Iowa State football must replace key stars, but program’s new standard remains high

AMES, Iowa — In the moments preceding Iowa State’s 2021 home finale against TCU, Cyclones coach Matt Campbell greeted every senior with a hug and a smile. Tears fell from the eyes of both the coach and his players. There was love with every embrace coupled with the realization that this moment was the end of an era.

Campbell has built Iowa State from the Big 12’s perennial bottom feeder into one of its most successful programs during his tenure. Since 2017, the Cyclones’ 29 Big 12 victories rank second behind Oklahoma. Campbell’s crew boasts four top-10 wins and 37 percent of all victories over ranked opponents in Iowa State history. Before Campbell’s arrival, ISU endured six straight losing seasons. After a struggling first-year campaign lengthened that streak to seven, Campbell has posted five straight winning years.

It’s not just Campbell who changed the fortunes of Iowa State football. Players like quarterback Brock Purdy, tight ends Charlie Kolar and Chase Allen, two-time consensus All-American running back Breece Hall and linebacker Mike Rose have established legacies in Ames that will last a lifetime. Whether it was in the opening moments of that 48-14 victory over TCU or the final time the Cyclones gathered in the Cheez-It Bowl locker room, the emotion was real. So is Campbell’s appreciation.

“There were some great seniors and leaders and guys that I think you were so passionate about because they came here when there was not a whole lot of belief in our program, and they led,” Campbell said. “What they all personally went through were great guideposts for us and for our young kids in our program of, man, this is a hard journey. It’s not always going to be easy. But here is the pathway through it, and I think that’s the gratefulness that you have from the end of that era.”

Those names will remain embedded in Iowa State football lore. They left big holes for the coaching staff to fill. But the Cyclones will suit up this year with a number of skilled players, some of which are more talented than their predecessors. They also return an underrated nucleus that should keep Iowa State afloat as its inexperience catches up.

There’s also a hunger in Ames after a frustrating 2021 season. Iowa State returned 19 of 22 starters from its 2020 squad that posted the Big 12’s best regular-season record, advanced to the league title game for the first time, won the Fiesta Bowl and finished in the top 10. But that didn’t automatically translate into 2021 victories. The Cyclones suffered five one-score defeats, from a 28-21 setback at No. 12 Oklahoma to a 31-29 loss to eventual Big 12 champion Baylor to a three-point loss at Texas Tech on a game-ending 62-yard field goal. A seven-win season, which occurred just once from 2006 through 2016, previously was celebrated. Last year’s 7-6 season was disappointing.

“The challenge to get to the top is really hard,” Campbell said. “There’s not a naiveness to that, and there wasn’t a year ago. There really wasn’t when we came in here in 2016 and then started to grow in ’17 and really take strides, but it’s a challenge. You’re going to have to be your best each Saturday to have the right to win football games here at Iowa State. No matter what the outside world puts on it, that’s always going to be the case here.”

Offense

Purdy, a four-year starter, owns 32 school records and was a four-time All-Big 12 selection, including first-team honors in 2020. Last year, Purdy led the Big 12 in passing yards per game (245.2) and ranked fifth nationally in completion percentage (71.7). Some of those numbers will difficult — if not impossible — to replicate. However, sophomore Hunter Dekkers has quickly established himself as the clear No. 1 quarterback and has a different skill set that could elevate the Cyclones in other ways.

Dekkers, who is left-handed, set career Iowa high school 11-man records in passing yardage (10,628) and passing touchdowns (126). His large frame (6-3, 235) also brings powerful arm strength. Although he might not have the quick-twitch running ability that Purdy sometimes displayed, Dekkers is more physical when running the ball. He played in four games in 2021, completing 20 of 36 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 61 yards and two scores on four carries.

Campbell raves about his young quarterback’s competitiveness and study habits as an apprentice under Purdy. But becoming a starter has other challenges that Dekkers can’t conquer until the fall.

“It’s one thing to play quarterback in 7-on-7 in practice, but it’s another thing when 70,000 people are watching every move you make, and it revolves around your decision making,” Campbell said. “That’s another deal. What’s he like when the pressure’s on when it goes good, and it goes bad? How do you handle those things?”

Hunter Dekkers has established himself as Iowa State’s No. 1 QB with Brock Purdy off to the NFL. ( Reese Strickland / USA TODAY Sports)

True freshman Rocco Becht (6-1, 195), son of former NFL tight end Anthony Becht, enrolled early and is the likely backup.

No player left a bigger footprint at Iowa State than Hall, a second-round pick of the New York Jets. He was a two-time consensus first-team All-American and a two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. In three seasons, Hall rushed for 3,941 yards and 50 touchdowns. But like when Hall eventually replaced David Montgomery in 2019, the Cyclones could start with a committee approach before settling on a specific back.

