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Iowa State University Athletics
Spring Outlook: Defensive Ends
03.09.2016 | Football
AMES, Iowa - Spring football practice has begun and Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is getting his first chance to prep for the 2016 season. Campbell sat down with Cyclones.com to preview each position. Today we look at the defensive ends.
Synopsis
Finding a replacement for All-Big 12 defensive end Dale Pierson, who tied ISU's single-season sack record (8.5) in 2015, will be a top priority for Campbell.
The most experienced returner at end for the Cyclones is junior J.D. Waggoner (6-3, 250, Jr.#, Dallas, Texas). Waggoner was another pleasant surprise for the Cyclone defense in 2015, racking up 23 tackles and 3.0 TFL while starting six games.
Three other returnees will aim to earn a starting jobs in Jhaustin Thomas (6-6, 265, Sr.#, Atlanta, Ga.), Darius White (6-1, 251, Sr.#, Palmetto, Fla.) and Gabe Luna (6-2, 243, Sr.#, Garden City, Kan.).
Thomas is a huge talent ready to break out. He spent last season trying to get back into football shape after taking a year off of competition. He still managed to tally 15 tackles, 2.5 TFL in eight games played.
White was a solid reserve in 2015, recording nine tackles in 11 games played. Luna started the season-opener vs. UNI, but went down with a season-ending ankle injury in the fourth quarter.
Sam Seonbuchner (6-2, 227, So.#, Oconomowoc, Wis.), who played on special teams in 2015, made the switch from linebacker to defensive end for spring drills will also get a look.
Also keep an eye out for Seth Nerness (6-4, 247, Fr.#, Osceola, Iowa) who is coming off his redshirt season.
Mitchell Meyers (6-4, 263, Sr.#, The Woodlands, Texas) will likely miss spring drills while continuing his fight against Hodgkin's lymphoma. Campbell is optimistic Meyers can return to the team soon to resume all team activities.
Campbell On The Defensive Ends
“We will play with a true defensive end and also a hybrid (outside linebacker/defensive end) position. The true defensive end spot probably starts with Jhaustin Thomas. He's big, rangy and has shown up on film with a lot of consistency. He's had a really good winter so far for us. But he's just going to have to continue to grow and I think he's a guy that has a really high ceiling in terms of potential. We want to get him on an edge and use his length and speed. J.D. Waggoner will give Jhaustin a battle there. Waggoner is a guy that can compete. He's got some of that twitch you are looking for in terms of pass rush ability. The other guy we are hoping to get back is Mitchell Meyers, and it sounds like that is on track to happen. We are hoping he will be here mid-way through spring and maybe be around to sit through meetings and start working out. So that would be a huge lift for that position. Gabe Luna is another kid that has played, but has had to deal with a lot of injuries. It will be really intriguing to see what he brings to the table. The other spot, which we call Leo, will be a battle. It starts with Darius White. Darius is built for that position. Then the other potential candidates are Seth Nerness, Jack Spreen and Sam Seonbuchner. Leo is a really important position for us. It's a spot that has a unique skill set. We need to find the right fit for us there.”
Players Mentioned
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