AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell has preached the importance of identifying players who will have success transitioning into its established “five-star culture.”

Campbell is certain he found the right fit of players to continue the favorable upward trend of Cyclone football with the announcement of the early signees of the 2021 class today.

“Our program is thrilled to welcome the 2021 recruiting class to Cyclone football,” Campbell said. “This is a group that number one, fits the culture we have created inside of our walls. We truly believe you win with people, and this is a group that embodies the characteristics which have allowed us to find success at Iowa State. In addition to the character of this recruiting class, I couldn’t be more proud of how this group has approached academic success, as they have collectively shown a commitment to reaching their full potential in the classroom.”

Since Campbell took over the reins of the program prior to the 2016 season, Iowa State has dramatically improved its recruiting. The 2021 recruiting class is ranked 45th nationally by Rivals and No. 51 by 247Sports. Iowa State’s composite ranking by 247Sports is 84.79, one of the highest totals in school history.

Big out-of-state pickups in this class are DB Malik Verdon (Hamilton, Ohio) and WR Jaylin Noel (Kansas City, Mo.), who both had a number of “power five” offers. Noel tallied over 1,000 yards receiving on 68 receptions while earning all-state accolades. Verdon, who played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back, was rated as the 12th-best athlete nationally by Rivals.

Campbell signed five Iowans in this class in OL Jim Bonifas (Dubuque), OL Tyler Maro (Davenport), TE Tyler Moore (Johnston), Joey Petersen (Long Grove) and Dodge Sauser (Grinnell).

Bonifas and Maro were both Des Moines Register Elite Team All-State members and top-75 offensive tackles nationally by 247Sports. Moore is a four-star recruit and the No. 13 tight end nationally according to 247Sports.

“This is an extremely talented group, who will help fill needs across every position group both in the immediate as well as the future,” Campbell added. “Lastly, this is a group that has had great competitive success, on the football field as well as in other sports. As a whole, I am proud of the group we have put together, and truly grateful for their belief in Iowa State football.”

Signed National Letters of Intent

Name                                 Ht.             Wt.      Yr.        Pos.                                          Hometown

Jim Bonifas                        6-5             267     Fr.        OL             Dubuque, Iowa (Senior)

    Des Moines Register Elite Team member and first-team all-state selection in 2020; a top-70 OT nationally by 247Sports/Rivals.

*Howard Brown                 6-2             305     Fr.        DL             Kansas City, Mo. (Lincoln College Prep)

    Considered a top-30 DT nationally by 247Sports; played QB in H.S., accumulating over 7,000 yards of total offense.

Beau Freyler                      6-2             205     Fr.        DB             Colorado Springs, Colo. (Pine Creek)

    Two-time all-state pick; 53rd-best safety nationally by 247Sports; led team to 2019 state title with 73 tackles and three picks.

Jayden Gray                      6-3             235     Fr.        DE             Haslet, Texas (V. R. Eaton)

    Two-time all-district pick and Dallas Morning News top-100 member; posted over 100 tackles in his final two seasons.

*Ben Langston                    6-2             195      So.       DB             The Woodlands, Texas (The Woodlands/Blinn JC)

    No. 1 safety and 33rd-best JC player nationally according to 247Sports; all-conference in 2019 with 52 tackles & four picks.

Tyler Maro                         6-7             260     Fr.        OL                                          Davenport, Iowa (Assumption)

    Top-50 OT nationally and top-10 player in Iowa by Rivals; Des Moines Register Elite Team member in 2020; had 38 offers. 

Carston Marshall               6-3             205     Fr.        LB                                          Wadsworth, Ohio (Wadsworth)

    Two-time All-Suburban League pick; recorded 133 tackles, 16.0 TFL and seven sacks in last two seasons as a prep.

Myles Mendeszoon           6-4             200     Fr.        LB             Chardon, Ohio (Chardon)

    Three-star recruit by 247Sports; a top-60 WDE nationally by 247Sports; had 60 tackles to lead team to state title (12-0).

