The Cyclones Are Winning Up Front

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State's offensive line unit was rewarded today for its outstanding play by earning a spot on the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll.

The Joe Moore Award is given annually to the nation's best offensive line.

Heading into the 2020 season, Cyclone offensive line coach Jeff Myers only had two returning starters on the line in junior Colin Newell and sophomore Trevor Downing.

It was going to be a young group, but it got even younger when Downing went down with an injury in the season-opener, a malady that has kept out of the lineup throughout the season.

With four players earning their first career starts (Derek Schweiger, Darrell Simmons, Joey Ramos, Jake Remsburg), and fifth-year senior Sean Foster playing the best football of his career, this group has emerged as a strength of the team.

Iowa State is ranked No. 15 nationally and currently first in the Big 12 standings (6-1) thanks to one of the most prolific offenses in school history. The Cyclones are third in the Big 12 in scoring offense (34.4), an average which is on pace to be the best in school history.

Against league teams, ISU is averaging 37.3 points, reaching 30 points in six of seven Big 12 games. The Cyclones are also averaging 456.9 yards per game of total offense vs. conference competition, ranking second in the league and surpassing 400 yards of total offense five times, including three 500-yard outings.

Perhaps the biggest improvement ISU has made this season is its rushing offense, and you can thank the men up front and the nation's best running back Breece Hall.

Hall leads the nation in rushing yards (1,169), 100-yard rushing games (8), multi-TD rush games (6) and 50-yard runs (4). Holes develop in the trenches before Hall takes over.

Iowa State's rushing offense is one of the most lethal in the nation. The Cyclones are one of only four teams nationally with two or more rushing touchdowns in every game played (minimum five games) and rank second in the Big 12 and ninth nationally with 22 rushing touchdowns.

ISU is averaging 205.2 yards on the ground, the best in the Big 12, and a whopping 5.64 yards per carry, ranking fourth in the nation among teams playing five or more games. The Cyclones are also currently second in the Big 12 and 17^th nationally in yards per play (6.5), which is on pace to be the best clip in school history.

With Rimington Trophy nominee Newell leading the group at center, the line has done a phenomenal job of protecting All-Big 12 quarterback Brock Purdy, who owns or shares 23 school records in his outstanding career.

The Cyclones have only allowed nine sacks this season, the fewest in the Big 12.

Players Mentioned

Trevor Downing

Sean Foster

Breece Hall

Colin Newell

Brock Purdy

Joey Ramos

Jake Remsburg

Derek Schweiger

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics