Iowa State Football: 3 instant impact signees from 2020 class

Matt Campbell has signed the No. 46 recruiting class in 2020 and it looks like Iowa State football may contend for the Big 12 title.

Another offseason, another school trying to poach Matt Campbell from Iowa State. This time around, it was Michigan State who watched as Mark Dantonio retired suddenly and approached Campbell about his interest in the vacant position and he remained loyal to the Cyclones — like we should even be surprised anymore.

Campbell is coming off landing his second straight sixth-best recruiting class in the Big 12 and No. 46 in the country and while that’s not ideal, he’s been doing a great job with the talent he’s given.

Iowa State finished the 2019 season with a disappointing 7-6 record and there’s hope for a Big 12 title in 2020, so the Cyclones will need some help from the incoming recruiting class.

Which signees will have an immediate impact for the Cyclones?

Gone are Ray Lima and Jamahl Johnson from the defensive tackle spots and taking over will likely be senior Joshua Bailey or maybe even Tucker Robertson, but that doesn’t mean a kid like Latrell Bankston can’t come in right away and compete for the starting job.

It’s rare for a first-year player to come in and win a starting job, especially in the trenches, but that’s good news for Bankston because he has a couple of years of JUCO experience under his belt. He spent the last couple of years at Hutchinson C.C. after coming out of high school in Woodstock, Ga., as a zero-star recruit with one offer from Kennesaw State.

Bankston, an early enrollee as well, went from zero to hero, rising up the JUCO ranks to the No. 26 prospect at that level as well as the third-best defensive tackle. He impressed everyone with his strength and ability to get into the backfield as well as plug holes.

With a 6-foot-0, 300-pound frame, expect Bankston to have an immediate impact on the Cyclones’ defensive line.