AMES — Iowa State football completed its first spring under coach Jimmy Rogers on Saturday with the program’s spring showcase inside Jack Trice Stadium, giving an estimated crowd of 2,000 fans its first public look at the new Cyclones.
The approximately two-hour-long event featured practice periods and an extended scrimmage as Rogers wrapped up his first 15 practices in Ames.
Senior quarterback Jaylen Raynor appeared to take a step toward the starting role, working first in drills and receiving snaps with what looked like a potential first-team offense.
“Raynor just has a grip on the team as far as the leadership standpoint,” Rogers said. “He’s got moxie and he’s got charisma.”
Behind him, redshirt sophomore Zane Flores and redshirt junior Connor Moberly also received praise from offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl, who said Iowa State has quality depth at the position.
Rogers also mentioned the gap between Flores and Moberly had tightened in the final week of spring practice. The fight might now be between Flores and Moberly for the No. 2 spot, with Raynor looking like the projected starter.
“The separation between [Moberly] and [Flores] has really closed,” Rogers said. “Mobes [Moberly] has talent.”
At running back, injuries have thinned the room. Oregon State transfer junior Salahadin Allah watched on a scooter with a cast on his lower right leg, while redshirt freshman Ryver Peppers also was unavailable.
That opened more opportunities for redshirt freshman Jayden Jackson, who broke a long run during team drills. Jackson was arguably the event’s biggest standout, breaking multiple big plays.
Redshirt sophomores Bowling Green transfer Cameron Pettaway and Aiden Flora also look like contenders for carries come fall.
At receiver, the Cyclones rotated heavily. Redshirt senior and Tarleton State transfer Cody Jackson caught a 30-plus-yard touchdown and worked with multiple units. Redshirt junior and Michigan State transfer Evan Boyd and redshirt junior Trevor Fortenberry also flashed during the scrimmage.
The offensive line remains unsettled, though redshirt junior Oklahoma transfer Jake Taylor, redshirt junior Sioux Falls transfer Caden Maas and redshirt sophomore Tarleton State transfer Braden Smith were among those working with the top group. Roehl said as many as 10 linemen could factor into the rotation this fall.
“10 guys may play, Roehl said. “And that’s okay with me.”
Defensively, coordinator Jesse Bobbit said the standard is to limit the offense to 14 points and become the best defense in the country.
Washington State transfers redshirt senior Bryson Lamb, senior Isaac Terrell and redshirt junior Jack Janikowski joined returner redshirt junior Zaimir Hawk on the defensive front, where Bobbit praised the group’s physicality.
“I think the d-line from the jump, Bryson Lamb and Zaimir Hawk, the guys getting off the rock,” Bobbit said. “Resetting the line of scrimmage. I mean, play one.”
In the secondary, redshirt sophomore Montana State transfer Seth Johnson stood out throughout spring and during the spring showcase.
Senior linebacker Tristan Exline also earned praise after an active showing in the scrimmage.
Unavailable Saturday were redshirt junior receiver Jordyn Bailey, redshirt senior defensive tackle Max Baloun, redshirt freshmen corners Tyron Cotton and Trillion Sorrell and redshirt junior Beni Ngoyi, along with senior safety Braden Awls, who has been ruled out for the 2026 season with a torn ACL.
