AMES — Back when he was dominating at Algona High School, Jack Limbaugh had a decision to make.

With programs like Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas State, Missouri and Duke offering him scholarships, Limbaugh ultimately picked Matt Campbell and Iowa State.

Facing another decision about his college football future, Limbaugh is sticking with the Cyclones.

Limbaugh announced on social media that he was returning to Iowa State, even after the coaching change from Campbell to new program leader Jimmy Rogers. He is one of a small group of players to stay in Ames, as the team saw the majority of its 2025 roster enter the transfer portal after Campbell left for Penn State.

“The best decision for me and my family was to stay put,” Limbaugh said. “Ames feels like home.”

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive lineman solidified his redshirt season after playing in four games this fall, all of which came on special teams. He recorded his first career tackle against Kansas.

At Algona, Limbaugh was an all-state selection, finishing his senior season with 42.5 tackles — including 13 for loss — and six sacks. The Bulldogs went 9-2, reaching the Class 3A state quarterfinals.

Campbell had long been a hot coaching prospect for several college and NFL openings, always turning them down to remain in Ames until this offseason. He accepted the Penn State position, and the Cyclones immediately turned to Rogers, who had been at Washington State.

“It certainly came as a surprise to us all when we heard the news, and there was definitely some uncertainty after that,” Limbaugh said. “But I was blessed to lean on my faith and my support system throughout this crazy couple of weeks and I felt at peace with what I decided.”

While the Cyclone roster is slim at the moment, Rogers and the coaching staff will be active when the transfer portal opens up.

“I’m super excited and looking forward to forming relationships with my new teammates and coaches,” Limbaugh said. “I’m extremely excited to start working toward the goals we have for this upcoming season.”