Tristan Exline holds the MLB · Backup spot in Iowa State Cyclones’s linebacker room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Tristan Exline is a middle linebacker from China Spring, Texas, who transferred to Iowa State as a senior in 2026. At UT Permian Basin, he earned First Team Associated Press All-American honors in 2025 after recording 143 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks while starting all 14 games. A two-time Lone Star Conference Linebacker of the Year, Exline finished his three-year UTPB career with 272 tackles, 39.0 for loss, and 12 sacks.

Texas-Permian Basinthrough 2025

Iowa State2026 — present