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Iowa State University Athletics
Spring Football Practice Begins
03.21.2007 | Football
Iowa State football has turned the page. ISU athletics director Jamie Pollard knew just who he wanted to lead the Cyclone football program as it made "The Next Big Step." To much fanfare, Gene Chizik, the former defensive coordinator at Auburn and then national champion Texas was named ISU's new head coach by Pollard Nov. 27 before thousands of fans at Hilton Coliseum.
Chizik first set out to hire a national-caliber coaching staff while immediately hitting the recruiting trail. Hiring the right coaches will make or break any head coach's future success. Chizik's national reputation as a winner and one of the country's hottest assistant coaches helped him put together a staff of assistants with exemplary credentials and contacts that span the country.
Chizik's coaches hit the recruiting trail within 24 hours of arriving in Ames. The new Cyclone assistants were sent out to find the right players to rebuild a team that was 4-8 overall and 1-7 in the Big 12 Conference last season. There were major needs, including in the offensive line, where Iowa State started five fifth-year seniors at one point in the 2006 football campaign. Chizik also focused on garnering immediate help on defense, including assistance for a young secondary that was exploited by opponents last fall.
The new recruiting class includes 10 junior college players who are needed to fill spots immediately. The figure is somewhat deceptive as several of those newcomers have more than two years of eligibility to expend in the Iowa State football program's future.
The cupboard is not totally bare. The list of returnees includes several marquee Big 12 Conference players. On offense, quarterback Bret Meyer leads all returning signal-callers nationally with 7,979 career yards of total offense. Wide receiver Todd Blythe is back with 124 career catches for 2,317 yards, an average of 18.7 yards per reception. The defense will be anchored by the nation's leading tackler last season, Alvin "Ace" Bowen. Bowen was a first-team all-Big 12 selection in 2006 and is hungry for more national recognition this fall.
The schedule is a stiff challenge. The home schedule includes Kent State, Northern Iowa, Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas State and Colorado. ISU hits the road for games at Toledo, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Missouri and Kansas.
Offensive Line
| TE | 41 | ***Ben Barkema | 6-3 | 252 | Sr.# |
| 80 | Brandon Tinlin | 6-4 | 254 | Sr.# | |
| 84 | Derrick Catlett | 6-4 | 251 |
So.# | |
| LT | 75 | Doug Dedrick | 6-4 | 271 | So.# |
| 67 | Matt Hulbert | 6-7 | 280 | Fr.# | |
| LG | 73 | *Reggie Stephens | 6-3 | 322 | So.# |
| 66 | Joe Blaes | 6-2 | 297 | Jr.# | |
| C | 60 | Brandon Johnson | 6-3 | 309 | Jr.# |
| 55 | Anthony Walker | 6-2 | 290 | Sr.# | |
| RG | 70 | *Tom Schmeling | 6-3 | 295 | Jr.# |
| 77 | Alex Alvarez | 6-2 | 290 | So. | |
| RT | 76 | Lee Tibbs | 6-4 | 315 | Sr. |
| 74 | Joe Vanstrom | 6-6 | 299 | Jr.# |
Perhaps no position has started spring football as unsettled as Iowa State will under new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Robert McFarland. Ben Barkema returns at tight end. Beyond that only two letters have been won among the 16 Cyclones vying for a starting position. Left guard Tom Schmeling is back after starting last season's first eight games at right guard. Sophomore Reggie Stephens started the last four contests at that position and is back. Knowing that the offensive line was above all other positions in need of immediate help, the ISU coaching staff brought in junior college transfers Doug Dedrick, Joe Blaes and Alex Alvarez to fill the gaps. Brandon Johnson, Anthony Walker, Lee Tibbs and Joe Vanstrom return and will demonstrate their progress. This is an area of major concern. The ability of McFarland to put together a cohesive unit will have a major impact on the success of the Iowa State offense and indeed, the entire team.
Tight end Ben Barkema battled injuries last season but has 34 career receptions for 403 yards and four touchdowns. Returnees Brandon Tinlin and Derrick Catlett will challenge Barkema. Junior college transfer Collin Franklin from the College of the Canyons (Calif.) will also get a long look this fall.
Quarterback
| QB | 7 | ***Bret Meyer | 6-3 | 204 | Sr.# |
| 4 | Austen Arnaud | 6-3 | 222 | Fr.# |
Bret Meyer owns 36 career starts at quarterback. He began last season as the preseason first-team all-Big 12 signal-caller. The Atlantic, Iowa native is the only active NCAA Division I-A quarterback with more than 7,000 yards passing and 400 yards rushing. The stats are more impressive when you consider that the senior has been sacked 111 times for 692 negative yards in his career, cutting deeply into his rushing totals. Though possessing run/pass versatility, Meyer stood his ground last season while under siege from opponent defensive lines. The Cyclone demonstrated notable courage and moxie under fire and often stepped up in a shrinking pocket to make tough passes. He begins the 2007 season with 7,348 career passing yards. Only Hawaii's Colt Brennan (9,850) and Michigan's Chad Henne (7,777) among active NCAA gunslingers have thrown for more yardage.
An accurate passer, Meyer's career passing rating of 124.37 affirms his judicious decisions. Meyer already owns nearly every school passing record and has done so despite a lackluster ground game the past three years to keep defenses honest. The progress of the Iowa State offensive line will go a long way toward dictating the type of season Meyer will put up in 2007.
Austen Arnaud is a former all-state quarterback from Ames whose father John "Landshark" Arnaud was a standout defensive back for Iowa State in the early 1980s. Possessing good size, he is a powerful runner who will be learning a new offense under McFarland and quarterbacks coach Tony Petersen.
Running Back
| RB | 6 | **Jason Scales | 5-9 | 217 | Jr.# |
| 21 | Josh Johnson | 5-11 | 216 | So. | |
| 22 | *Jason Harris | 5-11 | 208 | Jr. | |
| FB | 29 | Brian Ekwelundu | 5-11 | 231 | So.# |
| 26 | Taylor Mansfield | 6-1 | 255 | Fr.# |
Iowa State had a 1,000-yard rusher in seven straight seasons between 1995-2001. It has happened only once since. Injuries, bad luck and inconsistent line play have challenged the Cyclone backfield. The new and the old should figure in the coaching staff's final decision on a 2007 starter.
This position will not be fully settled until the summer arrival of junior college transfer J.J. Bass of El Camino (Calif.) College. Bass rushed for more than 1,200 yards last season. Bass will battle two veterans with limited playing time.
Jason Scales is one of the most prolific prep backs in Iowa history, rushing for more than 6,000 career yards and 78 touchdowns in high school. As a true freshman, he was a backup to starter Stevie Hicks, rushing for 92 yards on 37 carries. Scales was expected to challenge for the starting job in 2005, but a pre-season injury forced him to take a medical redshirt. Set to make waves last season, he again struggled with injuries. Scales rushed for 176 yards on 54 carries in a total of nine games last fall, despite the additional injury challenges. He also caught four passes for 26 yards.
With Scales hurting in 2006 preseason practice, Josh Johnson won the backup job in fall drills. He rushed for 60 yards on 23 carries last season. Jason Harris saw action in the backfield as a true freshman, rushing for 40 yards on 11 carries in 2005. He was moved to the defensive backfield during two-a-days last season. Learning the positions day-by-day, he ended up starting the last five games at free safety. Harris finished the season with 20 tackles and an interception. The new coaching staff moved him back to the offensive side of the ball for spring practice.
Wide Receiver
| WR | 1 | ***Todd Blythe | 6-5 | 209 | Sr.# |
| 82 | *Marquis Hamilton | 6-3 | 217 | So.# | |
| 14 | Houston Jones | 6-1 | 182 | So.# | |
| WR | 5 | **R.J. Sumrall | 6-1 | 200 | Jr.# |
| 32 | ***Milan Moses | 6-1 | 201 | Sr.# |
If Todd Blythe did not play in another college game, he would already by the most prolific touchdown target in Iowa State history (26). Among active receivers with at least 100 career catches, his 18.7 yards per catch ranks second nationally. He starts this fall as one of the premier pass catchers in college football. But even Blythe could not fully escape the tentacles of a star-crossed 2006 season. He missed three games while suffering from a virus. Nevertheless, the senior made 34 receptions for 484 yards and eight touchdowns. Blythe's return softens the loss of Jon Davis, who finished his career in 2006 ranking fifth in the ISU history books with 126 catches.
