***Official portal tracker thread***

[CyLyte2]

Yeah, too bad the Vorhees kid decided to stay at Wazzu.

Leo Pulalasi is still in the portal for WSU. Bigger back than Voorhees(in stature). I'm interested in where he and Isaac Terrell(WSU edge in the portal) end up.

 

[MTCyclone43]

Beating out Indiana for one of the top safeties in the portal is a HUGE win for ISU!

It was a team effort. The fans, the coaching staff, Ames, and the Benjamin's.

 

[5Cy]

What are the rumblings on a running back? Any visits scheduled?

 

[12191987]

I get what you are saying, but this comment wont age that well, imo. Were shooting MUCH higher for RB than Vorhees, if i had to guess

 

[awd4cy]

Man, this staff can recruit!!

 

[cyfan92]

What are the rumblings on a running back? Any visits scheduled?

Rodney Nelson - Monmouth Hawks Running Back - ESPN

View the profile of Monmouth Hawks Running Back Rodney Nelson on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

 

[Kinch]

I’ve noticed a lot of Jimmy’s portal gets have more than one year eligibility. We get a two for one.

 

[BigLame]

Rodney Nelson - Monmouth Hawks Running Back - ESPN

View the profile of Monmouth Hawks Running Back Rodney Nelson on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Levi Stevenson, Matthias Schwartzkopf and Dylan Soehner featured him on CF After Dark

 

[isucy86]

What are the rumblings on a running back? Any visits scheduled?

The CF After Dark guys talked about Monmouth RB Rodney Nelson as a target.

2025 (Redshirt Sophomore)

• Phil Steele Preseason All-CAA Second Team
• Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week 11/3
• Finished the season with 1802 net rushing yards and 18 touchdowns
• Gained 244 yards and 2 touchdowns, against Bryant, 11/1

 

[Frak]

I kind of wonder about Ryver Peppers. I think that he may have had the most potential of our RBs last year, but was injured. If he stays, between him and Francois and Flora, we have some decent backs. Could use one more though.

 

[MTCyclone43]

This is his Wazuu bio. - Civil Engineer major
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Van Meter High School in Iowa…two-time All-State as a kicker…as a SENIOR, named All-District as a punter…three consecutive state championship teams at Van Meter High School from 2021-23…went a combined 11-of-13 on field goal attempts during the 2023 and 2024 seasons with a long of 54 yards…Academic All-State and All-District…interested in engineering…rated three-star kicker by ESPN.com.

His numbers look good- was he even recruited by the last coaching staff? Come on home son.

 

[SportsMan9000]

Some of you guys were way too worried about the people we were losing in the portal

 

[isucy86]

I kind of wonder about Ryver Peppers. I think that he may have had the most potential of our RBs last year, but was injured. If he stays, between him and Francois and Flora, we have some decent backs. Could use one more though.

The other freshmen RB Jayden Jackson also decide to stay. But I would love to see Pepper re-commit.

 

[Clonedogg]

Braden Smith, OL from Tarleton commits

OL | Braden Smith – Tarleton State offensive lineman Braden Smith is set to visit Iowa State from Jan. 4-6. As a redshirt freshman, Smith was named an FCS Freshman All-American. He’s visiting Rutgers on Jan. 2 and 3

This seems like a awesome pickup, 3 more years, one of the top FCS freshman lineman.

 

[CYCLNST8]

Some of you guys were way too worried about the people we were losing in the portal

It's not so much the individual players as much as it is the numbers. No retention; basically burning everything to the ground and starting over at Ground Zero. No continuity of culture. The tradition of singing the fight song in the locker room after victories is probably dead. Not saying 2026 can't be competitive, but it's tough building from scratch in football. If this team manages to make it to a bowl game I'll be super happy.

 

[KnappShack]

Man, this staff can recruit!!

The fans are like a coiled spring too

We want to embrace you and make your time in Ames a good one.

 

[lynn_phoenix]

My point was just an observation that either Franklin was good at recruiting, it is super easy to get 4-5 star guys at PSU, or a little bit of both.

So a little surprising so far that Campbell is 100% ex-ISU guys. Of course that's going to change because it has to. But if he's going to basically take the same approach that worked at ISU, including using mostly 3 star guys, what was the point in leaving? He's already doing that here. The whole point, according to Matt was to go somewhere where he had the resources to compete at the highest level, meaning pay for better talent. If you're going to use those resources to get a similar level of talent, kind of defeats the purpose.

Now, I don't think there's any doubt he's going to get more talent than he could at ISU. Like I said, you can fall ass backward into 4 and 5 star guys there. He's got to find the balance between folding in 4 and 5 star talent into his 5 star culture. That is easier said than done.

According to Matt, he left to be closer to his mom battling cancer and closer to his daughter going to college. Let's not invent reasons please.

 

[BCClone]

It's not so much the individual players as much as it is the numbers. No retention; basically burning everything to the ground and starting over at Ground Zero. No continuity of culture. The tradition of singing the fight song in the locker room after victories is probably dead. Not saying 2026 can't be competitive, but it's tough building from scratch in football. If this team manages to make it to a bowl game I'll be super happy.

Why would Rogers kill a tradition that I believe has been going on way before Campbell?

 

[Dandy]

I’ve noticed a lot of Jimmy’s portal gets have more than one year eligibility. We get a two for one.

With the current portal system being absolutely broken, let's just be happy they're on board for 2026. Anyone/everyone could be gone after one year.

 

[cstrunk]

KSU raided JUCOs in the 90s with a lot of success. This kind of feels like that. Excited for these new recruits.