Iowa State’s Sam Zelenovich is a promising local WR with upside, but his 2026 impact is still a projection
Zelenovich is a 6-1, 197-pound redshirt freshman from Altoona, Iowa, who arrived at Iowa State with a strong high-school résumé: 130 career catches, 1,678 yards, 15 touchdowns, and a 2023 junior season of 68 receptions for 891 yards and nine scores. He’s the type of in-state receiver coaches like because he’s productive, multi-sport, and apparently tough enough to bounce back after a senior-year injury and a redshirt year with no game action. The fit? Intriguing long-term, especially as a polished, catch-creating local prospect—but not yet a proven immediate stat-sheet monster.
