Iowa State picks up commitment from USC graduate transfer

Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell walks back to the sideline after talking with his team during a timeout in Iowa State’s game against West Virginia on Nov. 26 at Jack Trice Stadium. West Virginia defeated Iowa State by a final score of 49-19.

Austin Anderson

Iowa State picked up a commitment from USC graduate transfer Khaliel Rodgers, an offensive lineman, Sunday afternoon per his twitter account.

Rodgers, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound senior from New Castle, Delaware, who has started nine games, spent last weekend in Ames, per 247Sports.com.

Rodgers has spent time at center and offensive guard during his time at USC but struggled with shoulder injuries. He missed action during the spring season due to the injury and was limited to to three games last season as a backup because of hamstring injuries suffered early in the 2016 season.

Iowa State has a void to fill after losing starting center Brian Bobek to graduation. Rodgers was the top-ranked center in the class of 2013, according to 247Sports. He’s the second graduate transfer on the offensive line to commit to Iowa State this month, joining Dave Dawson from Michigan.

Dawson was the No. 3 ranked guard in the class of 2013, according to 247Sports, bolstering an offensive line that was inexperienced in coach Matt Campbell’s first season in Ames.

Rodgers and Dawson will sign letters of intent on national signing day on Wednesday.