AMES - Jimmy Rogers is nearing the two-month mark as Iowa State’s head football coach, and while the whirlwind of building the 2026 roster is starting to settle, a new phase is already underway: recruiting for 2027.
After spending the early part of his tenure focused on solidifying the current team-particularly through the transfer portal-Rogers and his staff are now turning their attention to the high school ranks. That means hitting the road, shaking hands with coaches, and making early impressions on the next wave of talent across Iowa and the Midwest.
Here’s the situation: Iowa State is playing from behind when it comes to the 2027 recruiting cycle. While other programs have already hosted rising juniors on visits and laid the groundwork for future commitments, the Cyclones were still finalizing their 2026 class. That delay has put them in a position where they’ll need to work overtime to catch up.
But don’t mistake urgency for panic. Rogers and his staff are already making moves, extending early scholarship offers to a handful of 2027 prospects.
Some of those names will be familiar to Cyclone fans-players Matt Campbell’s staff had previously targeted. Now, it’s Rogers’ turn to build those relationships and convince top talent that Ames is the place to be.
This early recruiting push is critical. Establishing strong ties with high school programs now can pay dividends down the road, especially in a region where relationships often matter just as much as star ratings. Rogers knows that, and he’s wasting no time getting his staff out in front of the next class.
The Cyclones may be late to the party, but they’re not showing up empty-handed. With the 2026 roster largely in place, all eyes now turn to the future-and how quickly Rogers and his staff can make up ground on the recruiting trail.