already sit atop the national class list at 247 Sports with Harrington alongside four-star teammates Jack Kohnen and Donovan Davis, and the Iowa-raised wing has continued to back up that buzz with his play for Brad Beal Elite on the Nike EYBL circuit. His summer run has fit the profile Iowa State wants from a future cornerstone: a prospect who can hold his own against elite competition and keep trending upward.
Harringtons showing at Peach Jam only reinforced that momentum, giving the Cyclones another reason to feel good about the group they have assembled. He was productive across the event and had one of his better outings against PG Elite, the kind of performance that helps explain why Iowa State sees him as a major piece of what comes next. The broader question now is how much more he can add before he gets to Ames, because for a class that already looks loaded, the ceiling still appears to be rising. [Read more 🡒]
Cyclones Fans Have Plenty To Watch In NBA Summer League
If you were looking for familiar names while flipping through NBA Summer League box scores in July, there was no shortage of them for Iowa State fans. Several former Iowa collegians and Iowa natives popped up across the California Classic, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas events, giving Cyclones followers a reason to keep an eye on a handful of different rosters while the league was in full summer mode.
The list included Hason Ward, Josh Dix, Keshon Gilbert, Brendan Hausen, Payton Sandfort and Bennett Stirtz, all of whom found ways to contribute in games that mattered more for evaluation than for standings. For a fan base that tracks talent well beyond Ames, it was a useful reminder of how many familiar faces are trying to carve out NBA footing, even if the most eye-catching performance from that group is still tucked inside the July results. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Faces A Familiar QB Pressure In This Next Transition
Iowa State is heading into another season with a familiar kind of quarterback reset, and Jaylen Raynor is the next man asked to step into it. When he starts against Southeast Missouri on Sept. 5, he will become the Cyclones 14th different opening-game quarterback since 1999, a reminder of how often this program has had to hand the keys to someone new and ask him to settle things quickly.
Raynor takes over after Rocco Becht, one of Iowa States best quarterbacks, and he inherits the usual early-season burden of leading a roster with plenty of new faces around him. The opener also comes with a little historical backdrop, since Iowa State has seen a few quarterbacks make a strong first impression in this spot before, including Hunter Dekkers in the 2022 opener against the same Southeast Missouri team. [Read more 🡒]