A look at Iowa State football's top 12 targets for the 2023 recruiting class

Wednesday was the start of the February signing period. Several years ago, this was the main signing day for college football prospects. But now, with the advent of the early signing day in December, not much happens anymore in February.

Still, Iowa State added a couple prospects Wednesday.

Kicker Jace Gilbert signed early on Wednesday, and defensive back Jontez William announced his signing soon after. The Cyclones already have an impressive group of players in the 2022 class, including in-state signees Hunter Deyo, Jacob Imming and Will McLaughlin. And Iowa Western quarterback Nate Glantz, the former NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year, transferred to Iowa State in January, too.

While Iowa State's 2022 class grows to nearly two dozen, it's time to look ahead at the Cyclones' 2023 class — or, more specifically, their pursuit of that class. 

MORE: Ranking the top 65 in-state football prospects in Iowa's 2023 class

Here are Iowa State's current top 12 targets for the 2023 class.

JJ Kohl, QB (Ankeny, Iowa)

A four-star recruit, Kohl is the No. 20 quarterback in the nation, per the 247Sports Composite, and the Register's No. 3 in-state 2023 prospect. His 6-foot-6, 227-pound frame makes him an attractive prospect for several schools, including Iowa and Iowa State. Kohl holds other offers from Boston College, Florida State, Minnesota, Missouri, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin and, most recently, Penn State.

As far as in-state competition, it seemed like Iowa might have the upper hand after Kohl visited during the Iowa-Penn State game. But then fellow 2023 quarterback Marco Lainez III committed to the Hawkeyes, which limits Kohl’s chance at a roster spot.

Kohl visited Iowa State a couple weekends ago, alongside Des Moines Roosevelt athlete Jamison Patton. With the Brock Purdy era ending, the Cyclones will be looking for its next quarterback. 

MORE: Inside JJ Kohl's rise to become an elite 2023 quarterback prospect

Aycen Stevens, ATH (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Iowa State was one of the first teams — and only the second out-of-state program — to offer Stevens back in May. The three-star athlete is the No. 7 player in Indiana, No 36 athlete and No. 418 overall player in the nation, per the 247Sports Composite. At 6-4 and 210 pounds, Stevens is built for the college game. He’s a versatile athlete, playing quarterback, linebacker and safety for Decatur Central.

While Iowa State is one of Stevens’ top schools (he visited Ames in July and November), the Cyclones have plenty of competition. He holds offers from Tennessee, Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Indiana, Marshall, Miami (Ohio), Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, Toledo, West Virginia and Western Michigan.

Jamison Patton, ATH (Des Moines, Iowa)

Patton, the Register's No. 7 in-state 2023 prospect, has picked up four new offers in the past two weeks, so clearly other programs are noticing the Roosevelt talent. But the two programs at the top of Patton’s list have been Iowa State and Iowa for a few months.

The Cyclones were the first program to offer Patton, as a safety, in June 2021. That was after his sophomore season was canceled and the best look Iowa State got at Patton was during the Cyclones camp ahead of his junior season. They clearly liked what they saw and have kept up with Patton since.

MORE: Des Moines Roosevelt's Jamison Patton has a lot to prove in 2021

With other teams on the table (Minnesota, Washington and Missouri all offered in January), Iowa State will need to work hard to keep Patton focused on Ames. He has been a frequent visitor to campus, most recently in January.

Kai Black, WR/TE (Urbandale, Iowa)

Iowa State was the first school to offer Black, the Register's No. 4 in-state 2023 prospect, after a Cyclones camp in June, and then Iowa and Wisconsin followed suit. He holds offers from Kansas, Minnesota, Vanderbilt and Miami of Ohio as well. At 6-4 and 205 pounds, Black is a college-sized player with impressive hands and good speed who could translate at receiver or tight end.

He visited Iowa State last month, but that wasn’t the only junior day trip Black planned. Iowa State will need to keep after one of the best in-state prospects in the 2023 class to get him on the Cyclones' roster.

