The Iowa State Cyclones football team underwent a massive overhaul this offseason following the departure of head coach Matt Campbell, who accepted the head coaching position with the Penn State Nittany Lions .
With essentially the entire coaching staff and a large portion of eligible players following him to Happy Valley, new Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers is left with a lot of work to do. He brought some familiar faces along with him from the Washington State Cougars , headlined by defensive end Isaac Terrell .
Coming off the best season of his career with Washington State , it should come as no surprise that he is garnering some preseason attention. He is the latest Cyclones player to be featured on an award watch list heading into the year.
Terrell has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, which is given annually by the Maxwell Football Club to the most outstanding defensive player in college football. It is quite an honor to be recognized as one of the best players on that side of the ball entering the year, and it is deserved.
Jul 8, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Iowa State defensive end Isaac Terrell speaks with reporters during Big 12 Conference Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
With the Cougars last season, Terrell burst onto the scene. After playing in 21 games and recording only 12 total tackles, with one tackle for loss, in his first two collegiate seasons, he stuffed the stat sheet in 2025.
The talented defensive lineman recorded 28 combined tackles coming off the edge with 12 tackles for loss. He added 7.0 sacks, living in the opponent's backfield. To round out his stat line, he had one pass deflection and one forced fumble.
While there are some questions about how his production will translate to the Big 12, he has already proven capable of performing at a high level against elite competition. When Washington State played against the Ole Miss Rebels, a participant in the College Football Playoff last season, Terrell had four tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Cyclone fans are certainly hoping to see more of that at Jack Trice Stadium this season. The defensive line looks like it will be the strength of the team in the early going.
Terrell is arguably the best player on the defense heading into the season, and his experience playing under Rogers and defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit previously should make the transition even easier.
Named one of the captains of the team , he will be tasked with helping set the tone for his teammates.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/iowa-state as Iowa State Football Star Isaac Terrell Named To Prestigious Watch List .
