2013 Football Previews – Big 12 – Cyclones
The Cyclones hope to stake improvement on a blue-collar offensive line and an effective running game. Starting RB James White must bounce back from injury, but he brings veteran experience.
Big 12 Conference 2013 College Football Previews: Iowa State Cyclones (Team Link)
Head Coach: Paul Rhoads
2012 Record: 6-7
Iowa State Gambling Odds to win BCS Championship: Field 50-1
Iowa State Gambling Odds to win Big 12: 40-1
Junior college transfer Aaron Wimberly spurned offers from Boise State, Penn State and Iowa to instead don the red and gold of Iowa State.
Last year, Wimberly averaged a ridiculous 11.7 yards per carry for NJCAA champion Iowa Western. It’s safe to say he’ll be a big part of the equation in the backfield for the Cyclones. Sophomore DeVondrick Nealy and Shondrelle Johnson are also proven commodities, though Johnson is also coming back from a knee ailment.
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s College Picks in 2013!
Further to the running game, the entire right side of the offensive line returns, which should be constructive.
The only QB on the roster with game experience is sophomore Sam Richardson, and he will likely start, provided he can hold off a charge from recruits Grant Rohach and local prospect Joel Lanning.
The Cyclones will also have entirely new starters at the WR spots, but incumbent TE Ernst Brun should be a weapon in the passing game. Sophomore wideout Quenten Bundrage is probably Iowa State’s most talented pass-catcher. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Whether it’s Richardson, Rohach or someone else, the pivot will have to establish a rapport from scratch with his receivers.
On defense, ISU features a cagey, veteran secondary. Cornerback Jansen Watson and safeties Deon Broomfield and Jacques Washington are all returning seniors, and converted safety Jared Brackens should be intriguing, as he holds down a starting spot at linebacker. There are concerns about the lack of quality depth for the Cyclones on “D”.
There is leadership, however, as undersized senior LB Jeremiah George should man that department, not unlike London Fletcher has for years in the NFL. On the defensive line, only senior DE Willie Scott returns for ’13.
Iowa State’s punting is in especially great shape with senior Kirby Van Der Kamp, who was a Ray Guy Award finalist in 2012. He excels at placing the ball deep, which should do plenty to help the defense. The kicking game is a little shakier, with erratic incumbent Edwin Arceo battling redshirt freshman Cole Netten.
The special teams units should be better than expected, with surplus speed and size amongst the underclassmen on the roster.
Iowa State has enough raw talent on its roster, and head coach Paul Rhoads has done a solid job in his four seasons in Ames.
Rhoads has done well at recruiting useful athletes in the past couple seasons, but these finds must come to fruition quickly if the Cyclones are to make a fourth bowl trip in five years in 2013.
Cyclones 2013 Schedule
8/31/13 7:00 PM ET ULMON
9/7/13 7:00 PM ET WVIRG
9/14/13 12:00 PM ET TULSA
9/28/13 3:30 PM ET @NOTRE
10/5/13 TBD TCU
10/12/13 TBD @TEXAS
10/19/13 TBD @KANS
10/26/13 TBD TXTCH
11/7/13 7:30 PM ET @BAY
11/16/13 TBD IOWST
11/23/13 TBD @KANST
12/7/13 TBD @OKLST