The top candidate to take over as Blythe's aerial wingman has overcome major challenges to start his senior campaign. Milan Moses' 42 career catches for 478 yards have been accomplished despite a courageous battle against Crones Disease. Moses asserted himself when both Blythe and Davis were hurt last season. He was also a valuable kickoff returner, averaging 21.7 yards on 15 returns with a long of 43 yards.
R.J. Sumrall will be a tough candidate at wide receiver after making 45 catches for 621 yards in his first two seasons. The Drake Relays champion hurdler has also returned punts for the Cyclones. Sophomore Marquis Hamilton made his ISU debut in 2006, with six receptions for 68 yards and will challenge for additional playing time. Junior Euseph Messiah saw action at receiver for the first time last season and will also contend for extended action in 2007. Houston Jones is also in the spring two-deep.
Defensive Line
| WE | 29 | *Rashawn Parker | 6-0 | 249 | So. |
| 90 | Patrick Neal | 6-0 | 234 | Fr.# | |
| 25 | Nick Frere | 6-2 | 244 |
Jr.# | |
| DT | 93 | *Bryce Braaksma | 6-3 | 254 | Sr.# |
| 99 | Nick Howe | 6-3 | 260 | Sr.# | |
| 81 | Bailey Johnson | 6-3 | 265 | Fr.# | |
| NG | 71 | *Athyba Rubin | 6-3 | 321 | Sr. |
| 62 | *Nate Frere | 6-2 | 306 | So. | |
| DE | 47 | *Kurtis Taylor | 6-2 | 255 | Jr.# |
| 83 | Travis Ferguson | 6-5 | 250 | Jr.# | |
| 41 | Chase Hurtig | 6-3 | 239 | Fr.# |
Several individuals who learned about life in the trenches as true freshman will hook up with a pair of veterans whose 2006 season was cut short by injury. There is retooling to do with the loss of Brent Curvey, an all-Big 12 defensive tackle and defensive end Shawn Moorehead, who finished his career as Iowa State's all-time career sack leader.
Rashawn Parker showed great promise in his first collegiate season, when forced into action as a true freshman because of injuries at defensive end. In his first collegiate game, Parker made two key sacks to force overtime against Toledo in an eventual Iowa State season-opening victory. Parker impressed everyone in fall camp and started the season's first four games. He would finish 2006 with 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a trio of sacks. Nick Frere (brother of Nate) will work at the end position as well during the spring alongside freshman Patrick Neal.
Kurtis Taylor was ticketed for a starting position when he suffered a season-ending knee injury in two-a-days. His loss was one of several pre-season injuries that would have far-reaching implications for the schedule that followed. He returns and will be a prime candidate at end. He was a special teams contributor during the 2005 season while being moved from linebacker to the line.
Travis Ferguson's sophomore season was curtailed because of a shoulder injury. He will get a look at rush end along with freshman Chase Hurtig.
Filling the shoes of the departed Curvey is not going to be easy. Fifth-year senior Bryce Braaksma saw extended action for the first time last season, making 17 tackles in the line and blocking a kick. He will get a long look this spring. Another senior, Nick Howe, and junior Bailey Johnson will have an opportunity to prove themselves in spring football.
Nate Frere saw action as a true freshman and started the first three games at nose guard before the emergence of Athyba Rubin moved the latter into the starting lineup. Frere's 306 pounds on a 6-2 frame and a year's experience will take him into spring football. Rubin got better each week throughout the 2006 season. Rubin finished with 34 tackles, four of them behind the line of scrimmage. He returns as the leading starting candidate at nose guard.
