Iowa State football is keeping busy on the recruiting trail. The Cyclones added some reinforcements in the trenches with the commitments of defensive linemen Brysen Wessell and Ajibola Afuye.
They are the latest commits in the Cyclones’ 2026 recruiting class, and they both announced their decision on June 15.
Wessell, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound lineman, is a three-star recruit. According to 247 Sports, he is the No. 83 defensive lineman prospect in the class of 2026, and the No. 6 overall recruit in his class from the state of Missouri. He is a three-sport athlete from Jackson, Missouri, where he earned all-state honors in football and is also a standout wrestler and a member of the track team.
Aside from Iowa State, he also fielded offers from Wake Forest, Washington State, Missouri State, Central Michigan, James Madison, Arkansas State, Western Michigan and others.
As for Afuye, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive end is another three-star commit for the Cyclones. According to 247 Sports, he is the No. 127 defensive lineman prospect in the class of 2026 and the No. 8 overall recruit in his class from the state of Minnesota.
The Cyclones are hoping to have a diamond in the rough. Afuye’s only other offer is from Northern Iowa. He also received interest from Minnesota, Toledo and a number of FCS schools. Afuye impressed at the Cyclones’ prospect camp in early June, where he was offered by Iowa State, and he made his decision to commit shortly after an official visit to Ames.
He recorded 60 tackles, including six for loss, with four sacks, a blocked field goal and a fumble recovery through Stillwater Area’s nine-game 2024 season.
Wessell and Afuye give the Cyclones 16 commits for 2026. They join Chicago native Daniel Howard, a three-star defensive end, as Iowa State’s defensive line commits in this recruiting class.
Iowa State football 2026 recruiting class commitments
As of June 16
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football lands 2026 defensive line commits Ajibola Afuye, Brysen Wessell
Reporting by Eugene Rapay, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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