As we continue our position-by-position preview series, it’s time to look at one of the most intriguing groups on the roster: wide receiver.

The Cyclones lost plenty of experience from last year’s team, but they’ve also rebuilt the room through the transfer portal and have several young players ready to push for larger roles.

Returners:

#11 Dominic Overby (R-So.)

At this point, Overby feels like the player most likely to lead Iowa State’s receiver room. The 6-foot-5 target showed flashes last year and enters 2026 with valuable game experience under his belt.

His size makes him a difficult matchup for opposing defensive backs, particularly in the red zone and on contested catches. The biggest question entering the season isn’t talent. It’s consistency. If Overby can put everything together, he has a chance to emerge as Iowa State’s top receiving option this fall.

#89 Ty Claiborne (R-Sr.)

Claiborne may not have filled up the stat sheet during his career, but he enters the season as one of the oldest receivers in the room.

The senior has appeared in games throughout his Iowa State career and provides valuable leadership for a position group filled with transfers and younger players. While his role will likely come as a depth piece, his familiarity with the program should help stabilize a receiver room that looks much different than it did a year ago.

#23 Carson Robbins (R-So.)

#83 Sam Zelenovich (R-Fr.)

Additions:

#2 Cody Jackson (R-Sr.)

The Tarleton State transfer arrives in Ames with an opportunity to make an immediate impact.

Jackson enters fall camp projected as a starter and brings valuable experience to a room searching for proven production. The coaching staff likes what he brings to the table, and he’ll have every opportunity to become one of Jaylen Raynor’s favorite targets this season.

#8 Evan Boyd (R-Jr.)

Boyd may be the most intriguing addition in the entire room.

The Michigan State transfer previously showed he could produce at Central Michigan before making the jump to the Big Ten. At 6-foot-3 and more than 210 pounds, Boyd possesses the size Iowa State covets on the outside. If he can regain the production he showed earlier in his college career, he could quickly become one of the Cyclones’ most important offensive players.

#9 Omari Hayes (R-Sr.)

Hayes comes to Iowa State from Tulane and is expected to immediately compete for a starting spot alongside Overby and Jackson.

His quickness and ability to operate in space give the Cyclones another weapon underneath and in the slot. With a brand-new quarterback leading the offense, experienced players like Hayes could prove especially valuable early in the season.

#17 Jordyn Bailey (R-Jr.)

The former TCU receiver adds another experienced body to the room and is widely regarded as the fastest guy in the room.

Bailey’s versatility should allow Iowa State to move him around the formation, and he’ll likely factor heavily into the rotation regardless of whether he’s listed as a starter. With so many new faces competing for playing time, Bailey’s Big 12 experience could become an asset as we get deeper into the season.

#4 Carter Pabst (So.)

Pabst is the lone offensive transfer from Washington State and has generated plenty of buzz since arriving on campus.

He’s already worked his way near the top of the depth chart and looks poised to compete for meaningful snaps right away. If he continues his development through fall camp, don’t be surprised if he becomes a regular contributor not only this year, but for years to come.

#34 Jeffrey Roberts (Fr.)

Few freshmen arrive with more familiarity with Iowa State than Roberts. The Ames native stayed close to home and enters the program after putting together an impressive high school career. Roberts has already shown strong football instincts and understanding of the game, which should help ease his transition to the college level. Look for him to compete for reps right away.

#13 Jamal Polite Jr. (Fr.)

Polite enters his first season in Ames looking to make an impression. His progress throughout the season will be worth monitoring as Iowa State continues building depth at wide receiver.

#82 Trevor Fortenberry (R-Jr.)

Fortenberry arrives in Ames after beginning his career at one of the best community college football programs in the country in Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi. While injuries limited portions of his junior college career, he showed flashes of his potential when healthy and finished the 2025 season with 12 receptions for 136 yards.

#33 Zach Eskildsen (Fr.)

Eskildsen joins the Cyclones from Texas and gives Iowa State another young receiver with developmental potential. He is the younger brother of former Cyclone and now Penn State Nittany Lion Brett Eskildsen.

#80 Malcom Watkins (Fr.)

#86 Ray Coffey (R-Sr.)

#12 Braden Goellner (R-Sr.)

Which transfer makes the biggest impact?

You can absolutely make a case for any of Hayes, Jackson, or Pabst, but my pick is Evan Boyd.

Boyd has already proven he can produce at the college level, and his size gives Iowa State something it has lacked at times in recent seasons. The Cyclones won’t need him to be a superstar, but they do need him to be a reliable outside threat.

If Boyd can stretch defenses and consistently win downfield contested catches, it would open opportunities for everybody else in the offense.

Season Outlook

This receiver room feels like one of the biggest wild cards on Iowa State’s roster.

There is plenty of talent here, but there aren’t many proven stars. Several projected contributors are stepping into larger roles for the first time, while others are learning their third college football system in as many years.

The encouraging sign is the variety of skill sets. Overby brings size and experience at Iowa State. Hayes brings quickness. Boyd offers a combination of length and experience. Jackson has playmaking ability. Bailey and Pabst provide flexibility and so on and so forth.

The biggest challenge will be creating chemistry with Raynor as quickly as possible. If that happens, this group has the potential to be much better than many people expect. If it doesn’t, there could be some growing pains early in the season.

There may not be an All-American candidate in this room, but there are enough pieces for Iowa State to build a productive passing attack.

The post Position Preview: Wide Receivers appeared first on Cyclone Fanatic.

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