Iowa State's Matt Campbell signs his highest ranked recruiting class

AMES — Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell paused to consider the question.

“So, coach, how would you compare what Dec. 3 looked like in your first year at Toledo in 2012 to now?

His short answer on Wednesday’s early signing day: “It’s certainly different.”

Campbell’s longer answer?

“Even up until last year, you were spending this time with the opportunity to go out and be in young peoples’ homes that you’re signing,” he said. “And as the head football coach, I really enjoyed that.”

The tempestuous nature of the transfer portal along with the relatively recent shake-up of the recruiting calendar has made it more difficult to apply those hands-on, personal touches Campbell and many other coaches enjoy providing to incoming prospects.

But — as the 8-4 Cyclones wait to learn their bowl destination on Sunday — Campbell is still bullish on his Class of 2026, which is his highest ranked ever at 48th in the country, per 247 Sports.

“I’ve always said this, even as a young coach, (that) I love signing day because everybody gets up there and tells everybody how great they are,” said Campbell, who saw 22 prospective Cyclones sign with his program on Wednesday, while also adding four preferred walk-ons. “And the reality is, you won’t know for two or three years. But one of the things I’m really excited about with this group is, again, 10 years being somewhere, you know who fits, you know what you’re looking for and you haven’t wavered. I think when you look at every one of these young men and you hear their story, I think you see the success they had — their teams, their individual successes. The leadership that’s coming in, I think it fits everything that this program’s been built on.”

Those “fits” for ISU include offensive lineman Mason Bandhauer of Fort Collins, Colo., who chose the Cyclones over offers from Kansas State, Kansas, Oklahoma State and others. He’s also a legacy addition, since his dad, Todd, played quarterback for ISU from 1995-98.

“It’s been really awesome to just watch his journey,” Campbell said of Mason Bandhauer. “He’s been a great leader of this recruiting class.”

Ames native Jeffrey Roberts also fits. The fleet-footed 6-0, 180-pound wide receiver won a Class 5A state football title this season after transferring to Dowling Catholic.

“Jeffrey is a really special human being (who) has worked really hard to, I think, grow into a great football player,” Campbell said. “You saw him just keep getting better and better.”

So did a diamond in the rough ISU’s staff identified in New Jersey: Defensive lineman Elijah Reeder. He stands 6-6 and weighs a lithe 210 pounds, but had 19 tackles for loss and eight sacks in his senior season of high school.

“I feel like sometimes when we do things too early, the whole world finds out,” Campbell said of Reeder’s recruitment. “So sometimes you’ve gotta keep it close to your vest, and Elijah’s kind of one off those guys. He’s got elite traits. Size, 6-8 wing(span), a guy (with) great size, great ability.”

But back to the changes Campbell’s seen as a head coach. Recruiting used to be a very straightforward process, with one National Signing Day in February. Now early signing day has replaced that as the key date on the calendar, while the retention of current key players becomes a major concern before the portal opens on Jan. 2.

“Now you’re trying to figure out who’s staying and who’s going and what does that all look like,” Campbell said. “It’s a new era, a new time, but it’s drastically changed for sure.”

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Campbell said safety Jamison Patton and offensive lineman Trevor Buhr should be available for the Cyclones’ bowl game. Patton missed the past three games because of injury. Buhr sat out last week’s win at Oklahoma State because of an ankle issue.

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