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Iowa State University Athletics
Tom Manning In Contention For The Broyles Award
12.08.2020 | Football
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Tom Manning has been named as a nominee for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's best assistant coach.
Manning's blueprint for success is all over the Iowa State offense in 2020.
Behind Manning's play-calling and his mentoring of the Cyclone tight end unit, the Cyclone offense is one of the best and most diverse nationally, helping the squad attain a No. 9 national ranking and a first-place finish in the final Big 12 standings at 8-1.
Iowa State will compete for a Big 12 Championship for the first time in school history vs. Oklahoma on Dec. 19 in Arlington, Texas.
Under Manning's direction, the Cyclones are averaging 441.7 yards per game and 34.0 points per game. Both totals are on pace to rank among the best offenses in school history. The ISU school record for points per game is 33.5 set way back in 1976.
When you look closer, the Cyclone offense has been impressive when you consider their big-play ability. Iowa State is second in the Big 12 and 16th nationally in yards per play (6.5) among teams playing seven or more games. Twenty-three times this season the Cyclones have rattled off a play of 30+ yards, including four 60-yarders.
Against Big 12 competition, the Cyclones have been better, leading the league in yards per play at 6.8 and ranking second in total offense at 457.1. The Cyclone offense has scored 30+ points in seven of nine Big 12 games for the first time in the history of the program.
The strong Iowa State rushing attack has been one of the biggest surprises of the season. With four offensive lineman who had never started a game prior to the season, Iowa State is second in the Big 12 and 20th nationally (minimum seven games) in rushing yards per game at 200.0. Six times this season ISU has eclipsed the 200-yard rushing plateau in a game.
The squad is averaging a whopping 5.4 yards per rush, the best clip in the Big 12 and eighth nationally among teams playing at least seven games.
The Cyclones have a rushing touchdown in every game, including nine of 10 games with two or more.
Much of the damage comes from the nation's leading rusher Breece Hall, who is averaging 135.7 yards per game. Hall also leads the nation in 100-yard rushing games (8) and multi-TD rush games (6), and is second nationally in rushing touchdowns (17).
Manning also has in his arsenal All-Big 12 QB Brock Purdy, who is a Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist and the winningest QB in school history. Purdy is third in the Big 12 in passing touchdowns with 17.
Manning is in his first season taking over the Cyclone tight end unit and his expertise has paid dividends. ISU utilizes its tight ends more than any other team in the nation and often in three-tight end formations.
The trio of Charlie Kolar, Chase Allen and Dylan Soehner have the most combined receptions (64) and receiving yards (854) of any tight end unit in the nation. All three can block, opening holes for Hall, and Soehner completed a 28-yard pass during the year.
Kolar, a returning All-American, is having another fantastic season as one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award. Kolar is top-10 nationally in receptions (33) and receiving yards (446) by a tight end. His 15 career touchdown catches ties for fourth in school history. He will leave ISU holding numerous tight end records, including career receptions with 95.
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