Things have been really, really rough in Ames, Iowa, lately, and the main cause of that has been the transfer portal. The Cyclones have lost a total of 31 players to the transfer portal this offseason, and the wild part is that the portal doesn’t even technically open for another week.
On Sunday, the Cyclones lost back-to-back-to-back starters, all on the defensive side of the ball. The first to leave was defensive back Jamison Patton, then came defensive end Ikenna Ezeogu, and just now, Iowa State’s leading tackler from 2025, Marcus Neal, is headed out the door.
If you’re a fan of the Cyclones, it’s time to hit the panic button if you somehow haven’t already. Will Jimmy Rogers bounce back and put together a roster capable of competing in the Big 12? Probably so, but when nearly the entire offensive and defensive production from the previous year leaves, it’s a fair question to ask.
Neal, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Kansas City, Missouri, had a breakout season this fall, posting 77 total tackles, two interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble, and three pass breakups. Between Patton, Ezeogu, and Neal, the Cyclones are losing 150 tackles, two sacks, four interceptions, and have three massive holes to fill on the back end.
Until things slow down, the Cyclones will be a squad to watch in the portal, even if it is a long offseason.