Linebackers
| SLB | 16 | **Jon Banks | 6-2 | 219 | Sr.# |
| 24 | Derec Schmidgall | 6-1 | 223 | So.# | |
| 31 | Justin Rumple | 6-3 | 204 |
Fr.# | |
| MLB | 54 | *Jesse Smith | 6-0 | 233 | So.# |
| 43 | Fred Garrin | 6-1 | 217 | So. | |
| 46 | Kris Means | 6-0 | 234 | Fr.# | |
| WLB | 15 | **Alvin Bowen | 6-2 | 216 | Sr.# |
| 42 | Matt Leaders | 6-0 | 210 | Fr.# | |
| 32 | Josh Raven | 5-11 | 221 | So.# |
Iowa State's "Ace" anchors this position. Senior Alvin "Ace" Bowen returns after leading the nation in tackles last season at 12.92 stops per game. His exceptional pursuit abilities garnered him 20 tackles against Toledo, 15 at Iowa, 17 against Nebraska and 18 against Kansas. His efforts earned him first-team all-Big 12 honors last season.
Jon Banks started the first five games of last season at free safety but was moved to outside linebacker after Adam Carper went down with a knee injury. Banks found a home at OLB, where he made 57 of his 99 tackles in the last six games and had a team-high six pass breakups. Banks tallied 13 tackles against Nebraska in his first linebacker start. Carper started the first five games at outside linebacker last season and made 39 tackles before a knee injury ended his season. With 80 career stops, the junior will be a major contributor on defense this season, although he is not on the spring two-deep while his recovery continues.
The defense took an unanticipated hit when Tyrone McKenzie elected to transfer. McKenzie made 129 tackles at middle linebacker last season, but his departure is an opportunity for a pair of players who got their first real taste of college football last season. Jesse Smith saw limited action in his initial collegiate season, making seven tackles. Fred Garrin made similar contributions as a true freshman and returns to battle for a starting spot. Derec Schmidgall, Kris Means, Justin Rumple, Josh Raven and Matt Leaders will also get a look in spring football.
Secondary
| LCB | 7 | *Drenard Williams | 5-11 | 175 | So. |
| 9 | Devin McDowell | 5-9 | 174 | Fr.# | |
| RCB | 11 | **Chris Singleton | 5-10 | 191 | Jr. |
| -OR- | 6 | Chris Brown | 5-10 | 171 | Jr.# |
| 14 | Zac Sandvig | 5-10 | 202 | Sr.# | |
| SS | 21 | ***Caleb Berg | 6-1 | 202 | Sr.# |
| 20 | **Brandon Hunley | 5-11 | 201 | Jr.# | |
| FS | 2 | *James Smith | 5-8 | 192 | So.# |
The secondary could feature three sophomores this spring, but most of the competitors for playing time do have game experience. Drenard Williams started three games at cornerback, making 19 tackles. He was also a contributor on special teams. Chris Singleton started every game last season at cornerback and had 48 tackles and a team-high two interceptions. James Smith had earned a starting spot at strong safety during pre-season drills but broke his ankle and did not play until the eighth game of the season. He tallied six tackles in the game's final four contests but was never close to 100 percent. Caleb Berg is a three-year letterwinner who started the entire 2006 season at strong safety. He led all defensive backs with 76 tackles and broke up three passes. Chris Brown has seen limited action over his first two collegiate seasons and will have a chance to step up this spring.
Devin McDowell, the brother of former ISU cornerback DeAndre Jackson, and former all-state Iowa prep Zac Sandvig both redshirted their initial collegiate campaigns and will get their gridiron game initiation this fall. Steve Johnson started two games last season as a freshman and Brandon Hunley has limited experience for what will be a wide open competition this spring.
Specialists
PK 37 ***Bret Culbertson, 6-6, 179, Sr.
P 13 *Mike Brandtner, 6-1, 208, So.#
Bret Culbertson is by any comparison the most accurate place-kicker in school history. The senior has never missed an extra-point attempt in three seasons (74-74). His field goal percentage of .757 after making 28-of-37 three-point attempts also leads the all-time Iowa State list. All-time on all kicks, his percentage of .919 would be the envy of any coach. Culbertson has been especially deadly inside 40 yards, making 23-of-27 kicks (.852). The kicking battle will likely revolve again about who handles kickoff duties. Josh Griebahn did that chore last season and returns for his senior season. Chris Mahoski was also be in the mix. The Cyclones went with freshman Mike Brandtner, who averaged 41.2 yards per punt his freshman season.
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballSaturday, April 25
Saturday, April 25
Saturday, April 25
Saturday, April 25
