Iowa State is set to welcome its 2025 recruiting class, officially Wednesday, December 4 – college football’s National Early Signing Day.
The class is rated as the No. 52 class in the country, and features some of the top talent out of the state of Iowa.
Top 10 in-state prospects (By 247 Sports)
1. TE Thomas Meyer, Iowa
2. LB Will Hawthorne, Iowa State
3. DB Ethan Stecker, Iowa State
4. OL Joey VanWetzinga, Iowa
5. QB Alex Manske, Iowa State
6. OL Will Tompkins, Iowa State
7. ATH Mason Woods, Iowa
8. EDGE Jack Limbaugh, Iowa State
9. WR Zay Robinson, Iowa State
10. ATH Malachi Curvey, Kansas
Below are all of the expected signees to the 2025 recruiting class, updated to when they’ve officially signed.
Signed players
Alex Manske | 4-star QB
Algona, Iowa | Algona HS
6-foot-3, 205
Other offers: Kansas State, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin
Iowa State’s quarterback for the 2025 class – the Cyclones beat out Texas A&M to get him. Manske threw for 1456 yards (76-111) through the first half of the high school season, before a UCL injury sideline him for the back half of the year. He finished the season officially with 18 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Ryver Peppers | 3-star RB
Independence, MO | Fort Osage HS
5-foot-11, 180
Other offers: Utah, Kansas State, Northwestern, UNLV, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Army, Navy, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, UNI, Harvard, Princeton, Cornell
A gritty running back that Iowa State has been in on from the start. Fits well the personality of RB coach Tyler Roehl.
Zay Robinson | 3-star WR
West Des Moines, Iowa | Valley HS
6-foot-0, 175
Other offers: Iowa, Colorado, Kansas State, Missouri, Vanderbilt
The talented wideout for West Des Moines Valley ended the season with 661 yards on 48 receptions with 14 touchdowns – including a go-ahead score during the state championship game last month. A multi-sport athlete, and the highest rated in-state receiver in the 2025 class.
Karon Brookins | 3-star WR
Atco, NJ | Winslow Township HS
6-foot-4, 180
Other offers: West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Temple
A speedy wideout that averaged 18.3 yards per catch during his senior season on 29 catches for 532 yards.
Dyllan Malone | 3-star WR
Yorkville, IL | Yorkville HS
6-foot-3, 175
Other offers: Northern Illinois, Miami (Ohio), Illinois State, Western Illinois, Lindenwood
Iowa State flipped the wide receiver recruit from Northern Illinois in October. Averaged 52.7 yards per game as a senior at the receiver position and also grabbed a pair of interceptions.
Will Tompkins | 3-star OL
Cedar Falls, Iowa | Cedar Falls HS
6-foot-5, 270
Other offers: Kansas State, Kansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Penn State, USC, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, Nebraska, Minnesota, Duke
One of the highest rated offensive line recruits in Iowa State history. Tompkins garnered a number of high major offers.
Sione Perkins | 3-star OL
Eagle, ID | Eagle HS
6-foot-9, 260
Other offers: Eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana
A lineman out of the Northwest near where offensive line coach Ryan Clanton played in college.
Kuol Kuol | 3-star OL
Dayton, OH | Centerville HS
6-foot-6, 260
Other offers: Purdue, Vanderbilt, Michigan State, Boston College, Coastal Carolina, Marshall, Army, UMass, Akron, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Western Kentucky
An offensive lineman with high major interest out of Ohio. Formerly a Purdue commit, Kuol announced his decision to be a Cyclone last week.
Vaea Ikakoula | 3-star OL
Salt Lake City, UT | West HS
6-foot-3, 315
Other offers: Stanford, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Colorado, Boston College, Cal, Arkansas, Hawaii, Utah State, Washington State, Oregon State
A late flip in the 2025 class, choosing the Cyclones after previously being committed to Stanford. The fourth lineman to join Ryan Clanton’s room in the class.
