Lanning Making Smooth Transition To Linebacker

AMES, Iowa – As the Iowa State football team entered its third week of spring practice, the topic of today's media session was senior Joel Lanning.

Lanning, who has started 14 games over the last two seasons at quarterback, has taken the majority of his reps this spring at linebacker.

Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell made the decision to move Lanning to linebacker in an offseason meeting. It wasn't a hard sell for Campbell to convince Lanning to make the switch to defense. Lanning is one of the team's best players and athletes, and Campbell wanted him on the field as much as possible.

His transition has been a success so far. In fact, Iowa State linebackers coach Tyson Veidt hinted he would be shocked if Lanning wasn't ISU's starting mike linebacker by fall camp.

"He's the number one mike linebacker for us right now," Veidt said. "He is doing a great job for us there running with the ones and it's certainly his job right now. He works hard off the field, so that's obviously an indication of how he trains in the weight room. He's in really good shape which helps him quite a bit learning a new position. He's also in the film room a lot, so he's doing a super job there. Joel is a natural leader, so obviously this is a position where he has to continue to be a great leader for us."

The concept of using Lanning's diverse skills is something the coaches have explored in countless staff meetings.

Lanning was extremely effective as a dual-threat quarterback in 2016, passing for 1,290 yards and rushing for 518 yards, the fourth-best total by an ISU signal-caller in school history. He also led the team in rushing touchdowns with 11, the 10^th-best total among FBS QBs in 2016.

He accounted for 20 (11 rushing, nine passing) of ISU's 39 offensive touchdowns in 2016. Many of Lanning's rushing TDs were punishing runs between the tackles, never shying away from contact.

Although Lanning hasn't played linebacker since eighth grade, he knew he had a great chance to contribute to the team's success at the position.

"Coach (Campbell) asked me if I wanted to play linebacker and I said, 'sure,'" Lanning said. "It hasn't been that big of a challenge. I feel like the way I play on offense, you know, running the ball and stuff, I was physical. It's kind of like running the ball. I've been physical my whole career."

Questioning Lanning's athletic ability would be a miscalculation. The Ankeny, Iowa native was an all-state performer in three sports in high school (football, wrestling, baseball). He played catcher and centerfield in baseball, helping his team win the 2012 state title.

Lanning finished third at 220 pounds in Class 3A at the 2013 state wrestling championships. His wrestling background has been his biggest asset in the conversion.

"I think wrestling has been influential on everything I'm doing now, especially with being mentally tough," Lanning said. "Because the defensive side is just as mental, you have to have mental toughness and bring it every day."

With his size (6-2, 225) and athleticism, don't be shocked to see Lanning on both sides of the ball in 2017.

"Coach Campbell said I'll probably be throwing up after all the games because I'll be doing so much," Lanning joked.

Lanning Making Smooth Transition To Linebacker

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Lanning Making Smooth Transition To Linebacker

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