Spring Outlook: Wide Receivers

AMES, Iowa - The countdown to Spring Football has begun. Here is a look at the competition at the wide receiver position.

Wide Receivers

Synopsis
Iowa State has many weapons returning in its wide receiver corps, but all eyes will be on senior Allen Lazard (6-5, 223, Sr., Urbandale, Iowa) in 2017.

Lazard made his coaches and Cyclone fans exuberant when he announced he was returning for his senior season on Dec. 2nd.

Lazard's 2016 campaign was one of the best in school history when he established himself as a premier receiver in the Big 12 with the fourth 1,000-yard receiving season (1,018) in the history of the program.

The first-team All-Big 12 selection led the team in receptions (69), the second-best season total in Cyclone history, and broke the school record for 100-yard receiving games with six. He also caught seven TD passes.

Lazard's big frame and sure hands helped him lead the Big 12 in receptions resulting in a first down or touchdown (54) and his production skyrocketed late in the year with Park delivering strikes.

In the final five games of the year, Lazard recorded 35 receptions (7.0 rpg), 570 yards (114.0 ypg) and had three TDs.

Simply put, the four-year starter will likely break most of ISU's receiving standards and has a chance to be one of the most dynamic receivers in the nation in 2017.

Lazard won't be the only player opposing defensive backs will have to watch out for in 2017. The Cyclones also return a number of significant contributors in Deshaunte Jones (5-10, 175, So., Cincinnati, Ohio), Trever Ryen (5-11, 192, Sr.#, Ida Grove, Iowa), Carson Epps (6-1, 205, Jr., Jenks, Okla.) and Hakeem Butler (6-6, 210, So.#, Baltimore, Md.).

Jones led all Big 12 rookies in receiving yards (536) and ranked fourth in the nation among FBS freshmen in TD catches with six. Jones, who also had 37 receptions, was a big-play threat, leading the team with five 40+-yard receptions.

Jones was joined in the slot (M receiver) with Ryen, who tied for second on the team with 37 receptions. Ryen, who had 388 receiving yards, also ranks as one of the best punt returners in school history. His career 16.0 average is No. 1 in the ISU record book and he had six returns of 25 yards or longer in 2016.

Epps made more improvement in his second season, catching 17 passes for 213 yards, and Butler had nine receptions for 134 yards and two TDs in his rookie season.

Marchie Murdock (6-1, 195, Sr.#, Arlington, Texas), who is a graduate transfer from Illinois, also returns after catching two passes for 29 yards for the Cyclones last season.

Other first-year receivers to watch for are Matt Eaton (6-4, 210, Jr.#, Pascagoula, Miss.) and Jalen Martin (6-3, 205, Fr.#, Detroit, Mich.).

Eaton is a mid-year enrollee and will participate in spring drills after tallying 37 receptions for 392 yards at Pearl River C.C. Eaton was rated as the No. 31 junior college player nationally in the ESPNJC50 rankings.

Martin is coming off a redshirt. He was a multi-sport star as a prep, earning first-team all-state honors in both football and basketball.

Campbell On The Wide Receivers
"Competition. That's what we have at the position. There's a lot of guys that have played significant snaps returning. The question for Allen Lazard is, how do you take your game from from really good to elite? He certainly has the ability to take his game to the next level. Deshaunte Jones is another guy who was successful as a freshman. Now, how does he expand that growth and take his game to another level? Trever Ryen is another guy that we can use with his speed and skill set into what we do offensively. Carson Epps, Hakeem Butler, Marchie Murdock, Jalen Martin and Matt Eaton are all in competition for playing time and guys who want to showcase their skill set and prove they can be counted on in critical situations. How will this competition play out? How does it drive those guys? These are the questions for the spring and It'll be really interesting to watch."

Players Mentioned

Hakeem Butler

Carson Epps

Deshaunte Jones

Allen Lazard

Jalen Martin

Marchie Murdock

Trever Ryen

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics