Spring Outlook: The Wide Receivers

AMES, Iowa - Spring football practice begins on March 8 and Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell will get his first chance to work with his players in preparation for the 2016 season. Campbell sat down with Cyclones.com to preview each position. Today we look at the wide receivers.

Synopsis
Talent is abundant in the Cyclone wide receiver corps and it all starts with junior Allen Lazard (6-5, 223, Jr., Urbandale, Iowa).

Lazard took another leap into the category of elite wideouts in the Big 12 in 2015 when he led the team in receptions (56), receiving yards (808) and TD receptions (6). Both his reception and receiving yard totals rank in ISU's all-time season top-10 lists.

An honorable mention All-Big 12 pick, Lazard had two 100-yard receiving games in 2015 and was a threat every time he ran a route. He enters the 2016 season with a catch in all 23 games he's played in his career, equaling the longest reception streak in school history.

Four other Cyclone receivers who have made significant contributions return in Dondre Daley (6-2, 191, Sr.#, Tarpon Springs, Fla.), Jauan Wesley (5-11, 181, Jr., Markham, Ill.), Trever Ryen (5-11, 190, Jr.#, Ida Grove, Iowa) and Carson Epps (6-1, 195, So., Jenks, Okla.).

Daley has caught over 10 passes in each of his three seasons as a Cyclone, including a career-high 24 receptions for 244 yards in 2015.

Wesley is a talented option in the slot. He was third on the team in receptions last season with 30.

Ryen is one of ISU's most versatile players as a rushing, receiving and return threat. He was one of eight players in FBS in 2015 to record a rushing TD, receiving TD and a punt return TD. Ryen, who was placed on scholarship in mid-season, caught 18 passes for 191 yards and rushed for 71 yards last year.

Epps impressed the former staff enough to earn playing time as a true freshman in 2015, catching eight passes for 42 yards.

Brandon Harris (6-0, 191, Jr.#, Cedar Hill, Texas) and Darius Lee-Campbell (6-2, 214, So.#, Spring, Texas) will get a crack to showcase their abilities after appearing primarily on special teams in 2015.

Newcomers to watch in spring ball are Hakeem Butler (6-6, 202, Fr.#, Baltimore, Md.), Denver Johnson (6-3, 219, Fr.#, Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Orion Salters (5-9, 177, So.#, Dallas, Texas). Butler and Johnson redshirted last season, while Salters sat out with a shoulder injury.

Other newcomers joining the fold are Landen Akers (6-0, 185, Fr. Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Amechie Walker (5-10, 180, So., Harrisburg, Pa.). Akers greyshirted last year and recently enrolled in school. Walker is a walk-on who played in all 12 games as a true freshman at New Hampshire in 2015, catching 25 passes for 268 yards and two TDs. He will sit out as a transfer in 2016 but is eligible to compete in spring drills.

Campbell On The Wide Receivers
“We feel really good about the wide receiver position going into the spring. Again, I think our thing is challenging that group. Who is the best combination? Who are the guys that we feel can be big play threats? Who are those guys that can make those plays with great consistency? I think it starts with Allen Lazard and his ability to grow and just be the guy. Again, Allen is a lot like Mike (Warren). He's got great ability but now it's time to perfect his craft and it's time to take his game to a level that elite players do in their junior year of football. That's all about detail. It's about all of the fundamentals, and the ability to be the best every time you step on the field. Dondre Daley is a guy I am really excited to work with. He's had a really good off-season so far. He's gotten bigger and stronger, and he's a guy that really has a passion to be successful for us. He has big-play ability and he's a guy that can take it 100 any time he touches the football. Jauan Wesley has that big-play ability, too. Trever Ryen, based on where he fits at tailback and/or slot receiver, is also solid returner for us. I think it centers around those four. There's some really talented young guys that we're all interested to see how they improve from now until the end of fall camp. Hakeem Butler is a young man that we're all really excited about. Hakeem is a guy with very strong hands and a big body structure that gives us length and strength on the outside. He should be a huge one-on-one mismatch at times. From now until fall camp will be critical for him in his development. Denver Johnson is a guy coming off an injury, but he also fits that mold of a big, strong and physical guy. Carson Epps is a guy that I know played a little bit last year as a true freshmen. I think he's a really strong runner and a strong-hand guy. Landen Akers joins our team as a greyshirt. He's shown that he can really run. Amechie Walker is a really intriguing walk-on that came here as a scholarship player at New Hampshire. He's a guy that has really flashed with huge potential. Obviously, he won't be able to play next year, but he's a guy we're all really excited about. Orion Salters is another guy that is intriguing with his skill-set is, and so is Darius Lee-Campbell. We have some guys we're just trying to figure what can they do and how do they fit this spring. For the higher-end guys, it's about separating themselves and showing that they should be on the field when it matters in critical situations; third down, red zone and those things.”

Players Mentioned

Landen Akers

Hakeem Butler

Dondre Daley

Carson Epps

Brandon Harris

Denver Johnson

Allen Lazard

Darius Lee-Campbell

Trever Ryen

Orion Salters

Amechie Walker

Jauan Wesley

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