Position Preview: Cornerbacks

The opening game of the season in Dublin, Ireland is just 31 days away and to keep you prepared for the upcoming season, we will continue with our position previews every weekday through July 25. Up next is the cornerbacks. A group that has some holes to fill after a brillant season last year. 

Returners
Jontez Williams (R-Jr.)
In 2024, Williams earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors from the coaches after starting 12 games and playing in all 14, finishing with 46 tackles, four interceptions, and five pass breakups. His four interceptions ranked third in the Big 12 and among the Top 25 nationally, included picks in four straight games — tying the second-longest streak in school history — while also recording a season-high 11 tackles against North Dakota and eight stops against No. 15 Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. In 2023, he appeared in all 13 games with two starts, totaling six tackles and three pass breakups.
Beni Ngoyi (R-So.)
Ngoyi also made the position change from wide receiver to cornerback. In 2024, he played in all 14 games as a backup receiver and special teams’ contributor, recording two catches for 27 yards. In 2023, he redshirted while appearing in two games, including a 46-yard catch from Rocco Becht in the Liberty Bowl. 
David Coffey (R-Fr.)
Coffey redshirted last season and appeared in two games, recording two tackles. At De La Salle High School, he was a three-star prospect ranked as a top 130 cornerback nationally and the No. 34 player in Illinois by the 247Sports.
Quentin Taylor Jr. (R-Fr.)
Taylor redshirted in 2024 but appeared in two games against Houston and Baylor, finishing the season with one tackle. At Lake Minneola High School, he was a three-star recruit ranked among the top 140 safeties nationally by the 247Sports Composite.
Cam Smith (Jr.)
In 2024, Smith played in all 14 games, primarily on special teams, and recorded nine tackles, including a season-high three against Iowa. In 2023, he appeared in five games as a special team’s contributor.
Connor Welsch (R.Fr.)
Redshirted in the 2024 season. 
Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman (R-Fr.)
Redshirted in the 2024 season but made a position change from wide receiver to cornerback. This will be his first year as a full-time corner. 
Angelo Jackson (R-Fr.)
Redshirted in the 2024 season. 

Additions
Tre Bell (Jr.)
The transfer from Lindenwood played in 10 games last season, recording 24 tackles, six pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and his first career interception against Kansas, along with a career-high nine tackles versus Western Illinois. In 2023, he appeared in 10 games, finishing with 24 tackles and five pass breakups.
Ethan Stecker (Fr.)
The pride of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Stecker was a three-star prospect by all major recruiting outlets. He was ranked as the No. 4 player in the state of Iowa. 
Josh Patterson (Fr.)
Patterson played at Ed White High School in Jacksonville, Florida and was a three-star prospect, ranked as a top 80 safety nationally and a top 150 player in Florida by 247Sports. He chose the Cyclones over offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Maryland, Pittsburgh, and Wake Forest.
LaMarcus Hicks II (Fr.)
The son of former Cyclone great LaMarcus Hicks, who played two seasons with the Cyclones. Hicks II prepped at Maine West High School after previously playing at Clarksdale High School in Mississippi before his senior season. As a three-star prospect, he was ranked among the top 60 players in Illinois by ESPN and On3.
Hunter Sowell (Fr.)
The younger brother of current Cyclone Chase Sowell. Helped lead his High School Atascocita, to a 12-2 record as a senior. He tallied 69 tackles with seven pass breakups and two interceptions last season in high school. 

Departures
Myles Purchase
Signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. 
Darien Porter
Drafted in the 3^rd round of the NFL Draft to the Las Vegas Raiders. 
Matthew Bess
Transferred to Houston Christian University
Ryan Robinson Jr. 
Transferred to McNeese State.

Who emerges as the second corner opposite of Jontez Williams?

As Iowa State gears up for another run at the Big 12 title, one of the most intriguing position battles unfolds in the secondary. Who will line up opposite Jontez Williams at cornerback? Williams returns as the Cyclones’ lockdown presence on the boundary after a standout 2024 season that included four interceptions and five pass breakups. His physicality and instincts make him a cornerstone of the defense, but the question remains—who will step up to complement him on the other side of the field?

The leading candidate appears to be Lindenwood transfer Tre Bell. With size at 6’2, 205 pounds and experience. Bell brings a veteran presence and has impressed in spring ball and summer workouts with his ability to use his size and length at the line of scrimmage and mirror receivers downfield. If I had to bet who will step out onto the field in Ireland opposite of Williams. It would be Bell. 

Beni Ngoyi, a redshirt sophomore, was originally recruited as a wide receiver but has since transitioned to corner with surprising fluidity. His length and athleticism make him a disruptive force, especially in zone schemes, which Jon Heacock loves to run. Ngoyi is still learning the finer points of technique and footwork, but don’t be surprised to see him get more and more playing time as the season goes on. 

Then there’s Quentin Taylor Jr., a redshirt freshman who’s quietly turning heads. At 6’0, 205 pounds, Taylor has flashed impressive ball skills in limited action. He’s not afraid to come downhill and support the run, which could earn him snaps in run packages. The Cyclones also have depth with David Coffey and LaMarcus Hicks II, a legacy player. 

What is the next jump for Jontez Williams?

Jontez Williams enters the 2025 season as one of Iowa State’s most dominant defensive players. After a breakout 2024 campaign that earned him All-Big 12 honors, Williams proved he could be a ballhawk in the secondary, tallying four interceptions and five pass deflections. But the next jump for him isn’t just about stats—it’s about becoming the Cyclones’ defensive tone-setter. Williams has the chance to elevate from standout to star by embracing leadership and mastering the mental side of the game. Refining his technique in press coverage and becoming more vocal in pre-snap adjustments could make him the glue of Iowa State’s secondary minus all the safeties.

The Cyclones are coming off an 11-3 season and return 14 starters, including a defense that’s quietly built one of the best pass units in the Big 12. Williams is no longer the underdog he’s the guy opponents’ game-plan around. If he can take that pressure and turn it into poise, Iowa State’s defense could be the difference-maker in a title run. The next jump for Jontez isn’t just about locking down receivers—it’s about becoming the kind of corner who changes games before the ball is even snapped. And that could lead him down the same path that TJ Tampa took which ultimately earned him a draft spot for the Baltimore Ravens. 

We will continue our position previews on CycloneFanatic.com. You can check out our previews for the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive line, defensive line, and linebackers at those links.