NFL Draftees Have Ties to Current ISU Staff

AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State's football coaching staff won't coach its first game until the 2009 season-opening Sept. 3 contest against North Dakota State in Ames, but six players coached by current ISU coaches were chosen in last weekend's NFL Draft.

Two Auburn defenders, who played for Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads as Tigers when Rhoads was defensive coordinator last season, went in the second and third rounds.

Auburn defensive end Sen'Derrick Marks was a second-round choice of the Tennessee Titans. Marks played in 11 games in 2008, finishing the season with 32 tackles (15 solos), 10 stops for losses and a pair of sacks. He was an All-SEC second-team choice of the league's coaches.

Defensive back Jerraud Powers earned second-team All-SEC honors at Auburn last season, starting 10 games at right cornerback. He ranked sixth on the team with 47 tackles (30 solos). Powers intercepted two passes and deflected seven others, as he again held the opposition to no receptions in four contests.

Former Iowa State linebacker Tyrone McKenzie played at South Florida for Cyclone defensive coordinator Wally Burnham. As a redshirt sophomore at Iowa State, McKenzie ranked eighth nationally and second in the Big 12 Conference in tackles in 2006, starting all year for ISU as a middle linebacker.

McKenzie transferred to South Florida after that Cyclone season. Under Burnham at South Florida, McKenize emerged as the starting strong-side linebacker in 2007. McKenzie, a Butkus, Nagurski and Lott Trophy nominee started all 13 games for South Florida in 2008. He earned first-team All-Big East Conference honors, finishing second in the league with 116 tackles (78 solos). He added 15 stops behind the line of scrimmage and broke up eight passes, while picking off another. His 237 tackles as a Bull were the highest total by any South Florida player over a two-year span.

Iowa State running backs coach Kenith Pope coached UNLV running back Frank Summers last season. Summers ran for 129 yards and a touchdown against Iowa State in a 34-31 Rebel win in overtime against the Cyclones in Las Vegas last season. Summers was a fifth-round choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tom Herman, currently installing his no-huddle offense at Iowa State, coached two Rice Owls who became offensive stars and were taken in the fifth round Sunday. Wide receiver Jarrett Dillard was named an All-American and All-Conference USA as a senior, leading the nation with 20 touchdown catches. He pulled down 87 passes for 1,310 yards (15.1 avg.), becoming the first player in league history to produce three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

In 2008, tight end James Casey established Rice single-season records with 111 receptions for 1,329 yards (12.0 avg.) and 12 touchdowns, earning All-America and All-Conference USA accolades.

Both Rice athletes were also coached by current Iowa State strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight.

Iowa State University Athletics

NFL Draftees Have Ties to Current ISU Staff

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