Jack Limbaugh | 3-star EDGE
Algona, Iowa | Algona HS
6-foot-4, 220
Other offers: Iowa, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Duke, Northwestern
The in-state signee played both ways for Algona, totaling 42.5 tackles and a team-high six sacks, while earning 13 receptions for 274 yards at receiver. High school teammate to QB signee Alex Manske.
Trey Verdon | 3-star EDGE
Hamilton, OH | Hamilton HS
6-foot-2, 225
Other offers: Louisville, Pittsburgh, East Carolina, Ohio, Akron, Bowling Green, Kent State, UMass, Miami (Ohio), Toledo, Princeton, Yale
The younger sibling to current Cyclone Malik Verdon, who was attracted to Iowa State because of the family atmosphere around the program and what his brother experienced in Ames.
Charlie Woleben | 3-star EDGE
De Soto, KS | De Soto School
6-foot-5, 220
Other offers: Kansas State, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Tulsa, North Dakota State, UNI, Lindenwood
Earned conference defensive player of the year honors at De Soto High School in Kansas.
Ka’Mori Moore | 3-star DL
Lee’s Summit, MO | North HS
6-foot-1, 295
Other offers: Oklahoma, Nebraska, Michigan State, Memphis, Miami (Ohio) Kent State, Toledo, UNLV
A former Oklahoma commit, and one of two defensive linemen in the class for coach Eli Rasheed’s room.
Will Hawthorne | 4-star LB
Gilbert, Iowa | Gilbert HS
6-foot-2, 220
Other offers: Nebraska, Kansas State, Kansas, Air Force, Miami-Ohio, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Western Michigan, Missouri State, South Dakota, UNI, Lehigh, Army, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, and Princeton.
A late riser in recruiting rankings, Hawthorne jumped up to a four-star less than 48 hours away from Signing Day. The local recruit and lifelong Cyclone fan chose Iowa State over Nebraska in the end.
LaMarcus Hicks II | 3-star CB
Des Plaines, IL | Maine West HS
6-foot-2, 170
Other offers: Northern Illinois, Illinois State
The son to former Cyclone LaMarcus Hicks – Iowa State flipped him from Northern Illinois and comes in as the lone cornerback in the class.
Ethan Stecker | 3-star S
Spirit Lake, Iowa | Spirit Lake HS
6-foot-4, 205
Other offers: None
A track & field state champion that rose to No. 3 in the in-state recruiting rankings by 247 Sports late in the cycle. His brother is expected to sign as a preferred walk-on.
Joshua Patterson | 3-star S
Jacksonville, FL | Ed White HS
6-foot-0, 180
Other offers: Wake Forest, Louisville, Maryland, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Coastal Carolina, Tulane, USF, Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Liberty, Bowling Green, UMass, Troy, UConn, Charlotte, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Western Kentucky, Florida A&M, Alabama A&M, West Georgia
The first signing to Iowa State’s 2025 class, with one of the most extensive offer sheets of anyone in the group. He led his team in both interceptions (4) and forced fumbles (2), and allowed only one reception during his senior year at Ed White High School.
Mason Ellens | 3-star S
Glen Ellyn, IL | Glenbard West HS
6-foot-0, 175
Other offers: Iowa, Minnesota, Boston College, Old Dominion, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Illinois State
Committed to Iowa State as part of a summer visit weekend in June and had five touchdown returns during his high school career.
Preferred Walk-ons
Sam Zelenovich | WR
Des Moines, IA | Southeast Polk HS
6-foot-2, 185
Other offers: Air Force, Army, South Dakota, UNI, Western Illinois
A talented wideout from Southeast Polk that saw his senior year come to an end early due to injury. Could surprise people.
Dylan Stecker | WR
Spirit Lake, Iowa | Spirit Lake HS
6-foot-4.5, 205
Other offers: South Dakota, UNI
A multi-sport athlete, playing football, basketball and track & field. Twin brother of defensive back signee Ethan Stecker.
