(QB Rocco Becht – Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Rocco Becht, RB Abu Sama III, WR Jayden Higgins, WR/RS Jaylin Noel, TE Benjamin Brahmer, OC Jim Bonifas, OG Jarrod Hufford, OT James Neal, OT Tyler Miller, DE Trent Jones II, DE Tyler Onyedim, DE Joey Petersen, DT JR Singleton, LB Zach Lovett, LB Will McLaughlin, LB Jack Sadowski V, CB/KR Myles Purchase, BS Malik Verdon, FS Jeremiah Cooper, MS Beau Freyler, and PT Tyler Perkins.
Key Players Departing:
RB Eli Sanders (New Mexico transfer), OG Grant Treiber, LB Caleb Bacon, LB Gerry Vaughn, CB TJ Tampa (Ravens R4), BS Ben Nikkel, and PK Chase Contreraz.
(DS Marcus Neal – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: DS Marcus Neal (Kansas City, Missouri).
3 Start Recruits: WR Diminic Overby (West Jordan, Utah), CB David Coffey (Chicago, Illinois), DE Jace Gilbert (Hartland, Wisconsin), WR Isaiah Alston (Army transfer), TE Cooper Alexander (Washington, Oklahoma), OL Dontrell Holt (Joplin, Missouri), RB Jaylon Johnson (Eastern Michigan transfer), OT Jalen Travis (Princeton transfer), and EDGE Kenard Snyder (UL-Monroe transfer).
2023 Results:
G01 UTSA W 17-14
G02 @ Rice L (2OT) 41-43
G03 TCU L 13-36
G04 SAM HOUSTON W 38-7
G05 @ Texas Tech L 28-49
G06 WEST VIRGINIA W 41-39
G07 #8 TEXAS L 24-31
G08 @ Kansas State L 0-41
G09 @ Baylor W (OT) 25-24
G10 CINCINNATI L 14-24
G11 #23 OKLAHOMA STATE L 30-43
G12 @ UCF L 13-27
BOWL vs. Memphis L 26-36
Misc. Team Information:
2023 Record: 7-6 (4th in Big XII)
Home: 3-3
Away: 4-2
Neutral: 0-1
B12: 6-3
Non-B10: 1-3
Head Coach: Matt Campbell
Iowa State: 53-48
Career: 88-63
Bowls: 4-5
(WR Jaylin Noel – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Rocco Becht (231-367, 3120 yards, 62.9%, 8.5 avg., 23 TD, 8 INT)
Rushing: Abu Sama III (84 car., 614 yards, 7.3 avg., 6 TD)
Receiving: Jaylin Noel (66 rec., 820 yards, 12.4 avg., 7 TD)
TDs Scored: Jaylin Noel (7)
Sacks: JR Singleton (3.5)
Tackles: Beau Freyler (107)
Interceptions: Jeremiah Cooper (5)
Pass Deflections: Myles Purchase (15)
Tackles For Loss: Will McLaughlin/Joey Petersen (7)
Forced Fumbles: 5 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Jaylin Noel (9 ret., 245 yards, 27.2 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Jaylin Noel (14 ret., 119 yards, 8.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Tyler Perkins (61 punts, 2703 yards, 44.3 avg., 25 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 3 Rocco Becht (RS SO)
RB: 24 Abu Sama III (SO)
WR: 9 Jayden HIggins (SR/TR)
WR: 16 Daniel Jackson (RS SR)
WR: 13 Jaylin Noel (SR)
TE: 18 Benjamin Brahmer (SO)
LT: 72 Jalen Travis (SR/TR)
LG: 75 James Neal (RS JR/TR)
OC: 61 Dylan BArrett (RS JR/TR)
RG: 51 Brendan Black (SO)
RT: 66 Tyler Miller (RS SR)
KR: 13 Jaylin Noel (SR)
PK: 97 Kyle Kennedy (RS FR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 11 Tyler Onyedim (RS JR)
NT: 95 Domonique Orange (JR)
DT: 56 JR Singleton (RS SR)
DE: 52 Joey Petersen (SR)
LB: 50 Caleb Bacon (RS JR)
LB: 33 Jack Sadowsky V (SO)
CB: 5 Myles Purchase (SR)
CB: 3 Jontez Williams (RS SO)
FS: 4 Jeremiah Cooper (JR)
MS: 17 Beau Freyler (SR)
BS: 7 Malik Verdon (SR JR)
PR: 13 Jaylin Noel (SR)
PT: 80 Tyler Perkins (JR)
(FS Jeremiah Cooper – Iowa State Daily)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: C
Punters: A
Schedule:
08/31 NORTHERN DAKOTA FIGHTING HAWKS | First meeting between schools.
09/07 @ Iowa Hawkeyes | Iowa State trails the series 23-47. The Cyclones are 2-7 since 2014, and their last series win (10-7) was in 2022.
09/21 ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES | First meeting between schools.
09/28 @ Houston Cougars | First meeting between schools.
10/05 BAYLOR BEARS | Iowa State trails the series 10-12. The Cyclones are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series loss (24-31) was in 2022.
10/12 @ West Virginia Mountaineers | Iowa State trails the series 5-6. The Cyclones won (31-14) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
10/19 UCF KNIGHTS | First meeting between schools.
11/02 TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS | Iowa State trails the series 8-13. The Cyclones lost (10-14) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/09 @ Kansas Jayhawks | Iowa State trails the series 45-52-6. The Cyclones are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series win (59-7) was in 2021.
11/16 CINCINNATI BEARCATS | Last season’s 30-10 win was the first meeting between schools.
11/23 @ Utah Utes | Iowa State leads the series 4-1. The Cyclones lost (27-68) the last meeting between schools in 2010.
11/30 KANSAS STATE WILDCATS | Iowa State leads the series 53-50-4. The Cyclones are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series loss (9-10) was in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 7-0
Road: 3-2
Neutral: 0-1
B12: 8-1
Non-B12: 2-2
Overall: 10-3 (1st in Big XII)
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