Jirehl Brock, a junior, was the higher-rated prospect when he and Hall arrived together. Brock (6-0, 215) started the Cheez-It Bowl for Hall, who sat out, and paced the Cyclones with 42 yards. Joining Brock in the competition is redshirt freshman Eli Sanders (6-0, 195), sophomore Deon Silas (5-8, 185) and true freshman Cartevious Norton (5-11, 210). Every runner has different skills — Brock’s consistency stands out, while Sanders boasts elite speed and Silas showcases the most quickness. Norton perhaps has the most complete skill set but the least experience.

“I think it’s got a chance to be a very diverse and unique running back room,” Campbell said. “I would probably say — from at least top to bottom — maybe as talented as we’ve been at the tailback position.”

The pass-catching situation has two sides for Campbell. His best receiver, Xavier Hutchinson (6-3, 210) returned for a super senior season. Hutchinson caught 83 passes for 987 yards and five touchdowns last year. Slot receiver Jaylin Noel, a sophomore, returns after grabbing 38 balls for 265 yards and working as the team’s primary punt and kickoff returner. Several receivers are in play at the third spot, including senior Sean Shaw Jr. (6-6, 220), sophomore Darren Wilson Jr. (6-3, 210), sophomore Daniel Jackson (6-2, 220) and Colorado transfer Dimitri Stanley (6-0, 195), who has two years of eligibility remaining.

“X is really special, a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands and continues to grow and get better,” Campbell said. “Jaylin Noel has become an elite punt returner, a guy that’s a great slot receiver. He’s got breakaway speed and can do some really different things for us. And then I think it’s a really healthy competition (among the rest).”

The flip side for Campbell comes at tight end, where the Cyclones lose Kolar and Allen, both program stalwarts who combined for 88 catches last year. The replacements include senior Jared Rus (6-2, 240), who played fullback and off-the-ball tight end, and sophomore Easton Dean (6-6, 250), who began his ISU career at quarterback. Rus and Dean combined for eight catches last year.

There is optimism the Cyclones can build a solid offensive line. Trevor Downing (6-4, 310), a senior, moved to center for the Cheez-It Bowl against Clemson and will remain there after starting 12 games at right guard last season. Campbell calls Downing, “one of the best interior offensive linemen in the country.” Darrell Simmons (6-3, 315), a junior, slid to right guard for the bowl and beyond after opening 12 games at left guard. Jarrod Hufford (6-5, 310), a junior, started seven games at left tackle last season and will kick inside to left guard, where he started the Cheez-It Bowl.

Left tackle Tyler Miller (6-9, 320), a sophomore, made his first career start against Clemson and showed enough promise for Campbell to keep him there. Jake Remsburg (6-6, 330), a junior, opened seven games in 2020 before a late-season shoulder injury hindered him throughout the 2021 season.

“I think what you love about Tyler is just his maturity, his toughness,” Campbell said. “I do think he’s got a chance to be a great anchor that we really haven’t had since we’ve been here at the offensive tackle position, and that part is really exciting for us.”

Key stat to know: The Cyclones have some mighty big production to replace without Hall. Since 2019, Hall’s 800 touches (rushes and catches) were the most in FBS, according to Pro Football Focus. Among Power 5 players, specifically, Texas A&M’s Isaiah Spiller was second at 615.

Defense

One of the Big 12’s most consistent high-level defenses over the last five years, Iowa State blends significant experience coupled with major holes caused by both graduation and transfer portal attrition.

The best news for ISU came with pass-rush extraordinaire Will McDonald IV (6-4, 245) returning for his senior year at defensive end. With 14 sacks, McDonald led the Big 12 in that category for the second straight season and earned first-team All-American honors. Already owning the school record with 29 career sacks, McDonald is just five away from the Big 12 mark. To become an even better player, McDonald eyed gaining about five more pounds and maintaining that weight while adding strength.

“I really think that’s the last step,” Campbell said. “I think he’s proven to play the run game really well. Obviously, we know in some pass rush situations, he’s got a chance to be as good as anybody. But I just think it’s really consistency of body and weight. That will really be an asset for him.”

The Cyclones largely play a 3-3-5 scheme but often adjust to a 4-2-5 look. Inside, senior Isaiah Lee (6-0, 305) and sophomore J.R. Singleton (6-2, 295) will compete at both the nose and the tackle positions, as will Minnesota transfer MJ Anderson (6-3, 275), a junior. Defensive end Blake Peterson (6-4, 270), a junior, should start opposite McDonald, while true sophomore Joey Petersen (6-4, 215) could see action on the edge after burning a redshirt to play special teams. The Cyclones will miss defensive lineman Enyi Uwazurike, a fourth-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos.

