Peterson: Iowa State football poised to be recruiting powerhouse in the new Big 12

A quick look at the numbers and rankings shows Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell and his staff assembled the best recruiting class in school history with this 2022 group, which will likely finish in the top 35 or 40 in the 247Sports Composite.

But a deeper dive shows something that indicates just how good the 2022 class actually might be.

Take away the two Big 12 Conference defectors in Texas and Oklahoma, add the four newcomers to the eight Big 12 loyalists, and you come up with this:

The Cyclones’ newest recruiting class is either first or second, depending on your recruiting web site preference. According to Rivals, they're first. Per the 247Sports Composite, they're second.

Iowa State and Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma State and Iowa State.

Regardless, that's significant, because after Texas and Oklahoma are finally gone is when the importance of the 2022 class kicks in.

More: 10 Signing Day thoughts on Iowa State football's 2022 recruiting class

While you may have been buying into the national speculation that Campbell was on his way out, well, he was out all right. He was out on the recruiting trail.

Players representing 10 positions returned letters of intent Wednesday, and this includes a punter and a defensive tackle who picked the Cyclones over offers from Ohio State, Oregon and Texas A&M. Nine will enroll in time for the next semester.

Impressive, and so’s this:

Current adjusted Big 12 rankings (minus those that are leaving and including those that are joining) show Iowa State and Oklahoma State are at the top. It shows that West Virginia, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Baylor and UCF are somewhere in the middle. It shows that Kansas State, BYU, TCU, Houston and Kansas have some catching up to do.

That’s more meaningful later than sooner, probably, depending on how quickly recruits are ready for major college’s prime time. Still, it’s a snapshot into where Cyclones football could land, when the conference shuffle finishes shuffling.

It’s also an indicator of something we figured all along: Iowa State will be one of the top two football powers in the new Big 12. If it can attract talent like the 2022 class, what’s to say that kind of very good recruiting can’t continue?

And you wonder why 12 players are transferring? Look at the Class of 2022. Were returnees concerned that incoming players could threaten their playing time?

Hard to say, but it could certainly be a factor.

Four-star receiver Greg Gaines of Tampa Bay, Florida, has immediate playing time potential. He’s a 6-foot-2, 185-pounder who chose the Cyclones over Indiana, Kansas State and Maryland.

Is landing him the reason for receivers being among Iowa State’s transfers?

Maybe, and the fact he’ll start school in January shows how determined he is to make an immediate impression.

Domonique Orange chose Campbell’s program over Ohio State, Oregon and Texas A&M. At 6-4 and 300 pounds, he’ll get a head start on being field-ready. He’s enrolling early, too, which makes me wonder if that’s behind some defensive linemen on their way out.

Linebacker Colby Reeder transferred from Delaware to the Cyclones. Defensive lineman M.J. Anderson is coming to Ames after playing the past two seasons for Minnesota.

You see a trend?

Campbell and his staff are capitalizing on the success they’ve brought to the program. They’ve gone from selling hope back in 2016, to actual proof of results. Five bowl games in the past five years. Major conference victories. All-Americans. National award winners. New facilities. NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. has five Cyclones among top 10s at their respective positions before the 2022 NFL draft.

There’s buzz with the program. Word spreads.

"You’re beating Oklahoma and you’re beating Texas, winning the Fiesta Bowl and all those types of things," Rick Garretson, the head coach at Chandler High School in Arizona, told The Des Moines Register last summer. "It just makes it appealing. You can tell guys get better in their time — once they arrive at Iowa State, to when they leave."

He sent running back Eli Sanders Iowa State’s way last recruiting season. He’s doing likewise with running back Quaron Adams now.

"You start to have success on their end, and you’ve got kids looking at (Iowa State) in a different light," Garretson said last summer. "If you’re a tight end, what’s not to like about being a tight end there? If you’re a nose guard, he makes the whole defense go (at Iowa State). There’s all these different aspects of their program that can be appealing."

More: Peterson: Iowa State historic football season paying off on the recruiting trail

The early enrollees will be on campus next month. Together, they’ll transition to college academics and get very acquainted with Dave Andrews’ strength and condition program. By the time spring ball rolls around, they’ll be prepared to start their road toward playing sooner rather than later.

They’re part of Iowa State’s best recruiting haul. It's fourth right now in the Big 12 (and, again, second in the new Big 12, or first, depending on your website). Before that, it was eighth in the Big 12 last year, and before that, sixth, sixth, seventh, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th, ninth, eighth, 12th, 11th, 12th ... you get the point.

Wait a couple seasons to see just how good this class actually is. It might even be better than advertised, once the present Big 12 becomes the new Big 12.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson embarked on his 50th year of writing sports for the Des Moines Register in December 2021 . Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, 515-284-8132, and on Twitter at @RandyPete.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football could top recruiting rankings in the new Big 12