Position Preview: Defensive Line

We are 33 days away until Iowa State kicks off the season against Kansas State in Ireland. To keep getting you prepared for the season, we will continue with out position previews every weekday through July 25. Next up is a group that has a ton of questions to answer heading into 2025: the defensive line.

Returners
Domonique Orange (Sr.)
Orange played in 13 games with seven starts in 2024, recording 24 tackles—including 4.5 for loss—a sack, and earning All-Big 12 honorable mention, highlighted by key performances against Iowa, Utah, Arizona State, and Miami. After seeing action in all 13 games in 2023 with 16 tackles and two tackles for loss, he made an impact as a true freshman in 2022 by playing all 12 games and totaling eight tackles with a quarterback hurry.
Ikenna (Ike) Ezeogu (R-Jr.)
In 2024, Ezeogu played in all 14 games with his first career start being against UCF. He finished with 19 tackles, two for loss, a sack, and a season-high three tackles against Houston last season. After redshirting in 2022, he contributed in all 13 games in 2023 with 16 tackles, a sack, three pass breakups, and a season-high four tackles at Oklahoma.
Zaimir Hawk (R-So.)
In 2024, Hawk played in all 14 games, recording nine tackles, including 0.5 for a loss, a quarterback hurry, and a season-high two tackles against both Texas Tech and Utah. After redshirting in 2023 while appearing in five games with two tackles and two hurries, he has continued to develop as a defensive contributor.
Myles Mendeszoon (R-Sr.)
He played in all 14 games in 2024, recording 14 tackles (seven on special teams) and blocking a punt that was returned for a touchdown, after also leading the team in special teams tackles in 2023 and 2022. Over his career, he appeared in 39 games, tallying 55 tackles, including a sack and several key special teams plays.
Jace J. Gilbert (R-Fr.)
He redshirted last season but appeared in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against No. 15 Miami.
Alijah Carnell (R-Fr.)
He redshirted while playing in four games, recording one tackle against Utah and another in the Big 12 Championship game versus No. 12 Arizona State.
Braden Simonsen (R-Jr.)
Has been a squad member for the Cyclones since 2022. 
Chet Andrews (R-Jr.)
Played in every game last season on special teams, finishing with three tackles. 

Additions
Vontroy Malone (R-Jr.)
The transfer from Tulsa appeared in all 12 games for Golden Hurricanes in both 2023 and 2024, totaling 49 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks over those two seasons, highlighted by a forced fumble and a season-high six tackles against UTSA in this past season. In his Tulsa career, he played in 28 games after redshirting in 2022, finishing with 50 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks.
Tamatoa McDonough (R-Sr.)
In 2024, McDonough started all 10 games for Yale, earning All-Ivy Second Team honors with 27 tackles, a team-high 6.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles, including a 2.5-sack performance against Princeton. Over his Yale career, he appeared in 28 games, recording 49 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 13.5 tackles for loss.
Trey Verdon (Fr.)
The younger brother of former Cyclone Malik Verdon comes into Iowa State as a 3-star prospect and was rated as the No. 23 player in Ohio and the No. 60 edge nationally by ESPN. Verdon picked the Cyclones over Louisville and Pittsburgh. 
Charlie Woleben (Fr.)
Woleben was a three-star prospect from DeSoto High School in Lenexa, Kansas, he was ranked among the top 15 players in Kansas by all major recruiting outlets. He chose Iowa State over offers from Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
Jack Limbaugh (Fr.)
Limbaugh played at Algona and was a three-star prospect ranked as a top-75 edge nationally and the No. 3 player in Iowa by ESPN, also earning a spot on the Des Moines Register’s All-Iowa Elite Team. He chose Iowa State over offers from Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Missouri, and Duke.
Ka’Mori Moore (Fr.)
Moore played at Lee’s Summit North and was a three-star prospect ranked as a top 10 player in Missouri by 247Sports and ESPN and the No. 62 defensive tackle nationally by ESPN. He chose the Cyclones over offers from Nebraska, Michigan State, and Oklahoma.
Markell Chapman (R-So.)
Champman transferred in from Highland Community College in Kansas. He spent two seasons there before transferring to the Cyclones. 
BJ Carter (Fr.)
Carter played at Middleburg High School and was rated a three-star prospect and top 150 defensive lineman nationally by 247Sports, ESPN, and On3. He chose the Cyclones over offers from NC State and West Virginia.
Cannon Butler (R-Sr.)
The transfer from Northern Iowa appeared in 12 games as a senior at UNI in 2024, recording 59 tackles, eight for loss, and 1.5 sacks, with a season-high nine tackles and a sack against Illinois State. Over his UNI career, he played in 31 games from 2021 to 2024, totaling 88 tackles, 12.0 sacks, and six quarterback hurries.

Departures
J.R. Singleton
Graduation – Singleton signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
Obald Niyonkuru 
Transferred to North Dakota State University
Kenard Snyder 
Transferred to Texas State University
Tyler Onyedim 
Transferred to Texas A&M University
Joey Petersen 
Graduation
Trent Jones II 
Transferred to the University of UConn

Can the Cyclones DL get pressure on the quarterback?

The big question for Iowa State heading into 2025 is whether its defensive line can finally generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks again. Last season, the Cyclones finished dead last in the Big 12 with just 16 total sacks—a glaring weakness for a team that otherwise boasted one of the nation’s top passing defenses. Defensive coordinator Jon Heacock’s unit was able to mask the lack of pressure with strong coverage, but that formula can only take you so far. This year, the Cyclones are banking on a mix of returning talent and new faces to flip the script.

At the heart of the defensive line is Domonique Orange, a 6’4, 325-pound All-Big 12 defensive tackle who anchors the interior. Orange is widely considered as one of the best interior defensive linemen in the country. He’s joined by returner Ikenna Ezeogu, who saw limited action last year but is expected to take on a bigger role at defensive end this season. One of the most intriguing additions is Yale transfer Tamatoa McDonough, who led the Ivy League with 6.5 sacks in 2024. Even though McDonough’s production came at a lower level, he brings a spark to a unit that desperately needs it, especially on the edge. 

Cannon Butler arrives in Ames with a résumé that goes under the radar. The Northern Iowa transfer was a three-year contributor for the Panthers, racking up 88 tackles and 8.5 sacks across his career. Last season alone, he posted 59 tackles and 1.5 sacks while serving as a team captain. At 6’6, Butler brings length and a strong motor to Iowa State’s defensive front, and while he may not be a big-time name, his experience and versatility could make him a valuable rotational piece for the Cyclones. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable—and in a Big 12 loaded with tempo and talent up front, that might be exactly what the Cyclones need.

Another intriguing transfer is Tulsa transfer Vontroy Malone. He brings a physical edge at 6’4, 265 pounds and has shown flashes of being a disruptive force off the edge. With Iowa State losing veterans like Tyler Onyedim, J.R. Singleton and Joey Petersen, Malone and McDonough’s arrival couldn’t be better timed. If they can translate that success to the Big 12, and if Orange continues to dominate inside with the help from some returning production like Zaimir Hawk and Myles Mendeszoon, Iowa State can finally get back to having the ingredients to pressure the quarterback and take the next step defensively.

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