It’s a time of change for Iowa State football. A proven winner, Matt Campbell, has moved on to the Big Ten, and Jamie Pollard landed Jimmy Rogers for the head coaching job before subsequently resigning as the school’s athletic director.
By all counts, Iowa State isn’t expected to compete with the 8-4 finish in Campbell’s last season as coach, and with a roster that returns zero starters on either side of the field this fall, the questions are abundant regarding just what the Cyclones will become.
It’s an uphill climb in Ames this fall, but Rogers isn’t unfamiliar with today’s football and churned out a 6-6 effort with 75 brand-new players in his one season at Washington State. Is the same possible in the Big 12?
JAYLEN RAYNOR MUST STAY HEALTHY
The offense features some interesting components, including Hampton tight end transfer Christian Greenlaw, one of two players with starting experience last year, and Second Team UAC wideout Cody Jackson from Tarleton State. Those hands don’t matter much without Arkansas State transfer Jaylen Raynor, easily the deepest solution in this quarterback room, coming off a 3,361-yard junior season with the Red Wolves. After Raynor, though, the Cyclones are thin, with Oklahoma State transfer Zane Flores the presumptive No. 2 despite seven interceptions in eight starts last year for the 0-12 Cowboys.
WILL IOWA STATE GET BEAT AT CORNER?
Iowa State enters the season largely unproven at cornerback with minimal starting experience at the position, and two standouts, Jontez and Jeremiah Cooper, no longer in charge of the room. Instead, it’ll be Washington State senior transfer Duhron Goodman leading the group, and returning sophomore David Coffey, who’ll appear first on the depth chart. Former five-star recruit Jaheim Singletary, who started 12 games and recorded 54 totals over the last three years at Arkansas.
NOV. 28 vs. KANSAS STATE
Iowa State certainly has Big 12 wins possible with a schedule including West Virginia, Baylor, and UCF, but I’m interested to see just how the Cyclones are holding up for their home finale with Kansas State. It’s the first Rogers Farmageddon contest, and it could be an opportunity to steal a win from Collin Klein and the Wildcats, who will be coming off seven straight weeks of football.