*Tristan Michaud               6-6             200     Fr.        WR            Quebec City, Quebec (Courvilloise)

    Three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals; a top-150 WR nationally by 247Sports.

*Tyler Moore                      6-5             243     Fr.        TE             Des Moines, Iowa (Johnston)

    Four-star recruit by 247Sports; No. 6 player in Iowa and No. 13 tight end nationally by 247Sports; first-team all-state in 2020.

*Jaylin Noel                       5-10           175     Fr.        WR            Kansas City, Mo. (Park Hill)

    No. 8 player in Missouri and 87th-best WR nationally by 247Sports; all-stater in 2020 with 68 catches, 1,005 yards and 10 TDs.

Tyler Onyedim                   6-4             280     Fr.        DT                                          Richmond, Texas (Foster)

    Three-star recruit and ranked as the 74th-best DT nationally by 247Sports; tallied 63 tackles and 21.0 TFL as a senior.

Joey Petersen                   6-4             210     Fr.        DE             Long Grove, Iowa (North Scott)

    First-team all-state selection by the Des Moines Register and IPSWA; led team to state title in 2020 with 47.5 tackles & 13.0 TFL.

Myles Purchase                 5-11           180     Fr.        DB             Denver, Colo. (Cherry Creek)

    Three-time all-state selection; led team to state titles in 2019 & 2020; Colorado Class 5A Player of the Year in 2020.

Aidan Ralph                       6-3             215     Fr.        LB             Chicago, Ill. (De La Salle)

    Named to the All-Chicago Catholic League as a junior, posting 84 tackles and 14.0 TFL; top-120 LB nationally by 247Sports.

*Dodge Sauser                  6-5             280     Fr.        OL             Grinnell, Iowa (Grinnell)

    First-team all-state by the Des Moines Register and IPSWA in 2020; two-time all-district pick; top-20 player in Iowa.

*Deon Silas                       5-8             175     Fr.        RB             Lutz, Fla. (Steinbrenner)

    Set career school records in all-purpose and return yards; recorded 55 touchdowns in his career; three-time all-county selection.

*Malik Verdon                    6-4             205     Fr.        DB             Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton)

    Rated as the 12th-best athlete nationally and player in Ohio by Rivals; all-city and all-conference selection.

The Iowa Hawkeye football program signed 17 recruits for the class of 2021 on National Signing Day on Wednesday. Here is the list of signees for the Hawkeyes.

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown High School Pronunciation
Jeff Bowie DL 6-5 245 Fr. West Branch, Iowa West Branch BO-ee
Brody Brecht WR 6-4 205 Fr. Ankeny, Iowa Ankeny BRECK-t
Arland Bruce IV WR 5-10 195 Fr. Olathe, Kan. Ankeny/Olathe North
Connor Colby OL 6-6 295 Fr. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Kennedy
David Davidkov OL 6-6 295 Fr. Glenview, Ill. New Trier David-cough
Cooper DeJean DB 6-1 205 Fr. Odebolt, Iowa OA-BCIG DEE-jean
Gennings Dunker OL 6-5 290 Fr. Lena, Ill. Lena-Winslow Jennings
Jaden Harrell LB 6-2 230 Fr. Urbandale, Iowa Urbandale (HAIR-uhl)
Keagan Johnson WR 6-1 190 Fr. Bellevue, Neb. Bellevue West
Joey Labas QB 6-4 200 Fr. Brecksville, Ohio Brecksville-Broadview Hts. LAY-bus
Griffin Liddle DL 6-3 275 Fr. Bettendorf, Iowa Bettendorf little
Max Llewellyn DL 6-5 245 Fr. Urbandale, Iowa Urbandale lou-WELL-un
Jeremiah Pittman DL 6-3 265 Fr. Palatine, Ill. St. Viator
Karson Sharar LB 6-2 200 Fr. Iowa Falls, Iowa Iowa Falls-Alden SHIRE
Beau Stephens OL 6-6 300 Fr. Blue Springs, Mo. Blue Springs
Justice Sullivan LB 6-2 225 Fr. Eden Prairie, Minn. Eden Prairie
Zach Twedt LB 6-3 220 Fr. Story City, Iowa Roland-Story tweet

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa junior defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon has been named the Big Ten Conference Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year. The announcement was made by the Big Ten Conference on Wednesday.