ISU lost two starting linebackers to the NFL but returns sixth-year linebacker O’Rien Vance in the middle. He’s flanked by senior Gerry Vaughn (5-11, 235) and Delaware transfer Colby Reeder (6-3, 235). Vance has suffered through injuries the last two years, while Vaughn, a four-phase special teamer, filled in frequently in the middle. Campbell projects Vaughn could make a similar leap to a full-time starter as NFL-bound linebacker Jake Hummel. Reeder made a big impression through spring practice.

“Reeder reminds you a lot of Mike Rose,” Campbell said. “A guy that’s very similar in size and very similar in speed. He can really run, can really play, has got great experience in this defense and there’s also a guy that’s got the ability to pressure the quarterback.”

Sixth-year senior O’Rien Vance return after battling injuries the past two seasons. (Steven Branscombe / USA TODAY Sports)

The back end took the biggest hit from last season, especially in the portal. Starting safety Isheem Young (Ole Miss) entered before the bowl, cornerback Datrone Young (Duke) bolted after the bowl and safety Craig McDonald (Auburn) left after the spring. Cornerback Anthony Johnson Jr. (6-0, 200) shifted to safety during the spring and is joined by sophomore Beau Freyler (6-2, 205), who made his first career start in the Cheez-It Bowl. Campbell called sophomore safety Malik Verdon (6-4, 215) “the MVP of spring practice.” Others competing at safety include junior Mason Chambers (6-3, 205) and sophomore Jordyn Morgan (6-0, 190).

At cornerback, sophomore Myles Purchase (5-11, 190), junior T.J. Tampa (6-2, 190), senior Tayvonn Kyle (5-11, 180) and converted wide receiver Darian Porter (6-4, 185) will battle throughout training camp.

“There’s really four guys competing to be the starters in two spots,” Campbell said of his cornerbacks. “We’re as talented as we’ve ever been at safety. I think it’s the depth that will be the key to our success.”

Key stat to know: ISU ranked second in the Big 12 in total defense (310.5 yards per game) and finished ninth nationally while producing its lowest per-game average since 1984 (297.0).

Special teams

The Cyclones have multiple competitions among their specialists to replace Andrew Meavis at both kicker and punter. Three players have a shot at kicker: junior Drake Nettles (5-11, 190), freshman Keegan Shackford (5-10, 175) and incoming freshman Jace Gilbert (6-1, 190). Shackford’s leg strength gives him a slight edge entering the summer.

At punter, it’s also a three-way competition. Senior Cameron Shook punted six times last year for the Cyclones, while mid-year enrollee Ben Garbarini (6-0, 180), also a senior, competed in the spring. Garbarini transferred from Division III Christopher Newport College and averaged 42.2 yards per punt in 2019. True freshman Tyler Perkins (6-0, 190) also will compete.

Noel likely will handle punt returner duties once again and perhaps kickoff, depending on his offensive reps. Sanders also could get a look at kickoff return.

Opposing scouting report

With Iowa State losing seven of its regular offensive starters, there’s going to be some early inconsistency on that side of the ball. But one defensive assistant who faced Iowa State thinks the issues will come in replacing Kolar and Allen more than any other position.

“Those tight ends, I think that’s probably where you might see the bigger drop-off,” the defensive assistant said. “Just the use of what they’re doing with those tight ends in the run game and pass game and then relying on some other guys to do it. I just can’t imagine that they’re going to replace those guys very easily.

“I think they’ll be all right at running back. They’re certainly not going to be what they were, but I don’t think it’d be as big of a step backward. I do think, based on what we saw out of Purdy, that I don’t know there’s going to be a huge step backward to the kid that they got now, Hunter Dekkers. I think they’ve always protected their offensive line. We’ve looked at them and been like, ‘Gosh, this guy’s not very good,’ but they’ve found a way to block people. So, I think it’s going to come down to their skill. I think it’s going to come down to quarterback play. They’ll find a way to run the football.”

ISU’s turnover also is significant on defense in losing nearly 70 percent of its tackles and every player who intercepted a pass.

“They’re going to be good defensively,” the assistant said. “I think Jon Heacock does an unbelievable job defensively, and he’s found something that kind of fits that culture and fits what they’re doing. It’s a little bit unique.”

