Iowa State just got hit with a gut punch on the recruiting trail, and it came courtesy of the guy who built the roster in the first place. Class of 2026 quarterback Kase Evans has committed to Penn State, just three days after being released from his signing with the Cyclones. Yep, that’s the same Penn State now led by former ISU head coach Matt Campbell, and if you’re an Iowa State fan, this one’s hard to watch.
Evans is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound signal caller from Lexington, Texas, and was supposed to be part of the next wave in Ames. The staff identified him early, sold him on the vision, and had him locked in until everything unraveled. Once Campbell bolted for Happy Valley, the door swung wide open, and Iowa State had no choice but to release Evans from his LOI earlier this week. Penn State didn’t waste time. They scooped him up on Sunday and added a talented Texas quarterback to their future plans.
It’s not the first name Iowa State’s lost since Campbell took off, and it probably won’t be the last. But losing a quarterback like Evans sets the rebuild back more than most. That position is tough to get right in the portal era, and even tougher when your top target bails for your old coach’s new gig.
New head coach Jimmy Rogers has his work cut out for him. He’s got to stabilize the recruiting board, keep the guys still committed from jumping ship, and somehow convince future prospects that the current staff can be trusted to stick around. That’s a tough sell when your old boss is still poaching your roster.
