Iowa State recruiting class of 2027 jumps from seven to 14 commitments in one stretch

Iowa State’s recruiting for the class of 2027 accelerated sharply between Saturday, May 30, and Saturday, June 6, growing from seven commitments to 14, according to Wide Right & Natty Lite’s recruiting update. The surge comes with the Cyclones entering the summer under first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers, who was named Iowa State’s 34th football coach in December 2025.

The week-by-week pattern starts with Drew Aagesen, a Goodrich, Michigan prospect who pledged on May 30. Wide Right & Natty Lite reports that while Aagesen was described as a versatile, two-way standout in high school, Iowa State plans to use him as an offensive lineman at the next level. The update also ties Aagesen’s profile to production on defense, listing 11 sacks and 21 tackles for loss during his junior season, and says the Cyclones’ offer arrived as his first power-conference look in March, ahead of his decision in Ames.

Defensive priorities also show up immediately the next day with safety Jordan Crider, who announced his commitment on May 31. The update characterizes Crider as a 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect from Middletown, Ohio, and notes he was limited to five games due to state transfer regulations. Wide Right & Natty Lite credits Crider’s limited schedule with four interceptions and 18 tackles, adding that he also displayed receiving value with three touchdown catches while choosing Iowa State over Kentucky and Temple.

Iowa State’s class-building during this stretch extends to versatility and positional changes. Jason Wooden, an athlete from Frisco, Texas, is described as moving from wide receiver to the defensive side after an official visit in early June, with the update citing programs that had recruited him to stay at receiver and framing the switch to defense as a deciding factor.

On offense, the Cyclones added multiple skill pieces. Cash Hollingshead, a Salem Hills, Utah native, committed after a strong performance at a camp in Ames, and Wide Right & Natty Lite says the quarterback threw for over 1,000 yards last season with a 15-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. It also reports that Hollingshead believes his skill set fits the offensive system run by coordinator Tyler Roehl, who is Iowa State’s offensive coordinator on record with the athletics staff.

The update also attributes a June 5 commitment swing to Joey Massey, a tight end from Green Bay, Wisconsin, who flipped from Central Michigan to Iowa State. Wide Right & Natty Lite lists Massey at 233 pounds and emphasizes versatility, including both receiving production (352 yards, three touchdowns as a junior) and defensive output (48 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four sacks). Another June 5 add, Josh McCarthy from Farmington, Missouri, is described as accepting an offer after months of building toward a Power 4 opportunity, with the update listing 119 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks on defense, alongside nine touchdown receptions and 507 receiving yards.

The final member highlighted in this May 30 to June 6 window is Blake Moser, a Lake Stevens, Washington prospect who committed on June 6. Wide Right & Natty Lite describes Moser as a three-star quarterback prospect who produced over 3,400 total yards and 55 combined touchdowns during his high school season, and says Iowa State expects to transition his speed to wide receiver. Taken together, the additions point toward a recruiting strategy built around depth on defense, added size and movement on the front, and athletes with room to develop into multiple roles.