My rankings?
Linebacker
The list of experience here for a unit that only starts three is incredible. You can easily pick out six or seven guys at the top, and that doesn’t include some who could be there.
Situational platooning might even be an option.
The top end talent here is better, perhaps much, than the doubters seem to think. Ebel, Brezina and Goodwin have high ceilings, Lovett has athleticism untapped because of last year’s injuries, and Bacon and McLaughlin are nails. I’m not going to forget Willich.
And don’t get me started on true freshman Will Hawthorne. Should be a ST stud this year.
#1 is right where this unit belongs.
Tight End
As talented as the TE group is, none of them have yet started and excelled over a full season so far.
Not that I don’t think Ben, Gabe and Cooper won’t be dynamic. It just puts them a shade behind LB.
Quarterback
Talk about top heavy. If we were just ranking starters, Rocco would be #1. Instead, all we’ve seen of Moberly is some running plays, and though Manske enrolled early, he was rehabbing this Spring.
Lastly, there’s only three of them.
Should Rocco return in ‘26, this changes with the additional seasoning for Connor and Alex.
Offensive Line
I think that everyone is selling this group short. I can’t blame them, given decades of the Cyclone fanbase’s collective neuroses about the position.
That said, the primary indicator of success for a college OL is always experience, and this group has it coming out the wazzoo. Starts and time in the program all over the place. Plus, rising young talent for depth when you spell the starters.
High ceiling with Tyler, James and Trevor, tough as nails with Dylan, and a mauler in Brendan. That’s a great place to start!
Defensive Line
I think this group is only a hair behind the OL. W&B are right about Dom Orange, and Ike Ezeogu is going to be just a tick behind. Oh, and Tamatoa McDonough is coming up on the outside corner.
Plus, this room should go three deep in ready talent. What’s not to like?
Secondary
I would have been tempted to separate this into “Corners” and “Safeties”, because I think the latter is in a bit better position than the former. That said, Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez are great pieces to build around.
And there are some great young athletes ready for their turn behind them.
Wide Receiver
Absolutely the only reason this group ranks so low is because there aren’t established returning starters. I think this room is as deeply talented as any time over the last fifty years…and if you know the mid-Seventies, that likely means “ever”.
Honestly, I don’t think this unit loses catches as W&B think. Instead, I think the whole offense blossoms. These guys are going to do rude things to people.
I’ll tack this last one on:
Special Teams
CW said that no Cyclone fan is going to feel comfortable with the kicking game? Well, I beg to differ. Speaking of “collective neuroses”!
Grant Mahoney put some early ‘24 FG misses on the deep snapper. Well, that guy was not only replaced, but left the team after the season.
Konrardy will be excellent this year.
Punting will be about as good as can be expected without actually having the next Ray Guy, and the coverage units are going to have an incredible number of great athletes to draw on.
Returns? Seriously? This team has way more speed than it’s had in those selfsame “fifty years/probably ever”.
Xavier Townsend and Aiden Flora may be the starting point here, but there are lots of names.
One name to remember, perhaps not this year, is true frosh corner Mason Ellens. May need a redshirt at a listed 5’11” 165.
Overall:
I don’t think there’s a unit here that starts out less than a 7, on a 1-10 scale. And is higher than that by midseason—barring the “i” word.
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