Special teams honors will be announced Thursday.

Nixon becomes the first ever Hawkeye to earn defensive player of the year and defensive lineman of the year in the Big Ten in the same season. Iowa’s last Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was Josey Jewell in 2017. Mitch King (2008) was the last Hawkeye to win Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Nixon and senior defensive end Chauncey Golston garnered first-team All-Big Ten honors by league coaches and media.

Senior defensive lineman Zach VanValkenburg (coaches & media) and junior defensive back Jack Koerner (media) were second-team All-Big Ten selections.

Koerner was named third-team All-Big Ten by league coaches, along with senior linebacker Nick Niemann. Niemann was also an honorable mention selection by media.

Four additional Hawkeyes earned honorable mention on defense: sophomore defensive back Dane Belton (coaches & media), junior defensive back Riley Moss (coaches & media), sophomore linebacker Seth Benson (media), and senior Matt Hankins (media).

Iowa’s nine All-Big Ten defensive honorees helped lead a defense that ranked second in the conference in total defense (313.8), third in scoring defense (16.0) and rushing defense (107.6), and fourth in pass defense (206.1).

Nixon, a Kenosha, Wisconsin, native earns his first career postseason honors. Nixon is tied with Golston for the Big Ten lead with 5.5 sacks, and Nixon leads the conference with 13.5 tackles for loss. Nixon is a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award, and a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy and Bednarik Award.

Golston, a Detroit, Michigan, native, earns his second career postseason nod after being an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection by league coaches and media last season. Golston’s 8.5 tackles for loss is tied for sixth in the conference with VanValkenburg. Golston is one of 24 semifinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.

Nixon and Golston led an Iowa defense that ranks second in the Big Ten in sacks (22.0) and tackles for loss (52.0). The two each have 45 tackles and an interception to their name this season.

VanValkenburg, who was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following his three-sack performance in Iowa’s win over Minnesota, earns his first career postseason nod. A Zeeland, Michigan, native, VanValkenburg’s 3.5 sacks is third on the team and his 8.5 TFLs are tied for sixth-best in the Big Ten. VanValkenburg shares the national lead with four fumble recoveries.

Koerner, a Des Moines, Iowa, native, earns his first career postseason honor. In his second year starting at free safety, Koerner racked up the third-most tackles (45) on the team, including 13 tackles in Week 1 to tie a career high. Koerner’s three interceptions tie for the fifth most in the conference.

Niemann, a native of Sycamore, Illinois, earns his first career postseason honor. Niemann recorded a team-high 77 tackles – second most in the Big Ten. Niemann racked up a career-high 17 tackles in Iowa’s win at Penn State.

Iowa’s final four honorable mentions – Belton, Moss, Benson, Hankins – all earned their first career postseason recognition from the conference.

Belton, a Tampa, Florida, native, tallied 33 tackles in eight starts. His five pass break-ups tied for the team high this season.

Moss, from Ankeny, Iowa, recorded two interceptions, including an interception returned 54 yards for a touchdown against Michigan State. His 43 tackles ranked sixth on the team.

In seven starts, Benson, a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native, ranked second on the team with 47 tackles. Benson led the team in tackles in three games this season.

Hankins, a Lewisville, Texas, native tied for the team lead with five pass break ups this season. He recorded 41 tackles and one interception.

Iowa’s game against Michigan on Saturday has been canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Michigan football program. The Hawkeyes will learn their postseason bowl destination on Sunday, Dec. 20.