Iowa State just lost another starter to the portal, and this one’s going to hurt a bit. Junior defensive back Jamison Patton is officially on his way out of Ames, making him the latest contribution to the Cyclones’ rapid exit train.
Patton wasn’t some depth guy who Iowa State planned to stow away and develop. He played big snaps in 2025, finishing with 48 total tackles and a pair of interceptions. He was on the field in critical spots, held his own in coverage, and brought a physical edge that fit right in with what Jon Heacock built prior to his retirement.
Patton’s departure follows an unfortunate trend we’ve seen throughout this offseason since Matt Campbell accepted the Penn State job. Iowa State’s losing a lot of contributors, especially on defense, and the hits keep stacking up. It’s not just five or even 10 dudes heading out the door; Iowa State has seen 30 different athletes walk away.
That’s not ideal.
Now, Patton didn’t put up All-Big 12 numbers or anything like that, but he was dependable. He was part of a unit that held teams to 21.8 points per game and gave up fewer than 200 passing yards in half their league games. When Iowa State’s defense was clicking, guys like Patton were a big reason why.
The Cyclones have already turned the page to Jesse Bobbit as the new defensive coordinator, and he’s certainly got his work cut out for him. Roster turnover is understandable with coaching transitions, but this? It might just be snowballing too fast.