MORE: Meet Kai Black, a must-have recruit and modern Renaissance man

Kadyn Proctor, OL (Des Moines, Iowa)

Proctor, the Register's No. 1 player in the 2023 class, could stay in state for his college football career. The 6-8, 335-pound junior is the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 6 overall player in the country, per the 247Sports Composite, which is why over 30 schools have made offers. Among those schools are Iowa and Iowa State.

It might look like the Hawkeyes have the in-state advantage, with Proctor's Southeast Polk teammate Xavier Nwankpa choosing Iowa. But Iowa State made Proctor's top 12 list in September, so he still has interest in the Cyclones. Now all Iowa State needs to do is beat out 30-plus other programs.

MORE: What Xavier Nwankpa's Iowa commitment means for Kadyn Proctor

Brayden Dorman, QB (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Dorman, a four-star quarterback out of Colorado, kept Iowa State in his top five when narrowed down schools at the end of December. The Cyclones remain in the running alongside Arizona, Colorado, Mississippi State and Oregon State. The 6-4, 206-pounder is the 247Sports Composite's No. 1 player in Colorado and the No. 13 quarterback in the nation, and last season, he threw for 2,765 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Tyler Gant, DL (St. Louis, Missouri)

The three-star defensive lineman is the No. 11 player in Missouri and the No. 53 defensive lineman nationwide, per the 247Sports Composite. Gant took a junior day visit to Ames this past weekend, and the Cyclones are one of his top teams. Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, and Wisconsin are among Gant’s favorites. He holds additional offers from Arkansas State, Boston College, Colorado, Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, Memphis, Minnesota, Nebraska, Vanderbilt and West Virginia.

Zachary Tobe, S (Ocoee, Florida)

The three-star safety out of Florida visited Iowa State this past weekend, and the Cyclones remain one of his top teams. His other offers include Tennessee, Central Florida, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Florida Atlantic, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Purdue and South Florida.

Blake Purchase, DE (Englewood, Colorado)

If Iowa State fans recognize the last name, that’s because Blake’s older brother, Myles, is a defensive back for the Cyclones. That could give Iowa State a slight advantage in winning over Purchase, but the Cyclones aren’t the only program targeting the four-star edge player. Right now, Iowa State and USC are at the top of the Colorado native’s list. But he holds offers from Colorado, Colorado State, Marshall, Nebraska, Oregon State, Texas Tech, UNLV and Washington State.

MORE:Introducing Iowa State football's newest additions to its 2022 recruiting class

Andrew DePaepe, DE (Bettendorf, Iowa)

Update: DePaepe committed to Michigan State Wednesday afternoon. The Spartans were considered the favorites following his recent trip to East Lansing.

Depaepe, the Register's No. 2 player in the 2023 class, is still a high-level target for Iowa State. A four-star recruit, he's the No. 19 defensive lineman and No. 134 overall player in the country, per the 247Sports Composite.

He holds additional offers from Iowa, Arizona State, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Washington. Right now, Michigan State is the Cyclones' biggest competition. DePaepe visited the Spartans this past weekend, and they are high on his list right now.

It's thought the 6-6, 245-pounder is mostly looking at out-of-state options, but any time you've got a local product as talented as DePaepe, you've got to shoot your shot.

Troy Ford Jr., LB (Savannah, Ga.)

The three-star linebacker out of Georgia has the potential to be the next big pass rusher for the Cyclones. Iowa State thinks the same, extending an offer to Ford on Jan. 24. Now that the Cyclones have shown interest, they just need to convince Ford that Iowa State is the best fit for the highly sought after linebacker.

He holds offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Missouri, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Tennessee, Central Florida, West Virginia, Coastal Carolina, Duke, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech.

Alex Mota, ATH (Marion, Iowa)

Mota, the Register's No. 5 in-state 2023 prospect, is another in-state recruit that both Iowa State and Iowa are going after. He was at junior days for both programs last month, and Kirk Ferentz and Matt Campbell have been out to Marion basketball games to watch Mota. He’s a three-sport athlete (football, basketball, track), which makes him more versatile than he already is on the football field.

Other programs such as Nebraska, Kansas and Wisconsin have offered. But if this comes down to an in-state battle between Iowa State and Iowa, the little things might make the difference.

Alyssa Hertel is a college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.