Spring Preview: The Cornerbacks

AMES, Iowa - In today's spring preview we focus on the cornerbacks. Click on the video link to watch Matt Caponi's zoom call with the media.

Synopsis

Iowa State is highly experienced at cornerback with the return of Anthony Johnson (6-0, 192, Sr., St. Petersburg, Fla.), Datrone Young (5-9, 170, Sr.#, Delray Beach, Fla.) and Tayvonn Kyle (5-11, 174, Jr.#, Valdosta, Ga.).

The trio have combined for 57 starts the last three seasons and provided stability on the edge in the defensive secondary.

Johnson has started 28-straight games at left cornerback, earning the spot midway through his rookie season and never giving it up.

He's one of the best corners in the Big 12 and his reputation has kept plays away from him. The two-time Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection had another solid season in 2020 with 40 tackles and five pass breakups.

Johnson will head into his final season with 128 tackles, two forced fumbles, 10.0 TFL and 20 pass breakups in his career.

Young and Kyle have split starts the past two seasons at right corner. Young has 18 career starts and took over down the stretch in 2020. He ended the year with 25 tackles and had seven stops vs. Oregon in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

Kyle is a two-time Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection with 10 career starts under his belt. He had 28 tackles and led the team with six pass breakups.

With Johnson, Young and Kyle, the Cyclones will be solid and experienced at corner.

Another up and coming player to watch out for is T.J. Tampa (6-2, 178, So., St. Petersburg, Fla.). Tampa is an incredible athlete and was a two-way player as well as an all-county basketball player in high school.

Tampa burned a redshirt in his freshman year by appearing in nine games and recording five tackles. He will look to fight for more playing time in his sophomore season in 2021.

Michal Antoine Jr. (6-0, 180, So., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) will also add depth at the cornerback position.

Antoine Jr. was a special teams contributor in 2020, appearing in nine games.

Campbell On The Cornerbacks
"At cornerback we might have the most depth we have ever had. We feel like that is a position where there is just so many really good players and we need to put those guys in the best position to be successful. Led by Anthony Johnson Jr., you are talking about another guy that started here in our program and is going on his fourth year as a starter. Datrone Young came back last year from an injury and showed he was back the way he played down the stretch. You talk about Tayvonn Kyle, who is really trying to find consistency, but has shown flashes of excellence. We have two young elite players in T.J. Tampa and Michal Antoine, two guys that we feel really confident about being really special players in our program. There is a great bridge in terms of veterans and a lot of those young guys to start to take on bigger roles."

Players Mentioned

Michal Antoine Jr.

Anthony Johnson Jr.

Tayvonn Kyle

T.J. Tampa

Datrone Young

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