The 2026 Iowa high school football season is just a few weeks away, and the Ames Tribune is ranking the top 35 IHSAA football players from the Ames area heading into the campaign.
This list features input from the seven Ames-area high school football coaches, recruiting services and the Ames Tribune’s staff. It includes several standout performers from the past three high school football seasons, as well as some talented newcomers.
These rankings are headlined by players with all-state potential, and also feature several players with the potential for a breakout season. This is just a preseason list, so it is not definitive, as many other players could make a case to be one of the top 35 during the season.
1. Trent Wesselmann, Sr., OL, Gilbert
Wesselmann is one of two returning starters from Gilbert’s offensive line that dominated district competition over the past three seasons.
The UNI commit is one of the best offensive tackles in the state, and he should help the Tigers continue to find success running the football out of their “Tiger Bone” attack in 2026.
2. Luke Thoreson, Sr., WR, Roland-Story
Thoreson has all-state potential for a loaded Roland-Story team headed into 2026.
Last season, he made 75 receptions for 1,206 yards and 16 touchdowns to help Roland-Story win its district and make the playoffs.
3. Colin Willis, Jr., QB, Roland-Story
Willis is one of the best quarterbacks in 2A entering the 2026 season.
The junior threw for 2,217 yards and 25 touchdowns as a sophomore. With Thoreson back as his top target, he has an excellent chance at breaking 2,500 yards in 2026.
4. Lucas Anderson, Sr., OL, Nevada
Anderson is back to anchor an offensive line that has elite potential for Nevada.
He was the starting center on last year’s 3A state championship team and helped a young line gel quickly to claim the program’s first title.
5. Chance Georgius, Jr., DL, Roland-Story
Georgius has all-state potential on the defensive front, and he will also be a standout blocker on offense for Roland-Story in 2026.
He ended his sophomore season with 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
6. Elijah Tuttle, Sr., LB, Ames
Tuttle is the top returning playmaker on defense for Ames entering the 2026 season.
He was all over the field at linebacker as a sophomore. He tied current UNI Panther Brandon Johnson for the team lead in tackles last year with 53.5, including nine tackles for loss.
7. Sam Hoffman, Sr., K, Ballard
Hoffman gives Ballard a potential all-state kicker in 4A heading into 2026.
He made all 17 of his extra points and two field goals with a long of 46 yards in 2025. In 2024, Hoffman was a perfect 8 of 8 on field goals with a long of 40 yards.
8. Fiston Carlson, Sr., RB, Roland-Story
Carlson has had his last two years derailed by health issues, but when he is healthy, he is one of the best running backs in 2A.
As a freshman, Carlson came on late in the season to rush for 310 yards and five touchdowns on 11 yards per carry. He ran for 260 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore, and he did not play in 2025.
9. Benton Winkey, Sr., LB, Ames
Winkey joins Tuttle to give Ames a combo of playmakers in its defensive back seven.
As a junior, Winkey made 49 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and two sacks.
10. Rowan Sents, Sr., OL, Gilbert
Sents is the other returning starter alongside Wesselmann on the offensive line for Gilbert.
He played a big role in helping the Tigers rush for 319 yards per game in 2025.
11. Justin Happe, Jr., LB, Nevada
Injuries at linebacker forced Happe into action as a sophomore and he stepped up to help Nevada win the 3A state title in 2025.
Happe recorded 48 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, in 2025.
12. Bryce Miller, Sr., QB, Ballard
Miller is entering his second season as the signal-caller at Ballard.
Last season, he threw for 1,485 yards and 12 touchdowns with nine interceptions and ran for 209 yards and two scores. He is hoping to improve on those numbers to help Ballard return to the playoffs in 2026.
13. Braiden Fleming, Sr., LB, Nevada
Fleming gives Nevada another veteran talent at linebacker.
As part of the Cubs’ 2025 state title team, Fleming finished with 60 tackles, which is tops among all returning Nevada players.
14. Jake Clement, Jr., LB, Ballard
Clement gives Ballard an all-district linebacker heading into 2026.
Last season he had 69 tackles, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
15. Trent Baker, Jr., LB, Ballard
Baker gives Ballard another young talent with varsity experience.
In 2025, he recorded 38 tackles, including six for loss and two sacks as an all-district performer.
16. Clayton Hertz, Sr., OL, Ames
Hertz will be the veteran leader of the Ames offensive line in 2026.
He will play at left guard and hopes to help open holes and provide pass protection for an improved Little Cyclone offense.
