Iowa
Five Iowa State players who've improved the most heading into Saturday's Cy-Hawk showdown
Darien Porter stands for a photo during Iowa State Football media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel dazzled fans with his strong hands and fluid speed in his team’s 21-3 season-opening win over North Dakota last Saturday. Fellow receiver Jayden Higgins did the same whenever the Cyclones needed a big play. And quarterback Rocco Becht showcased the explosiveness and efficiency he’s known for, averaging 13.4 yards per completion and throwing for two touchdowns — one each to Higgins and Noel.
So the Cyclones’ established stars fully lived up to their respective billings in week one, but it’s the players who operate in relative obscurity who often determine a season’s fate and several less-known contributors will be key in week two against intrastate rival Iowa at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (CBS) in Iowa City.
“I think our greatest growth — I’ve always felt this way — is between week one and week two,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said.
In that vein, here are five (among several) Cyclones who have improved considerably from last season to this season and must continue to do so this weekend and beyond.
Cornerback Jontez Williams
The 5-11, 200-pound sophomore from Starke, Fla., led ISU in tackles in the season-opener with 11. That nearly doubled his previous career output (6) and showed that Williams is ready to shine at corner along with Myles Purchase and Darien Porter this season now that T.J. Tampa’s in the NFL. Williams did draw a flag for pass interference in the game, but otherwise his coverage was solid and should keep getting better.
“He is an elite performer,” Campbell said. “And I think the consistency that he comes to work with every single day allows him to have great confidence.”
Cornerback/special teams star Darien Porter
Campbell’s repeatedly said that Porter’s special teams prowess alone could land him in the NFL. Now the former track star from Bettendorf — and converted wide receiver — has fully mastered the techniques to excel at cornerback, too. The 6-4, 200-pounder made his first career start in last Saturday’s win and provided taut coverage as well as a big special teams play when he downed a Jace Gilbert punt at the Fighting Hawks’ three-yard line.
“We should also talk about his performance because he was elite,” Campbell said.
Kicker/punter Jace Gilbert
The 5-11, 205-pound sophomore from Marlow, Okla., has provided the Cyclones’ program with a portrait of perseverance throughout his career, and even though he’s not a starter, he’s carved out an important role this season after redshirting in 2023. Gilbert’s ISU’s designated short-yardage or “pooch” punter and both of his punts last Saturday were downed inside the 20-yard line. The Cyclones’ former starter as a true freshman also kicked off once for a touchback, so his value to the team has shot upward since last season. And fun fact: Gilbert made his first career field goal attempt in ISU’s 10-7 win over the Hawkeyes two seasons ago.
“We don’t give up on people in our program,” Campbell said of Gilbert, who went 7-for-13 on field goals as a freshman. “What that young man has done — and obviously what he overcame was hard as a freshman.”
Running back Carson Hansen
The 6-2 sophomore’s bulked up to 220 pounds and will be ISU’s No. 1 short-yardage option at tailback. Hansen shined in that area last Saturday, providing a pair of tough runs for third-down conversions and he’s also a skilled pass catcher. Hansen complements home-run hitter Abu Sama perfectly and his ability to shine in pass protection will make him a prominent player against Iowa and beyond.
“Just to see him grow — to grow mentally, to grow physically — a lot of it’s a mindset,” said first-year assistant head coach/running backs coach Tyler Roehl.
Wide receiver Jaylin Noel
It’s important to circle back to Noel, who recorded his first 100-yard receiving game since the 2022 season in the win over North Dakota. He may already be a star, but he’s still markedly improved both as a pass catcher and a leader in the locker room.
“He has, from year one to year four, been one of the most complete football players we’ve had in our program during my time here,” Campbell said.
Iowa
Vote: Who Should be Iowa’s High School Athlete of the Week? (4/19/2026)
Here are the candidates for High School on SI’s Iowa high school athlete of the week for April 13-18. Read through the nominees and cast your vote.
Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 26. The winner will be announced in the following week’s poll. Here are this week’s nominees:
Taylor Roose, Pella boys track and field
Roose competed in three events at the Norwalk Invitational, winning all three in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and long jump.
Daxon Kiesau, Urbandale boys track and field
Kiesau swept the throwing events at the Norwalk Invitational, taking first place in the shot put and the discus.
Alex Burger, Southeast Valley boys track and field
Competing at home, Burger dominated, earning four gold medals. He won the 400-meter hurdles and the long jump while running on the winning 4×200-meter relay and shuttle hurdle relay.
Kolby Hodnefield, Clear Lake boys track and field
Hodenfield, a defending state champion, broke the meet, venue and school record in the 200 and the 400 at the Clear Lake Invitational. He added victories as part of the 4×100 and 4×400 relays. Both relays also set meet records.
Easton Moon, North Polk boys tennis
Moon has started off his senior season on the courts unbeaten, winning all four matches while dropping just one game in 44 played.
Ava Lohrbach, Gilbert girls golf
One of the top golfers in the state, Lohrbach has had a hot start, firing a 35 in her nine-hole debut and a 72 for her 18-hole opener.
Nathan Manske, Algona boys golf
An elite quarterback and basketball player, Manske is showing his golfing skills this spring, coming out with a state-low 30 in a nine-hole event.
