#23

Will McLaughlin

LB · Iowa State · Jr. · #23

Returning to Iowa State for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Will McLaughlin

LB · Iowa State · Jr · #23

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#690 national
CFB
College
Iowa State
2022–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2022–2025

1 coach
2022
Iowa State
2023
Iowa State
2024
Iowa State
2025
Iowa State

Played his entire career under Matt Campbell.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2022Iowa State4-8HC: Matt Campbell · Pass-leaning
2023Iowa State7-6HC: Matt Campbell · Balanced, slow tempo
2024Iowa State11-3HC: Matt Campbell · Balanced, fast tempo
2025Iowa State8-4HC: Matt Campbell · Run-leaning

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Iowa State1382.02.01----
2024Iowa State1561.50.01----
2023Iowa State46257.01.012--
2022Iowa State1242.50.0------
Career864313.03.032--

How he plays

Play style

Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Iowa State

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Linebacker · Iowa State

Returning around him

  • 58% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
  • 1 Iowa State player drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: -7 net (48 in / 55 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Iowa State · Last season: 8-4 (AP #22) · Talent rank #71 · 2026 recruiting class #54

DNA match

Player DNA

Thumper

Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.

LB

His 2024 production profile sits closest to Colby Reeder’s 2022 season.

Colby Reeder

65%match

Iowa State · 2022

#2

Cincir Evans

Memphis · 2022

65%
#3

Drew Sanders

Alabama · 2021

NFL Rd 3 · Pk 4
63%
#4

Andrew Awe

Rice · 2023

61%
#5

Dasan McCullough

Oklahoma · 2023

59%

Matches Colby on

TFL rate

Differs from Colby on

Class year (lower)
Sack rate (lower)
Tackle volume (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Gabe Powers's junior season at Kansas State (2025).

Gabe Powers

69%match

Kansas State · 2025

#2

JaCorey Johns

Wake Forest · 2022

69%
#3

Brian Allen

Iowa · 2025

NFL Rd 4
68%
#4

Jordan Renaud

Alabama · 2025

68%
#5

Dominic Lolesio

Arizona · 2025

67%

Matches Gabe on

TFL rate
Height
Solo tackle rate

Differs from Gabe on

Hurry rate (higher)
PD rate (higher)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #7584

Final rank
#7584
Avg #7727.3
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #7584 this season.