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Iowa State University Athletics
Position Preview: The Defensive Line
03.23.2020 | Football
AMES, Iowa - Today's Position Preview is the Iowa State defensive line.Â
Synopsis
Iowa State's strong defensive line in the last three years is a direct correlation to the vast improvement of the Cyclone defense overall.Â
From 2013-16, the Cyclone defense never had a season allowing less than 452 yards per game and less than 31 points per game.Â
Since 2017, ISU's defense has held in check the high-powered Big 12 offenses to less then 370 yards per game and 26 points per game each season.
Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock has developed a defensive plan other teams have mimicked, and with the ability to limit scoring and yards, the Cyclones have been virtually in every game over the last three seasons.Â
Iowa State has only been defeated by more than 14 points one time in the last 39 games (Notre Dame in 2019).Â
Iowa State was fourth in the Big 12 in rushing defense (139.5) and third in the league in defensive yards per rush (4.0) a year ago behind a versatile front that continued to use both 4-man and 3-man formations.Â
The good news for Cyclone fans is that the team returns a bulk of experience. The only losses are three-time All-Big 12 honoree Ray Lima, Jamahl Johnson and Matt Leo. Â
Iowa State's defensive front is in excellent shape, especially on the outside, with the return of veterans JaQuan Bailey (6-2, 255, Sr.#, Jacksonville, Fla.), Enyi Uwazurike (6-6, 285, Sr.#, Detroit, Mich.), Zach Petersen (6-4, 262, Jr., Long Grove, Iowa) and Will McDonald (6-4, 230, So.#, Pewaukee, Wis.). Â
An argument can be made that Bailey is one of the greatest defensive ends in school history, and he has the stats to prove it.Â
He's back for another season because he suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth game vs. Baylor and was able to receive a redshirt.
Bailey, who started 37 games in row until the injury, was a second-team All-Big 12 pick in 2018 after leading the team in sacks (8.0) and TFL (14.5). Both totals were single-season top-10 efforts in school history.Â
Bailey enters his final year sharing the school record in career sacks with Shawn Moorehead at 18.5. He also ranks fifth all-time in career TFL with 31.5, only 3.0 from eclipsing the school record of 34.0 held by three players.
His 18.5 sacks is the third-most among active NCAA players. Â
Uwazurike, who was an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick in 2019, has been an unsung hero on the d-line and his presence has been somewhat undervalued as he enters his final season as a starter.Â
The senior has started 21 games in the last two seasons, tallying 75 tackles, 14.5 TFL and three sacks in his career. The 2019 season was his most productive, recording 32 tackles, 5.5 TFL and a team-high two fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown.Â
With his size and versatility, Uwazurike could possibly slide over to the middle.Â
After Bailey went down in the Baylor game, Petersen was inserted into the lineup at end and the Cyclones never missed a beat.Â
Campbell praised Petersen's efforts throughout the season, as the son of a former Iowa State all-Big Eight lineman started the final nine games of the season.Â
Petersen led all down linemen with 41 tackles and recorded 5.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks and a team-high two forced fumbles. Â Â
McDonald's progress will be fascinating to watch. He showed flashes as a dominant pass-rusher in his four games prior to redshirting in his freshman season in 2018.Â
The staff experimented with McDonald as a linebacker before deciding to move him back to defensive end later in the season.Â
Back at his more comfortable position and utilized as a third-down specialist, McDonald terrorized opponents by recording 5.0 sacks, two QB hurries and forced a fumble in the last four games.Â
McDonald's unique skill-set will already bolster a strong position group.Â
A couple of other defensive ends coming out of redshirts to watch out for are Corey Suttle (6-4, 258, Fr.#, Jefferson City, Mo.) and Blake Peterson (6-4, 255, Fr.#, Beresford, S.D.). Also look for Johnny Wilson (6-3, 260, Fr., Kansas City, Mo.) who is on campus as a mid-year enrollee.Â
Both Suttle and Peterson were highly-rated out of the class of 2019. Wilson is a two-time all-stater who had 250 tackles, 63 TFL and 23 sacks in his career.Â
The experienced returnees in the interior are Tucker Robertson (6-3, 280, Jr.#, Simi Valley, Calif.) Isaiah Lee (6-0, 290, So.#, Chicago, Ill.) and Joshua Bailey (6-2, 285, Sr.#, Jacksonville, Fla.).Â
Robertson was a valuable reserve, taking 152 snaps from scrimmage. He finished the year with eight tackles and three pass breakups.Â
The coaches are excited about Lee's future. He was able to earn a redshirt in 2018, appearing in two games, but did not see any action in 2019.Â
Bailey will be entering his fifth season in the program.Â
Another big addition is mid-year enrollee Latrell Bankston (6-0, 300, Jr., Woodstock, Ga.), who was considered one of the top junior college defensive lineman nationally in the class of 2020.Â
Bankston was a first team NJCAA All-American and the Jayhawk Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, tallying 63 tackles, 22.0 TFL and 11.5 sacks.Â
Bankston could make an instant impact in the middle of the defensive front.Â
Campbell On The Defensive Line
"Our front is unique because it's experienced and explosive. I would say at times last year we were big, but now we're big and explosive. Zach Petersen, JaQuan Bailey, Will McDonald, you know what you are going to get with those guys. You also add a guy in Johnny Wilson this year, who is super talented and who is already here as a mid-year. Then you talk about Enyi Uwazurike, Tucker Robertson, Corey Suttle, all guys that we think have high-end potential. I'm also excited to see Joshua Bailey and Isaiah Lee, guys who have waited their turn and their shot. You also add Latrell Bankston, who has came in very similar to Xavier [Hutchinson] with a purpose and mentality. I think he has an opportunity to come in and be a great contributor. I think also there is J.R. Singleton, who is not here yet, but maybe the most highly recruited guy that we signed in this class. I think it is an area of high-end competition right now. There is not a name on there that I don't think has the ability to be a starter, but who plays, how much will they play? Some of those good players, how great do they become? What does Enyi become? What does JaQuan become? What does Zach become? I think this unit is very similar to the tight ends. We have really good players. But, good is good, do you want to be one of the best players at your position in the Big 12 or in the country? They got the ability to do it, but will they, and what kind of steps do they take to become that. We've got position flexibility with a lot of those guys and Enyi is certainly one of those guys where at 305 pounds right now, a guy that can swing a lot of different ways. I think that we got some really unique body types that are maybe different from what we have played with in the past couple of years. So, how do you unfold those guys and how do you put those guys in situations to be most successful. It's going to be fun to watch what Coach Heacock does with those guys."Â
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