Iowa State’s walk-on-turned-blue-collar LB with real starting chops
In the 2024 season, Rylan Barnes went from depth-chart afterthought to trusted starter for Iowa State, finishing with 30 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss while starting four games. The big differentiator: he plays like a farm-kid runaway train — physical, relentless, and assignment-sound, with the grit to keep rising when injuries hit the room. He’s a strong culture fit for a defense that values toughness and reliability, though he’s more “steady problem-solver” than splashy stat monster.
