Saturday’s season opener against Northern Iowa will be big for Iowa State football in mores ways than just on the field. Cyclone Fanatic has confirmed the Cyclones’ list of visiting high school prospects will include numerous 2022 commits, the highly sought-after younger brother of a current Cyclone and several other high-level players in the 2023 class.
Here’s who we’re hearing are expected to be on hand Saturday afternoon at Jack Trice Stadium:
Note: All rankings are from the 247Composite.
2022 commits
Carson Willich, Linebacker, Blue Springs, Mo.
Willich, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound three-star prospect, committed to Iowa State back in April. He’s considered the No. 114 linebacker in the 2022 recruiting cycle and the No. 23 player in Missouri.
Jacob Imming, Linebacker, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
Imming’s star has been rising of late after a monster performance in Sergeant Bluff-Luton’s season-opening 36-7 win over LeMars. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound three-star prospect carried the ball seven times for 49 yards and two touchdowns, caught one pass for eight yards and a touchdown plus recorded 1.5 tackles for loss in the win. He’s considered the No. 499 player nationally and No. 5 player in Iowa.
Will McLaughlin, Linebacker, Harlan, Iowa
Considered the No. 669 player in the country and No. 6 player in Iowa, McLaughlin caught a touchdown pass and recorded three tackles in Harlan’s season-opening win over Lewis Central. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound three-star chose Iowa State over offers from Iowa, Kansas State, Air Force and Buffalo.
Gabe Burkle, Tight End, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Burkle had two catches for 19 yards in Prairie’s season-opening win over Pleasant Valley. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound three-star is considered the No. 73 tight end in the country and No. 12 player in Iowa.
Hunter Deyo, Defensive Line, Council Bluffs, Iowa
One of a handful of Power 5 prospects on Lewis Central’s roster, Deyo is considered the No. 278 player in the country, No. 37 defensive lineman and No. 3 player in Iowa. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound four-star prospect chose Iowa State over offers from Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas State, Wisconsin, Oregon and Arkansas.
Deylin Hasert, Offensive Tackle, Marshall, Minn.
The 6-foot-5, 280-pound three-star was one of the Midwest’s most highly-sought-after offensive linemen when he committed to Iowa State back in June. Hasert chose Iowa State over offers from Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas State and Nebraska. He’s considered the No. 85 offensive tackle and No. 3 player in Minnesota.
Andrew Keller, Tight End, Waunakee, Wis.
Another of the most highly-sought players in Iowa State’s class, Keller, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound three-star, chose the Cyclones over offers from Iowa, Indiana, Michigan State, Texas, Minnesota, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and a handful of other FBS programs. He’s considered the No. 26 tight end in the country and No. 3 player in Wisconsin.
2023
Blake Purchase, Edge Rusher, Englewood, Co.
The younger brother of Iowa State true freshman defensive back Myles Purchase, Blake Purchase is considered the No. 3 player in Colorado, No. 12 edge rusher in the 2023 class and No. 206 player in the class. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound four-star prospect has an Iowa State offer plus offers from Colorado, USC, Washington State, Oregon State, UNLV, Marshall and Colorado State.
Damon Walters, Safety, Bolingbrook, Ill.
While the 6-foot-1, 175-pound safety might be flying under the radar of the recruiting services (he doesn’t have a 247Composite ranking), he isn’t under the radar of Power 5 programs. Walters already holds offers from Iowa State, Syracuse, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
Will Anciaux, Tight End, Wichita, Kan.
Iowa State is one of four Power 5 programs to have offered the No. 5 player in Kansas and No. 32 tight end in the 2023 recruiting cycle. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound three-star also holds offers from Kansas, Kansas State and Michigan State.
Jamison Patton, Athlete, Des Moines, Iowa
Patton has become a star on the field for Roosevelt through his play as a quarterback, but the 6-foot-2, 190-pound prospect has an offer from Iowa State as a safety. Considered the No. 11 player in Iowa’s 2023 class, Patton’s offer from the Cyclones is his only one at the moment, but he’s reportedly received interest from Iowa, Missouri, Kansas State and Northern Iowa.
Ben Kueter, Linebacker, Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa State is yet to offer the 6-foot-3, 220-pound City High star, but he’s already considered one of the state’s top linebackers and is the No. 8 player in the state’s 2023 class. As it currently stands, Kueter’s only offer is from Minnesota, but that number should grow in the coming months.
