Iowa State picked up the 12th commitment to its 2026 recruiting class Tuesday in defensive tackle Daniel Howard.
The 6-foot-3, 280-pound prospect announced the news over social media.
Proud to announce that I am COMMITTED to Iowa state university!!! Cyclone Nation🌪️🚨‼️‼️@CoachRasheed @DerekHoodjer @TrentSlattenow @Coach_Kratch @ISUMattCampbell@LaneTechFB @PrepRedzoneIL @_Conz__ @AllenTrieu @RivalsFriedman @GregSmithRivals @ChadSimmons_ @CycloneFB pic.twitter.com/18vNs8kAkG
— Daniel Howard 2026 DL (@DanielHoward91) April 9, 2025
Howard is rated as the No. 65 defensive lineman in the class out of Lane Tech High School in Illinois.
He chooses the Cyclones over offers from Kansas State, Kansas, Cincinnati, Toledo, Northern Illinois and Illinois State.
What it means: Howard becomes the 12th commit to the 2026 class, and the first at the defensive line position.
His 280-pound, 6-foot-3 frame is ideal for Iowa State to develop down the road.
The defensive line spot was one Iowa State hadn’t had a commitment out of yet for this class, which is nearly rounded out as far as the spread around positions go.
The 2026 class: This class is up to 12 commitments, and if it’s anything like previous years, we’ve very well passed the halfway mark for it, but that isn’t set in stone.
Iowa State has a number of uncommitted prospects set for official visits this summer. More on that later this week.
Iowa State’s ’26 recruiting class
RB | Caleb Francois, Minnesota
WR | Milan Parris, Ohio
WR | Jeffrey Roberts, Iowa (Ames)
OL | Mason Bandhauer, Colorado
OL | Ethan Beckman, Minnesota
DT | Daniel Howard, Illinois
LB | Keian Kaiser, Nebraska
LB | Barry Fries, Nebraska
DB | Tyrell Chatman, Nebraska
S | Brayden Thomas, Ohio
ATH |Kaprice Keith, Nebraska
ATH | Amarion Jackson, Nebraska
