Iowa State is losing wide receiver Brett Eskildsen to the transfer portal after a productive season in Ames. Eskildsen announced his decision this week and will now look for a new opportunity with two years of eligibility remaining.
Eskildsen finished the 2025 season with 30 catches for 526 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 17.5 yards per catch and, more often than not, was one of the better big-play options in the Cyclones’ offense. He didn’t rack up the most targets, but when the ball came his way, he made it count. He had a few breakout games along the way and showed he could stretch the field without needing a massive volume of touches.
It’s a tough loss for Iowa State, especially with some key pieces already gone from last year’s offense. Rocco Becht entered the portal, which means the quarterback-receiver connection that gave this team some rhythm at times is suddenly gone. The offense wasn’t always consistent, but Eskildsen was a big part of what worked when they were moving the ball.
Eskildsen came to Iowa State as a developmental guy and worked his way into the rotation. By the end of this past season, he was a regular part of the game plan and had earned a reliable spot in the receiver room. His size and ability to win on deep balls made him a matchup issue, and with two years left to play, he’s going to get a lot of interest now that he’s in the portal.
For Iowa State, it’s another spot they’ll need to reload at. They’ve been active in the portal already, and they have a long way to go. The wide receiver room still has talent, but it’s now missing multiple of its top targets from last year, and that’s going to be something they have to address before spring ball.
Eskildsen gave the Cyclones a strong year in 2025. Now he’s heading out to see what’s next, and someone’s going to pick up a solid, proven receiver with upside and experience in a Big 12 system.
