Coming off an 11-3 season, the Iowa State Cyclones are clearly hanging onto a spot as one of the most prominent programs in the Big 12, even with the transfer portal. The successful season means that the Cyclones have seen fewer defections than most other teams. After all, some of the portal partings are directly or indirectly encouraged by the schools.
However, Iowa State, having made the Big 12 title game and bested Miami in their bowl appearance, isn't a program making changes for the sake of doing so. Even the Cyclones lost a few players, though.
Here's a quick rundown on the three most significant portal losses the Cyclones have incurred in the current portal cycle.
Iowa State portal losses: Three most significant Cyclones in portal
#3 Jacob Ells, LB
Ellis was a JUCO addition in the 2022 recruit class. He played just one game, redshirting in his first season. Ellis saw action in just five games in 2023, but in 2024, made a massive step forward, with 41 tackles, including five tackles for loss.
Ellis hailed from California initially and may use his year of remaining eligibility to move closer to home. He hasn't announced a final portal choice yet. It will be interesting to see if the Diego Pavia situation yields additional eligibility for Ellis, as his 2021 season at junior college is counting against his four years to play. Of course, that could change.
#2 J.J. Kohl, QB
A four-star recruit out of high school, Kohl has barely seen any action in two seasons with the Cyclones. Kohl hails from Iowa but is making a big jump in his next college move. The young passer with three seasons of remaining eligibility is headed to Appalachian State in North Carolina for his next collegiate action.
Kohl completed 9 of 11 passes for 23 yards in his 2023 action. He didn't attempt any passes in 2024. At 6-foot-7, his height and arm strength should help Kohl see significant action at Appalachian State.
#1 Tyler Onyedim, DT
A three-star recruit, Onyedim is a nearly 300-pound defensive tackle who has spent four seasons with Iowa State. He redshirted in 2021 and played sparingly the following season. But in the last two years, he has 75 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss. Onyedim was more productive in 2023 than 2024.
He has only a single season of remaining eligibility, but Onyedim has committed to Texas A&M. The Aggies have been very aggressive in the portal, and a move to the SEC and back closer to home apparently intrigued Onyedim. He's worth watching at College Station.
What do you think of Iowa State's portal losses? Share your take below on the Cyclones:
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