17. Aiden Frey, Sr., WR, Roland-Story
Frey has a chance to emerge as an elite No. 2 option at receiver next to Thoreson for Roland-Story.
He has blazing speed and caught 26 passes for 453 yards and four touchdowns as a junior.
18. Trey Rogers, Jr., DB, Ames
Rogers is another talented player in the defensive backfield returning for Ames this season.
As a sophomore, Rogers was one of the top defensive backs for the Little Cyclones and finished 2025 with 24 tackles.
19. Tayton Warg, Sr., RB, Gilbert
Warg is the top returning rusher for a Gilbert team aiming for its third-straight trip to the 4A playoffs.
In 2025, he ran for 479 yards and four touchdowns at over seven yards per pop.
20. Cooper Triggs, Sr., DB, Roland-Story
Triggs gives Roland-Story a big weapon on defense entering 2026.
As a junior, Triggs returned an interception for a touchdown, and he was also a playmaker in the return game.
21. Micah Leyva, Sr., DB, Gilbert
Leyva is one of the top returning defensive backs in Gilbert’s district.
Last season, he had 20 tackles and forced a fumble.
22. Noah Matteson, Jr., RB, Colo-NESCO
Matteson is the top returning offensive weapon for Colo-NESCO.
He is coming off a productive sophomore year where he rushed for 522 yards and 10 touchdowns on over six yards per carry.
23. Zaydenn Shute, Jr., OL, Nevada
Shute provides Nevada with another experienced body on the offensive line.
He is a returning starter at tackle who will play a big role in making life easier for new Nevada quarterback Colton Pedersen.
24. Dylon Marks, Sr., OL, Ballard
Marks is another veteran force returning on the offensive line.
He has the potential to help Ballard make some big strides on offense this season as a returning all-district performer.
25. Jace Hennigar, Sr., QB, Ames
Hennigar gained valuable experience as Ames’ starting quarterback a year ago.
He threw for 337 yards and three scores and ran for 70 yards and one touchdown as a sophomore. With another year of growth, Hennigar could be in store for a breakout season.
26. Colin Grundlingh, Sr., LB, Colo-NESCO
Grundlingh is one of the top returning defensive players in the team’s district.
As a junior, Grundlingh tied for the team lead in tackles with 69 and he had six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
27. Caleb Coffelt, Sr., LB, Collins-Maxwell
Coffelt has the chance to have a big season at linebacker for Collins-Maxwell in 2026.
He will be looking to improve upon last year’s numbers, where he racked up 39 tackles and recovered one fumble.
28. Owen Flenniken, Sr., OL, Nevada
Flenniken is another reason Nevada could end up with the best offensive line in the team’s district this season.
He is a returning starter on the interior for the defending 3A state champions.
29. Jayden Swanson, Sr., OL, Colo-NESCO
Swanson provides Colo-NESCO with a reliable presence in the trenches.
He is a returning starter on the offensive line. Swanson also registered 17 tackles and one sack as a defensive lineman in 2025.
30. Kayden Willoughby-Wright, Sr., WR, Ames
Willoughby-Wright has the chance to become one of the top receivers for Ames in 2026.
He has elite speed and made six catches for 52 yards a year ago.
31. Noah Andersen, Sr., WR, Collins-Maxwell
Andersen is the top returning receiver for Collins-Maxwell.
Last season he caught three passes for 92 yards and one touchdown.
32. Zane Jacobs, Soph., OL, Collins-Maxwell
Jacobs could take a big leap as an offensive lineman this season.
He saw valuable time as a freshman, and with another year of experience, he could be a big weapon opening up holes for the Spartans.
33. Sterling Smith, Jr., TE, Nevada
Smith will be counted on to block well and catch balls for Nevada in 2026.
After starting at guard for four games a year ago, he will move over to block on the edge this season. He also may be a valuable presence as a receiver for a young team replacing all of its top receivers from its state title group.
34. Bowen Benedict, Jr., P, Ballard
Bowen is one of the top returning punters in Ballard’s district.
As a sophomore, Bowen punted eight times and had an average of 40.5 yards per punt.
35. Reagan Peters, Soph., QB, Collins-Maxwell
Peters has big shoes to fill, taking over for multi-year starter Cooper Wierson, who was one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in 8-player District 6.
Peters did get some experience as a freshman, completing one pass for four yards and adding 18 yards on the ground.
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ranking top 35 Iowa high school football players in Ames area for 2026
Reporting by Joe Randleman, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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By Joe Randleman, Ames Tribune | USA TODAY Network
