AMES – Iowa State football issued a press release last Tuesday announcing the addition of five new transfers. Linemen Austin Barrett, Derek Johnson, Markell Chapman, Tamatoa McDonough and punter Jonah DuPont join the Cyclones for the 2025-26 season.
Tamatoa McDonough (6-5, 255, RSr., Asheville, N.C., Asheville HS/Yale)
McDonough’s football career began at Asheville High School. He played on both the offensive and defensive line, also competing in track and field as a thrower and running the 110-meter hurdles.
After high school, McDonough spent four seasons at Yale. He appeared in 28 games for the Bulldogs, having started all 10 games during the 2023-24 season. McDonough recorded 49 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 13.5 tackles for loss.
His announcement to join the Cyclones came in January, following his graduation from the Ivy League institution. McDonough enters the season in his last year of eligibility.
Markell Chapman (6-3, 315, DL, RSo. – Sumter, S.C. (Lakewood HS/Highland C.C.))
After playing high school football at Lakewood High School, Chapman spent two seasons at Highland Community College.
In nine games, Chapman recorded 14 tackles, three sacks and seven tackles for loss. He joins the Cyclones with three years of eligibility remaining.
Austin Barrett (6-6, 308, OL, RSo. – St. Charles, Illinois (East HS/Indiana))
Barrett, a former three-star prospect and top 25 recruit out of St. Charles East High School, spent two seasons at Indiana. He redshirted his freshman season before earning All-Big Ten Honors his second year with the Hoosiers.
He appeared on the offensive line in five games throughout the 2024-25 season.
Barrett also joins the Cyclones as a former heavyweight wrestler. His older brother, Dylan, is also on the active roster.
Derek Jensen (6-6, 314, OL, RFr. – Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead HS/Wisconsin))
Jensen started his college career at the University of Wisconsin after attending Arrowhead High School in Hartland. The former Rivals four-star recruit redshirted his first season, retaining four years of eligibility.
Jensen also earned all-region and all-state honors in his junior and senior years while playing alongside two other Cyclones, tight end Tripp Walsh and defensive lineman Jace Gilbert.
Jonah DuPont (5-11, 205, P, So. – Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Center Point-Urbana HS/Iowa Western C.C.))
DuPont’s path to joining the Cyclones is unique. Originally from Cedar Rapids, he remains the only Iowa native among the list of incoming transfers.
DuPont attended Center Point-Urbana High School, averaging 36.6 yards per punt throughout his junior and senior seasons. He was also a standout athlete in baseball before committing to play football at NJCAA powerhouse Iowa Western Community College.
While at Iowa Western, DuPont appeared in 13 games, recorded 55 punts for 2,177 yards and averaged 39.6 yards per punt. 16 of his punts pushed opponents behind the 20-yard-line, five of which were over 50 yards.
DuPont joins the Cyclones with three years of eligibility remaining.
All five Cyclone transfers are expected to see action in the 2025-26 season. Week 0 kickoff is scheduled for Aug. 23 at 11 a.m. in Dublin, Ireland, against the Kansas State Wildcats.
