Top 10 rated Cyclone Football Recruits of The Decade
Updated: Jul 5, 2022
I will dive into the top 10 best Rated Iowa State Football Recruits of the Decade. I used many sources, the top 2 being ESPN and 247 Sports. I looked at many factors including each players scouting grade, number of stars, and their recruitment level throughout ALL of their high school careers. I also took into account top recruit camps they were invited to, etc. Note: Make sure to sign up for the blog newsletter to stay informed (at bottom of blog post)
Honorable Mentions: QB Re-Al Mitchell- St. John Bosco (CA)
Re-al Mitchell was a top QB coming out of high school during his junior year at St. Johns Bosco. He had rankings as high as 5 stars and his elite status landed him a spot on the Netflix show QB1. However, due to turbulence amid his senior season, he lost his starting QB job at his top nationally ranked high school to Clemson QB DJ Uialagelei, the #1 ranked QB in his class and is now the starter. Due to this, Re-Al Mitchell dipped to a 3 star. He was still invited to the Elite 11 camp, which selects the top 11 quarterbacks in each class. Mitchell has left ISU and played for multiple colleges. However, before leaving the Cyclones, he was able to throw for a touchdown and run for multiple. Check Out Re-Al’s High School Highlights:
DT Latrell Bankston- Hutchinson CC (KS)
Latrell Bankston is a 6 foot defensive tackle from Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. He is ranked as the number 26 overall player coming out of community college and was a big get for the Cyclones. The Georgia native is also the third ranked Juco DT in his class. He had a great run as a Cyclone and has recently transferred to Houston.
#10: QB Steele jantz- College of SF (CA)
Steele Jantz, a 6’3″ quarterback from the City College of San Fransico in California. He was ranked as the number 23 overall player coming out of community college in the class of 2011 and was a solid QB in Ames. The California native is also the second ranked pro style QB in his class. He totaled 1,600 passing yards and 13 passing TDs for the Cyclones.
#9: Ol Sean Foster- Carmel Catholic (IL)
Sean Foster was a big recruit for Iowa State in the recruiting class of 2016. The Illinois native was the 34th ranked player in his position and 6th ranked player in his state by 247 Sports. ESPN provided even higher praise, giving Foster a 4 star rating The 6’8″ offensive lineman played a big role for the Cyclones in 2017, appearing in 7 games. Since then, however, his usage has decreased due to the great strength and depth of ISU’s offensive line. He should be a staple on ISU’s line during the 2020-21 season.
#8: OL Jake Campos- Valley (IA)
Jake Campos was a solid recruit for Iowa State in the recruiting class of 2013. The Iowa native was the 22nd ranked player at his position and best player in his state by 247 Sports. ESPN ranked Campos the 44th best player at his position and a solid 78 grade. The 6’7″ offensive lineman played was a staple on the ISU offensive line for years. Additionally, he earned second team All-Big12 honors during his final year in Ames.
#7: RB Breece Hall- Northwest (KS)
Running Back Breece Hall was a highly touted recruit from Wichita Kansas and earned a 4 star grade from 247 Sports. He was the 22nd best running back in the nation and the 2nd best player in the state of Kansas. The 6 foot running back burst onto the scene for the Cyclones this year as a true freshman, becoming their go to back and totaling almost 900 yards rushing. He also added 9 rushing touchdowns to his totals in 2019-20. Breece was dominant for the Cyclones for multiple years, putting together back to back seasons with over 1700 yards and over 20 total touchdowns. His 4.39 40 yard dash and overall dominance of the combine has cemented him in as the top running back in the 2022 NFL draft where he was selected by the Jets.
#6 QB JJ Kohl- Ankeny (IA)
Kohl, a class of 2023 QB, chose Iowa State over Iowa, Nebraska, Florida State, Penn State and others. Kohl is a top 20 quarterback in the class and looks like the Cyclone’s future at QB. Kohl has a great frame at 6-6 and 227 pounds. He is ranked a 4 star recruit by both ESPN and 247 Sports. 247 sports ranks Kohl as the 17th best quarterback in the whole class, and the 324th best player covering all positions. Look for Kohl to have a huge impact on the Cyclone Program in the future. Click here to check out JJ Kohl’s commitment article
#5 DL Hunter Deyo- Lewis Central (IA)
One of the best players in the state of Iowa and a high four star recruit, Deyo looks to instantly contribute for the Cyclones. The class of 2022 Defensive Lineman chose Iowa State over Iowa, Arkansas, Oregon, Kansas State and others. He is ranked as the #301 player in the class by 247 Sports and he is inside the top 300 on ESPN’s ranking, one of the highest ever for an ISU Cyclone. Deyo should be very exciting to watch on the field the next few years for Cyclone fans.
#4: RB Jirehl Brock- Quincy (IL)
Running Back Jirehl Brock was a highly touted recruit from Quincy Illinois and earned a 4 star and 90+ grade from 247 Sports. He was the 17th best running back in the nation and the 2nd best player in the state of Illinois. Brock his a very tough runner and showed some solid flashes in the few games he played during his redshirt freshman season in Ames. He will be Iowa State’s lead runner with the departure of Breece Hall to the NFL.
#3: WR Joesph Scates- Dunbar (OH)
Wide Receiver Joesph Scates from Dunbar High School in Dayton Ohio is another player receiving a 90+ grade from 247 Sports. Scates was ranked 266th nationally and the 44th best receiver in the 2018 class by 247. The 6’2″ Ohio native also received a 78 grade from ESPN. The 4 star recruit had an impact for the Cyclones but will be taking his talents to Memphis for the upcoming season.
#2: QB Hunter Dekkers- West Sioux (IA)
QB Hunter Deckers is the top recruit in ISU’s class of 2020. He received a grade of 82 from ESPN and was included in their top 300 players. The 4 star recruit also received a 90+ rating from 247 Sports and was ranked in their top 300 players as well. The former West Sioux quarterback was invited to the Elite 11 camp, highlighting the best 11 QB recruits from every class. The Iowa Native looks to take the reigns of the ISU offense after Purdy moves on to the next level.
#1: WR Allen Lazard- Urbandale (IA)
Allen Lazard is ISU’s all time best Recruit. The former Urbandale High School wide receiver stayed in state when he chose to become a Cyclone. Lazard was rated a top 4 star by both ESPN and 247 Sports. However, many other smaller recruiting services had Lazard listed as a 5 star recruit. 247 Sports has Lazard has their 78th best player nationally. During Lazard’s ISU career, he became the Cyclone’s all time leader in receptions and yards. He also ranks second in touchdowns. He has now moved on to the NFL where he has become a top receiver for the Green Bay Packers.
Lazard Recruiting Video (Courtside Films):
Photos via 247 Sports
For more football recruiting news check out the 2023 Cyclone Football Recruiting Tracker!