Completed Event: Football versus #17 Kansas State on August 23, 2025 , Win , 24, to, 21
Final
Football
24
#17 Kansas State
21
Iowa State University Athletics
Football
Croney Jr., Sheldon
Sheldon Croney Jr.
- Title:
- Graduate Assistant/Offense
- Email:
- croneys@iastate.edu
- Phone:
- 515-294-6721
Former Iowa State running back Sheldon Croney Jr. was an offensive graduate assistant for two seasons (2023-24).
During his two-year stint on the staff, Iowa State posted an 18-9 record and reached two bowl games, winning the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl. The 2024 team won a school-record 11 games, finishing 11-3 overall and advancing to the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game.
Croney worked primarily with the running backs as ISU rushed for a total of 27 touchdowns in 2024, 19 of which came from running backs. It tied for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns in the program's 133-year history. Sophomore back Carson Hansen tallied a team-high 13 rushing touchdowns.
In his time as a coach and player, Croney was a part of five bowl games for the Cyclones.
In 2023, the Cyclones went 7-6 overall and 6-3 in Big 12 action to return to a bowl game, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. ISU won four-straight road games in a season for the first time in school history, including an instant classic 42-35 victory in a snowstorm at Kansas State to end the regular season.
Croney mentored first-year running back Abu Sama III on his way to earning a spot on the 247Sports True Freshman All-America team. Sama rushed for 614 yards and six touchdowns, both the third-best totals by a freshman in school history. Five of Sama's touchdown runs were 50-plus yards, the most in a single season at ISU in school history (dating back to 1971).Â
Croney played for the Cyclones from 2015-19, suiting up his final four seasons for Matt Campbell. The Cyclones reached three bowl games during his career, winning the 2017 Liberty Bowl against Memphis.
The Bakersfield, California, native, finished his career with 311 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He scored the game-winning touchdown in the third overtime of a 2019 victory over UNI.
Croney earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2019 and worked in the private sector following his time at Iowa State.
Marcus Neal 9_9_25 interview
Tuesday, September 09
Tamatoa McDonough 9_9_25 interview
Tuesday, September 09
Brett Eskildsen 9_9_25 interview
Tuesday, September 09
Abu Sama 9_9_25 interview
Tuesday, September 09
