Iowa State secures second top offensive line talent!

Iowa State secures second top offensive line talent!

On June 10, 2025, the Iowa State Cyclones took a significant step in their recruiting strategy. Owen Winder, a talented offensive tackle from Dexter, Michigan, has committed to the Cyclones after an official visit over the weekend. Winder is 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 305 pounds. He announced his decision on social media, catching the attention of fans and analysts alike. He had previously rejected offers from prestigious colleges such as Kentucky, West Virginia, Duke, Georgia Tech and others to become part of the Iowa State football team.

Winder is considered the No. 104 offensive tackle in his class and is rated as a key recruit for the Cyclones by 247 Sports. His signing brings the number of new players in Ryan Clanton's group for 2026 to a total of four. This shows the commitment of the coaching staff to attract talented players and strengthen the squad for the upcoming season.

Background and influence

The young offensive lineman played for Dexter High School last season and helped his team achieve an impressive 10-1 record. Their only loss came in the state playoffs. His commitment to Iowa State shows that Matt Campbell's coaching staff has the right instinct when it comes to identifying talented athletes who have the potential to become great players in the college league.

In the coming weeks, the Cyclones are expected to announce additional commitments to the Class of 2026. The recruiting class already includes 14 players, including quarterback Jett Thomalla, running back Caleb Francois and wide receiver Milan Parris. The upcoming official visit weekends could bring significant additional commitments, further increasing anticipation for next season.

The Iowa State Cyclones squad

The current commitments for the Iowa State football class of 2026 are:

• QB: Jett Thomalla (Omaha, Neb.)
• RB: Caleb Francois (Minnetonka, Minn.)
• WR: Milan Parris (Stow, Ohio)
• WR: Jeffrey Roberts (Ames)
• OL: Mason Bandhauer (Fort Collins)
• OL: Ethan Beckman (Prior Lake, Minn.)
• OL: Pete Eglitis (Columbus, Ohio)
• OL: Owen Winder (Dexter, Mich.)
• DL: Daniel Howard (Chicago)
• LB: Keian Kaiser (Sidney, Neb.)
• LB: Barry Fries (Omaha, Neb.)
• S: Tyrell Chatman (Lincoln, Neb.)
• ATH: Kaprice Keith (Omaha, Neb.)
• ATH: Amarion Jackson (Omaha, Neb.)

Overall, current recruiting shows that the Iowa State Cyclones are well-positioned to be competitive next season. Winder is viewed as a promising talent who should not only have a positive impact in terms of playing value, but also in team dynamics. The coming weeks could bring more exciting developments as the Cyclones continue to work toward their next stars.

For more information on this commitment and current developments in the recruiting process, we recommend Cyclone Fanatic and [Des Moines Register].