How the Cyclones recruited from 2019 to 2022

There’s nothing easy about recruiting to Iowa State, which has three Big Ten universities located within a three-hour drive and shares a state with one of them, to having a semi-small base of Division I prospects within its borders. But Campbell’s success has come from developing players who fit his program rather relying on stars and team rankings.

Under Campbell, Iowa State significantly overperforms on the field despite its star rankings. In 2020, the Cyclones finished with the No. 59-ranked class and ended the year No. 9 by AP. They improved to No. 39 for the 2022 class, which included four-star receiver and early enrollee Greg Gaines (6-2, 185) of Tampa, Fla., and Council Bluffs (Iowa) Lewis Central defensive tackle Hunter Deyo (6-3, 270). ISU secured a four-star commit in 2023 with 6-6 quarterback J.J. Kohl of nearby Ankeny (Iowa) High School.

“At least from our own experience, we’ve still stayed the course and believed that we’re going to be really honest on the front end of recruiting,” Campbell said. “I don’t care where you are, what school it is, everybody’s got 85 scholarships. Every player in America is going from the best high school player into a highly competitive environment. And to me, to lead with anything else is really unfortunate, because I think what happens is you really disappoint young people. You may give this perception of what they’re going into as drastically different than the reality because the reality of it is, it is going to be hard.”

In the transfer portal

The Cyclones lost starters and plenty of depth to the transfer portal this offseason. Five players transferred to Power 5 programs — some were surprises — and 17 scholarship players left Iowa State. The remaining players went to G5 schools, FCS programs or have yet to sign. The Cyclones tried to mitigate the losses in the secondary with a pair of late junior-college signings in Blake Thompson (6-1, 180) and Treyveon McGee (6-4, 210).

All three portal additions are set to become important pieces this fall. Reeder should start, while Anderson and Stanley will at least rotate, if not start.

“We’ve tried to have those authentic relationships, real relationships with our kids, understand where they’re coming from, have those conversations a lot more than maybe a lot of other places do,” Campbell said. “Then really try to help a young man achieve whatever he’s looking to achieve. You hope that he’s trying to achieve that within your own walls. But sometimes that’s not always the case.”

Impact of coaching changes

A hallmark of Iowa State’s success under Campbell is its coaching stability. There are six assistants who remain on staff after arriving with Campbell from Toledo in 2016 plus two current position coaches who were either a grad assistant or an analyst. That familiarity and respect helped in the first year when Campbell asked Heacock to devise a different defense from the traditional 40 up front with quarters coverage to slow high-powered Big 12 attacks. From 2017 onward, Iowa State has allowed less than 370 yards a game to Big 12 offenses, down from a 452-yard average the previous five years. Having associate head coach/linebackers coach Tyson Veidt and defensive line coach Eli Rasheed around every season with Heacock has helped maintain schematic consistency.

The cohesion has helped on offense, too. With Tom Manning at the controls for all but the 2018 season — when he coached with the Indianapolis Colts — the Cyclones have catered their attack around their personnel. Early in Campbell’s era, he relied on his bigger wide receivers. The last three years, ISU regularly played with two or three tight ends because of its depth and skill. The tweaks will come organically around whoever become the go-to threats.

Campbell remains the subject of coaching rumors and seemingly is linked to every major opening. No matter the speculation, his staff remains unwavering in its loyalty.

Schedule

DATE	OPPONENT	SITE
Sept. 3	Southeast Missouri State	Home
Sept. 10	Iowa	Away
Sept. 17	Ohio	Home
Sept. 24	Baylor	Home
Oct. 1	Kansas	Away
Oct. 8	Kansas State	Home
Oct. 15	Texas	Away
Oct. 29	Oklahoma	Home
Nov. 5	West Virginia	Home
Nov. 12	Oklahoma State	Away
Nov. 19	Texas Tech	Home
Nov. 26	TCU	Away

Final assessment

After starting last year in the top 10, ISU was 2-5 in games decided by a touchdown or less and the 2021 season ended in disappointing fashion. Over Campbell’s six seasons, the Cyclones average six one-score games each year but are 15-21 overall. One-score games likely will determine the season’s trajectory this year, too.

While the base doesn’t take success for granted — and neither does the athletics administration — Campbell has elevated annual expectations, even with heavy losses. But there is more uncertainty now than in recent years. The biggest questions involve depth along the offensive line and in the secondary, coupled with consistency at quarterback. If the Cyclones coalesce and stay healthy, they have a chance to contend for the Big 12’s upper echelon in November. If not, a sixth straight bowl berth could be at stake entering their final two games.

Editor’s note: This is part of a series previewing Power 5 and top Group of 5 teams for the 2022 college football season.

(Top photo of Will McDonald IV: Ben Queen / USA Today Sports)