Iowa State Cyclones quarterback JJ Kohl (10) passes the ball in the University’s Spring Football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
It’s Monday Musings, on a Tuesday.
On a typical column like this, I’d dive deeper into Saturday’s football game and what happened around the Big 12 (and probably tell you about what a guy named Cam Skattebo did that week, but I think we all saw it).
But with Monday being the opening day of transfer portal season, I wanted to call an audible and talk about that, in what this column will probably look like over the 36-ish weeks where there isn’t an Iowa State football game.
Let’s muse.
The first round of portal departures
Iowa State had seven departures to the portal on Monday. That number may seem like a lot, but it lines up with many programs across the country at the FBS level.
I’ll dive in to the pair of bigger departures the Cyclones had, and be sure to bookmark this page – 2024 CycloneFanatic Transfer Portal Tracker – to keep up with each and every move.
Redshirt freshman quarterback J.J. Kohl – Kohl was a four-star prospect out of high school, joining the Cyclones out of Ankeny in the 2023 recruiting class.
If you go and look at Iowa State’s 247 Sports page, Kohl is the second highest rated prospect of all-time for the program, trailing only Allen Lazard. Interestingly, also appearing in the top 8 are former Cyclone Hunter Dekkers and 2025 quarterback signee Alex Manske.
Recruiting rankings don’t mean everything, or anything in some cases.
But this move was expected. Kohl played just two snaps – both on run plays – during garbage time this season while Connor Moberly earned the backup spot.
It’s also a product of Iowa State’s in-state recruiting. The Cyclones have landed the top rated quarterback in the state in each of the past three classes – they weren’t all going to see the field. It’s a ‘good problem’ to have and it will be interesting to see where Kohl ends up.
True freshman offensive lineman A.J. Burton – This one is similar to Kohl, but in different ways.
Burton didn’t play this season for the Cyclones, much like all of the true freshmen that signed as offensive linemen in the 2024 recruiting class.
Coach Ryan Clanton’s resume (prior to Iowa State) speaks for itself. He spent four years at a lower level program and finished with 19 all-conference linemen in the past.
It’s evident he values developing talent over time, and it just didn’t work out here.
I would also point to the 105-man roster limit. Coach Matt Campbell has mentioned in press conferences how unfortunate the rule is. Not to mention that Iowa State – which typically had taken in around 10 preferred walk-ons in past classes – only signed one this cycle in Southeast Polk’s Sam Zelenovich.
Someone asked me if I thought NIL had anything to do with it, and I just have a hard time believing that someone would make an offer good enough to draw a player away from a program that hasn’t seen the field at that spot – it’s happened before though.
Kenny Dillingham’s unique approach to the portal
I know that he’s fresh on everyone’s minds, but what Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham is doing with the transfer portal right now is different than anything I’ve ever seen a coach do.
In Dillingham’s mind, it’s unfair to players that enter the portal to have to wait until after the playoff games.
He’s encouraging players to enter the portal early on if they’re going to, in order to find the right place and have more options, which includes staying with their current team.
Kenny Dillingham’s perspective on ASU players who are entering the transfer portal:
“Our guys have the opportunity to stay on our football team, and they’re like, ‘We’ll go in (the portal) at the end,’ and I go, ‘No, that’s not fair to you to go in after our run is over. I want… pic.twitter.com/5HW1JbxQ6l
— Blake Niemann (@Blakes_Take2) December 9, 2024
On top of it, Dillingham is quote-tweeting each of the prospects that announce they are going to the portal with kind words about them. He’s a different mind, and it’s really cool to see in today’s era of CFB.
One of the best teammates and most physical players we have on our team!! Absolute joy to coach!!!! Fired up to keep coaching you thru the bowl/playoff! https://t.co/dajhij2GHG
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) December 9, 2024
Someone will be getting a DUDE! And a good person! https://t.co/CC9hTly1IG
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) December 10, 2024
The Cy-Hawk games
We’ll get around to hoops around the Big 12 in the coming days, but before that, it’s Cy-Hawk week.
The women’s teams kick it off Wednesday with a top 25 matchup, before Iowa State’s highest ranked basketball team ever (ok, tied for the highest) tests that mark in the rivalry game on Thursday.
What happened the last time Iowa State was ranked No. 3 in the country? The 1956-57 Cyclones were downed by Missouri in their only game that week.
The men will try to prevent that from happening by become the first Iowa State basketball team since 2014 to win at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The women will try to win there for the first time since 2006 – and they came damn close to beating Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes last year.
The week concludes with Swimming & Diving on Friday night. If the Cyclones can win two of the three matchups, they will clinch the overall Cy-Hawk Series win.
It’s another big week. Let’s rock.
