Iowa State Football Transfer Making Great First Impression

The Iowa State Cyclones football program underwent a massive overhaul this offseason following the departure of head coach Matt Campbell.

There are a lot of new faces on the coaching staff and roster, headlined by head coach Jimmy Rogers. One of the members of the staff, offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl, is a familiar face returning to Ames after a one-year hiatus with the Detroit Lions in the NFL.

There is a lot of excitement surrounding him and the kind of offense he plans to implement. Physicality has been a common theme talked about by the coaches, which means having a hard-nosed running game to set the tone.

One of the players who is going to help achieve that goal is Cameron Pettaway. A transfer from the Bowling Green Falcons, he is making an incredible first impression on his new offensive coordinator.

Cameron Pettaway draws praise from Tyler Roehl

Bowling Green Falcons running back Cameron Pettaway tackled by Cincinnati Bearcats safety Xavier Williams. — Sep 6, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Bowling Green Falcons running back Cameron Pettaway (26) carries the ball as he is tackled by Cincinnati Bearcats safety Xavier Williams (36) in the first half at Nippert Stadium. | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

"He's high IQ, works his tail off, highly competitive. He's starting to break the cusp of adding more on his plate," Roehl said, via Alec Busse of Cyclone Alert, part of the 247Sports Network (subscription required). "I mean, it's not like he doesn't belong. He belongs. He's playing at a high level."

Pettaway is quite an addition to the Cyclones' backfield. He was named the MAC Freshman of the Year last season, making an impact in multiple facets of the game.

Nine appearances were made, carrying the ball 72 times for 365 yards while adding eight receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns. He is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands, evidenced by his success as a kick returner.

Pettaway had 12 kick return opportunities, gaining 396 yards with one touchdown. His 33.0 yards per return were the most in the MAC in 2025.

Spring football practices are underway in Ames. Hear from returning linebacker Carson Willich and Bowling Green transfer running back Cameron Pettaway, as well as the new coordinators, Jesse Bobbit and Tyler Roehl.@SoundOFF13 pic.twitter.com/DNg9LCqPr9
— David Warrington (@DWarringtonTV) April 1, 2026

A little bit undersized at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, it will be interesting to see what kind of role that Roehl creates for him in the offense. An every-down, bell cow role seems unlikely, but he can produce on early downs as a rusher or as a pass catcher out of the backfield.

There will be plenty of competition for touches, but it is nice to see Pettaway making such an impression early on during spring practice.

Fellow transfer Salahadin Allah from the Oregon State Beavers will be in the mix, as well as former walk-ons Easton Miller and Aiden Flora. Caleb Francios, who is part of the Class of 2026, could also see some action in the backfield if he proves he is ready to handle the rigors of college football throughout the offseason.

There are opportunities up for grabs with Iowa State’s top four leading rushers from the 2025 campaign not returning for 2026. Flora, who rushed for 58 yards last season, is the most among returning players.