Ella Hein, Tipton girls track and field
Hein set school records in the 400-meter run and long jump at the Tiger/Tigerette Relays while also locking in the Blue Standard and qualifying for the Drake Relays. She won the long jump (18-6) and was second in the 400.
Maeve Bowen-Burt, Iowa City High girls track and field
The sophomore helped the Little Hawks land three Drake Relays events on the last night of qualifying, advancing in the 400 hurdles, along with the sprint medley and 4×400 relays.
About Our Athlete of the Week Voting
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.
Follow
Iowa
Houston icon George Foreman laid to rest in Iowa, drawn by a peaceful 1988 visit
The late boxing great George Foreman lies buried in a cemetery in the northwestern corner of Iowa – a place he has no connection to outside of a lone visit to the region nearly 40 years ago.
Foreman died March 21, 2025, at the age of 76 in Houston and was buried in Logan Park Cemetery at Sioux City, Iowa, a month later, city officials confirmed. Foreman’s family returned Thursday to his burial site, holding a news conference with Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott to reveal Foreman’s burial place, marked by a large monument that bears an image of him as a teen following his Olympic gold medal boxing win.
The family explained in a statement released by Sioux City officials that he had visited the Iowa city in 1988, and often recalled the sense of peace he experienced there.
After traveling to the city on April 17 last year to bury Foreman, his family said they immediately understood the region’s appeal.
“Our father lived a life of purpose, faith and gratitude,” the family said in a statement released by Sioux City officials. “To see him laid to rest in a place that brought him peace means everything to us.”
Scott joined the family at Foreman’s monument that lies just a few miles north of the Missouri River in an upper Midwest city of nearly 87,000 people. The cemetery overlooks the scenic Loess Hills, created by windblown silt deposits that reach up to 200 feet high (about 61 meters) and line the river along the Iowa border for 200 miles (322 kilometers).
“Their story is a reminder of how one place can stay with someone for a lifetime,” Scott said.
A native Texan, Foreman rose to fame when he made the 1968 U.S. Olympic boxing team, winning gold in Mexico City. He became the heavyweight champion of the world in 1973 by defeating the great Joe Frazier, only to lose the title a year later to Muhammad Ali in the famous “Rumble in the Jungle.”
A full 20 years later in 1994, Foreman became the oldest man to win the heavyweight championship at 45, defeating Michael Moorer in an epic upset.
Foreman retired in 1997 with a 76-5 career record.
He then moved on to the next chapter in his life as a businessman, pitchman and occasional actor, becoming known to a new generation as the face of the George Foreman Grill. The simple cooking machine sold more than 100 million units and brought him more wealth than boxing.
A biographical movie based on Foreman’s life was released in 2023.
Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Iowa
GOP governor candidate Zach Lahn pitches Iowa-first platform at Dubuque town hall
DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) — About 50 Iowans braved the threat of severe storms to hear from Republican candidate for governor Zach Lahn at his town hall in Dubuque Friday night.
Lahn, a farmer and businessman, said his campaign is about solving the long-term systemic issues facing Iowans.
One priority is addressing what Lahn calls a cancer crisis in Iowa, as the state has the second-highest cancer rate in the country. Solving the crisis means ensuring Iowans have access to clean, nitrate-free drinking water, working with farmers to reduce agricultural runoff.
“Iowans are just ready for something that they should be able to count on, like clean drinking water,” Lahn said. “We have ways to clean up the drinking water in Iowa that isn’t on the backs of farmers, but is working alongside with them because they’re drinking the water too, and they want to do what’s right.”
Lahn also wants to stop Iowa’s “brain drain,” as more of Iowa’s college graduates left the state for opportunities elsewhere.
“Don’t leave! Give me some time! I’m going to fight to keep you here,” Lahn said. “I was one of these kids. I thought I had to leave the state to find something better. We have to prioritize Iowa’s incentive dollars to make sure they’re going to grow Iowa businesses that are going to be here for the long haul, so our kids have places to work.”
Running a distinct campaign feels challenging this election, as Lahn is one of five GOP candidates who want to be Iowa’s next governor, facing U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, former Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen, state Rep. Eddie Andrews and former state Rep. Brad Sherman.
Iowa Auditor Rob Sand is the only Democrat running for the state’s top office.
Lahn said he stands out by promising Iowa will be for Iowans, pledging to ban the use of eminent domain for private gain and tax out-of-state landowners and data centers at higher rates to lower property taxes.
“It always goes back to follow the money, so when it comes to not being a weak-kneed Republican today, I believe the paramount piece of that is answering only to the citizens of Iowa, not to special interests to pad their bottom line, but what’s best for the people of Iowa,” Lahn said.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
-
Connecticut6 minutes agoOvernight Forecast for April 19
-
Delaware12 minutes agoState Police Arrest Dover Man for Assault and Aggravated Menacing in Dover – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware
-
Florida18 minutes agoSNAP benefits will be changing in Florida starting Monday
-
Georgia24 minutes agoGeorgia on nobody’s mind: The Dawgs are under the radar, and that’s a compliment
-
Hawaii30 minutes agoLarge section of Aloha Stadium demolished as project proceeds – West Hawaii Today
-
Idaho36 minutes ago
Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Powerball, Pick 3 on April 18, 2026
-
Illinois42 minutes ago5 tornadoes confirmed in Illinois from Friday’s storms
-
Indiana48 minutes agoAn Indiana district turned to voters to fund more preschool seats. Here’s what happened next.