Iowa State’s new era is about to open, and the conversation around the Cyclones has centered heavily on Jaylen Raynor. That makes sense. He’s the starting quarterback, he’s a dual-threat weapon, and he’ll matter every snap.
But the more important swing piece might be sitting in the backfield.
With Matt Campbell now starting his tenure with the Penn State Nittany Lions, Jimmy Rogers is preparing for his Iowa State coaching debut in a matter of weeks. It’s not an easy handoff. The roster was hit hard by the transfer portal, and Rogers and his staff have spent the offseason rebuilding the depth chart as fall camp rolls on.
That has created a long list of battles for jobs and playing time, with the hope that competition sharpens the entire roster. It also points to the kind of offense Iowa State may want to be. Even with Raynor at quarterback, the Cyclones could lean on a slower, clock-control approach and try to win with the run game.
That’s where the real pressure lands.
Iowa State lost Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III to the transfer portal, taking away two productive backs from last season’s team. Their departure leaves the position wide open, and that opens the door for transfer addition Pettaway, with Aidan Flora also in the mix for carries.
If Pettaway wins the job, he could become the piece that helps define this offense. Rogers and his staff are expected to bring a smash-mouth style, and that means being able to stay in games late and run the ball when it matters most. Pettaway fits that vision.
He’s still relatively untested, with just one season at Bowling Green, but the early numbers jump off the page. As a freshman, he averaged over five yards per carry last year, and that kind of production is exactly why there’s buzz around him heading into the Big 12. He has plenty to prove, but the upside is there for him to become a major factor for the Cyclones.
In Other News...
Iowa State Fans Will Feel Rocco Becht's Next Chapter
Rocco Becht is part of a transfer quarterback class that already has college football fans looking ahead to 2026, with the Iowa State signal-caller drawing attention for the next stop in his career. The profile of seven quarterbacks landing in major roles puts Becht in familiar company alongside names such as Darian Mensah, Sam Leavitt, Drew Mestemaker, Byrum Brown, Dylan Raiola and DJ Lagway, each expected to matter immediately at their new schools.
For Cyclones fans, Bechts inclusion is a reminder that his time in Ames has made him one of the more recognizable quarterbacks in the transfer conversation. His move to Penn State gives him a chance to carry that momentum into a bigger spotlight, and it also leaves Iowa State followers watching closely to see how his game translates in a new setting after becoming such an important figure for the program. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Suddenly Has A Backcourt Concern Fans Were Not Expecting
Iowa States backcourt depth took a hit this week when Killyan Toure went down with a shoulder injury, adding an unexpected wrinkle to a rotation that had already been drawing plenty of offseason attention. Toure had been working his way back into action after an earlier shoulder issue, so this new setback lands at a tricky time for a Cyclones group trying to sort out roles before the season.
The good news for Iowa State is that it is not short on options if Toure needs time. Transfer Jaquan Johnson and Ryan Prather Jr. are among the guards who could help absorb the minutes, giving the Cyclones at least some cover while they wait to see how long this latest injury keeps Toure sidelined. [Read more 🡒]
Malaki Ta'ase Brings Iowa State A Different Kind Of Motivation
Malaki Ta'ase arrives at Iowa State with the kind of background that already makes him easy to notice. The Washington State transfer is heading into his third college football season, but his life has expanded well beyond the field over the past several months, as he and his wife, McKinley, welcomed their daughter, Charleston, about seven months ago. Ta'ase has been balancing the demands of football and family while settling into a new program, a new home and a new routine.
For Ta'ase, that shift comes with a different perspective than the one he brought when he first broke into college football and earned All-Conference USA freshman honors at New Mexico State. He grew up as one of 10 siblings, met McKinley during his time there and married her in April 2025, so he is no stranger to having a full household. Now, with fatherhood in the mix, Iowa State is getting a player whose motivation has been reshaped in a very real way, even as his next step on the field remains the story still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]