Welcome to Cyclone Fanatic’s Signing Day Central.
Below, we will track every official announcement as the papers are signed and turned in for the 2023 football recruiting class. Coming into the day, the class is slated to be Iowa State’s highest rated class in program history.
Class of 2023
Brendan Black, 3-star IOL (Yulee, FL)
As the lone offensive lineman committed to the 2023 class, Brendan Black made his choice official on Wednesday. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound prospect is set to anchor the class having chose Iowa State over a lengthy offer list. It included Kansas, Duke, Louisville, and Coastal Carolina among others.
Zaimir Hawk, DL (Hillside, NJ)
In a late addition to the 2023 recruiting class, Zaimir Hawk declared his commitment to the Cyclones earlier this December, to further bolster the recruiting class at the defensive line spot. He chose Iowa State over Kent State, Marshall, Western Michigan and Towson.
Norris Davis, 3-star S (Tampa, FL)
As a safety out of Tampa, Norris Davis had a multitude of offers from programs around the country. He chose Iowa State over Kansas State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Penn State, West Virginia, USF and Boston College among others.
Michael Parkes, 3-star WR (Palm Bay, FL – – Jamaica)
The international star of the class comes in Michael Parkes, who moved to the United States from Jamaica to play football and has turned it into an already impressive career. He picked Iowa State over Mississippi State, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Utah, Indiana, Troy, Marshall, and FIU.
Jack Sadowsky, 3-star LB (Batavia, IL)
His high school coach will preach Jack Sadowsky’s work ethic among other reasons why he’ll succeed at the next level. The 6-foot-2 linebacker chose Iowa State over Kansas State, Louisville, Toledo, Miami Ohio, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Ball State.
Samuel Same, 3-star EDGE (Derby, KS)
Nicknamed ‘Sosa,’ after the popular Chief Keef song, Samuel Same chose Iowa State in hopes of working his way to some ‘Raris and rovers’ in the future. The 6-foot-5 Kansas edge commit chose the Cyclones over Kansas State, Kansas, Oregon State, Houston, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Vanderbilt, Utah and SMU.
Jamison Patton, 3-star DB/ATH (Des Moines, IA)
Transferring to Ankeny for his senior season, Jamison Patton already has a strong relationship with fellow commit J.J. Kohl, which will help each of them ease into the college transition. Patton played both wide receiver and defensive back at Ankeny. Iowa State expects him to suit up on defense when he arrives in Ames. Patton committed to Iowa State over Kansas State, Iowa, UCLA, Washington, Nebraska, Minnesota and Georgia Tech.
Beni Ngoyi, 3-star WR (Lincoln, NE)
In one of the later commitments on the day, Lincoln’s own Beni Ngoyi announced he would be choosing Iowa State over Nebraska – where he had visited over the previous weekend. Ngoyi is rated as one of the No. 88 wide receiver in the class and originally chose the Cyclones over Nebraska and Washington, before giving Matt Rhule’s staff a shot.
Carson Hansen, 3-star ATH (Lakeville, MN)
Named the Minnesota AP Player of the Year, Carson Hansen made waves during his senior season on the field. One game saw him re-write the record books for Lakeville South at the running back position, going for 323 yards and four touchdowns.
Benjamin Brahmer, 3-star WR/TE (Pierce, NE)
Flipping his commitment from Nebraksa, Ben Brahmer was a late pickup in the 2023 recruiting class. The Pierce High School product was one of the first commits of his class in Lincoln and decided after the Nebraska staff changes to bring his 6-foot-6 frame to Ames.
Anthony Cunningham, 3-star DL (Belleville, IL)
As the cousin of former Iowa Hawkeye and current Atlanta Falcon, Anthony Cunningham has football running through his family. He chose Iowa State over Minnesota and will bring his 6-foot-4, 270-pound frame to Ames.
Kooper Ebel, 3-star ATH (Hartley, IA)
The small-town standout from HMS High School had some spectacular performances over the year as the utility player for his team. Playing two ways, rushing for 200 yards or more in multiple games and handling field goals and extra points at times, Ebel was a do-it-all athlete in high school.
Carson Rhodes, 3-star TE (Nevada, IA)
Sitting out his senior season due to Injury, Carson Rhodes is eager to get back onto the football field. As Iowa State’s first commit to the 2023 class, Rhodes is as dedicated as they come. The 6-foot-7 tight end will bring length, at the very least, to the spot for the Cyclones.
Kai Black, 3-star WR (Urbandale, IA)
The 2023 recruiting class has a number of wide receivers committed to playing at Iowa State, each of them in the top half of the class’ recruiting rankings. Kai Black is the in-state pride of the group and commits to Iowa State out of Urbandale over offers from Iowa, Kansas, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State and Minnesota.
David Caulker, 3-star EDGE (Des Moines, IA)
“Plans changed” when David Caulker flipped his commitment from Iowa to Iowa State earlier this year. The Des Moines North star had offers from Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Kent State, Northern Illinois and UNI ultimately settling on Iowa State.
Cam Smith, 3-star ATH (Youngstown, OH)
Earning all-state honors and a conference defensive player of the year award, Cam Smith had a successful senior year at Austintown Fitch. He totaled 55 tackles and two interceptions on the defensive side of the ball and found 812 yards and 11 scores, offensively.
Trevor Buhr, 3-star DL (Washington, MO)
As a defensive line prospect from Missouri, Trevor Buhr had one of the more unique offer sheets of the 2023 class. The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder chose Iowa State over Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Kentucky and Washington among others.
J.J. Kohl, 4-star QB (Ankeny, IA)
Iowa State’s 2023 recruiting class might be highlighted by quarterback J.J. Kohl – he’s the second highest rated prospect for the program in the rankings era and the highest rated prospect to come to Ames since Packers wideout Allen Lazard. Kohl chose Iowa State over Kansas, Iowa, Penn State, Auburn, Wisconsin, Missisippi State and Pittsburgh among others, and is slated as the No. 3 prospect in the state by 247 Sports. Kohl will enroll a semester early and will be on campus in January.
Tashawn James, 3-star S (Oklahoma City, OK)
Playing out of Carl Albert in Oklahoma, Tashawn James made plays all over the field during his senior season. James secured multiple interceptions and found his way to the end zone on a kickoff return before the end of the year.
Abu Sama, 3-star RB (Des Moines, IA)
Originally recruited as a defensive back, Abu Sama is no stranger to big stage performances. The Southeast Polk prospect set records in the Iowa High School state championship game rushing for six touchdowns in his school’s second-straight title.
