Brown, Warren get early shot in ISU backfield

Editor's note: Second in an eight-part series looking at the Iowa State football team, position by position. Next: Defensive backs

By Dylan Montz, correspondent

AMES - Tyler Brown and Mike Warren have heard the same sentiment expressed a variety of ways throughout the offseason.

They've had their abilities doubted and their level of readiness debated ever since Iowa State lost its top three running backs from last year to graduation and dismissals. It's because of the things they've heard that have made the chips on their shoulders a little bit bigger this fall.

Ever heard of the expression, 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”? Running backs coach Louis Ayeni made a slight amendment to it.

'I taught them, ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and a man with something to prove,'” Ayeni said. 'This group as a unit has something to prove and every single day we have to show we can live up to the expectations of a Big 12 running back.”

Warren and Brown have taken an intense approach to practice during fall camp to speed up the learning curve they're up against as the Cyclones' top two backs. As a red-shirt sophomore, Brown is the elder statesman with 24 carries and 109 yards to his name.

Each running back brings a different skill set to the table. Brown has speed and quickness at 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds and he has focused on making the correct reads to find the lanes because his speed will take care of the rest in the open field.

'We're a lot more explosive,” Brown said. 'We're just learning how to break more tackles right now and really try to learn the game so it slows down for us.”

Warren will bring the element of a slasher to the backfield and has been raved about since arriving on campus. The 6-foot, 200-pound red-shirt freshman erupted for 2,512 and 26 touchdowns as a prep in Oklahoma in 2013 and averaged 9.3 yards per carry.

Strength in the weight room, an understanding of offensive concepts and a better knowledge of how to run behind his pads have all elevated Warren to a place where he feels comfortable carrying a load in the running game. Hearing those naysayers every once in awhile hasn't hurt him either.

'They say we're young and inexperienced, but really I think we have the talent,” Warren said. 'Nobody knows what we can do yet, but we just have to show it to them. We worked hard and we've come a long way.”

Walk-on red-shirt junior, and former Alburnett prep, Mitch Harger is slotted third on the depth chart. Newcomer Joshua Thomas will be more of a power back to compliment the more slender frames of the other two. His 5-foot-11 and 224-pound bulkiness will provide strength inside, which Iowa State hopes will help with its rushing deficiencies from a year ago.

'Mike Warren, who is younger, is understanding (how to work at this level) because of the urgency that's placed on him,” said ISU coach Paul Rhoads. 'Tyler Brown, without question, is the leader as far as that piece of the work ethic.”

The Cyclones rushed for only 124.1 yards per game last season and averaged 3.7 yards per carry. Iowa State hasn't seen a 1,000-yard rusher since Alexander Robinson in 2009, but hopes a more cohesive relationship with the offensive line will help that. It isn't uncommon to see running backs in the offensive line meeting room or vice versa watching film and discussing snaps.

Ayeni has told the guys in his position room they have the opportunity to start their legacy a little sooner than expected. His guys have listened, and are making sure their shot isn't going to waste.

'Like anybody who has played running back, you're used to being the guy at your high school and playing,” Ayeni said. 'These guys have had to sit and wait for their opportunity. The fun thing for me is (to see) here is their chance.”

A CLOSER LOOK AT RUNNING BACKS

Depth chart

1. Tyler Brown, 5-11, 188, sophomore; 2. Mike Warren, 6-0, 200, red-shirt freshman; 3. Mitchell Harger, 5-10, 200, junior; 4. Joshua Thomas, 5-11, 224, freshman

The starters

Brown will likely be in the backfield when the Iowa State offense takes the field for the first time in a couple weeks against Northern Iowa, but don't count Warren out on getting significant snaps. Through the end of fall camp, neither back held a significant advantage and both fought to stay healthy while taking all the snaps with the first team. Brown has a slight edge in experience, but consider the gap between he and Warren to be very narrow.

The backups

Harger saw action in four games a year ago, only on special teams, and posted two tackles. Along with Brown and Warren, Harger took significant snaps in the backfield during spring practice, but will likely move behind Thomas in carries this fall. ISU coach Paul Rhoads said Thomas will likely be the only true freshman to play this season, partly through necessity, but his maturity has also dictated that he will have his number called in important situations to compliment Brown and Warren.

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