(Ames, IA) — Malaki Ta’ase is one of many transfers — 57 in total — for the Iowa St. football team is looking to get playing time on the defensive line. The Junior played in 13 games with Washington St. last season but only started one game still finishing with 2.5 sacks and 17 total tackles. This is the third school for the Mesa, Arizona native having started with New Mexico St. where he was the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year in 2024.
Ta’ase spent some time on a mission in Ghana for the Church of Latter Day Saints and later got married to McKinley in early 2025 and now has a 7 month baby girl named Charleston. He says he met his future wife in a unique way
Ta’ase is not shy and loves to tell stories and joke around but he is a different person when he gets on the football field
Two more transfers from Washington St. Isaac Terrell and Bryson Lamb are the leaders on the defensive line for the Cyclones along with former Iowa Hawkeye and South Dakota Coyote Caden Crawford. Ta’ase says the defensive lineman have a great dynamic so far in practice
Iowa St. opens their season on September 5 hosting Southeast Missouri, coverage all season long on KSOM.
