Iowa State football notes: Cyclones piecing together offensive line with experience, youth

IOWA FALLS — Iowa State and its offensive line are caught in the middle of the growing process.

Veterans like right tackle Jake Campos and incoming Michigan graduate transfer guard David Dawson calm some nerves. Young talents like center Julian Good-Jones and do-it-all lineman Bryce Meeker are key pieces too.

Beyond that, there are plenty of unknowns. But Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell sees his offensive line building project headed in the right direction.

'I do feel we're ahead of where we were a year ago, but I also would tell you too, I still think that's a huge challenge for the team,' Campbell said. 'That group has to make great growth in the next two to three months.'

Offensive coordinator and line coach Tom Manning had to make due with a patchwork offensive line last season, but settled into a regular starting group after three games. There will be another retooling of the unit this season, but without the mystery last year provided.

Expectations for Campos, Dawson, Meeker and Good-Jones, who was named to the Rimington Award Watch List last week, are high. What could really change the trajectory of the ISU offense, which is loaded with skill-position talent, is how the other, less-experienced pieces fare.

'I think there are still some talented young guys coming in that I think can make a huge impact,' Campbell said. 'Those are true freshmen, I'm not naïve to that, either, but I feel better than where we were a year ago in that aspect of it.'

Left tackle Sean Foster, a 6-foot-8 and 290-pound redshirt freshman, was on the two-deep all last year. His presence along the sideline every game last season will only benefit him this fall.

Campbell said there are still some scenarios the staff is toying around with though, one of which includes Meeker being the starting left tackle. The second-year ISU coach said Meeker 'maybe improved more than anyone on our football team on the offensive line' this spring.

'I'm really excited about what his future looks like,' Campbell said of the former Cedar Rapids Prairie prep. 'He can play tackle or he can go inside and play guard. He gives us a lot of flexibility just because of how athletic he is and he is big and strong.'

Oge Udegou (6-foot-3, 325 pounds) also showed out during the spring and is in that top-tier group. Former defensive lineman turned offensive guard Robby Garcia plus a handful of other redshirt freshmen will also be in the mix.

'We really feel comfortable that, at least right now, before anybody else comes in, we've got six guys in there that can all play,' Campbell said. 'I think the key for us becomes, who's seven and eight and who else can compete to push the rest of those guys on the offensive line?'

Nwangwu 'in true rehab'

After suffering an Achilles injury last winter, sophomore running back Kene Nwangwu is out of a boot and 'in true rehab right now,' said ISU football coach Matt Campbell.

Nwangwu, who rushed for 133 yards last season while serving as the main kickoff returner, still has a redshirt season at his disposal. Whether he plays this season depends entirely on how the next couple months unfold.

'I've been through this injury with some really good players before, some guys that injured it later than Kene did and have been back for the season and some guys who have done it earlier than Kene and haven't been back,' Campbell said. 'So to me it's to the individual.

'We're going to be really smart about it and we'll play it by ear as it comes, but I think right now it's still a question mark and probably will be all the way until we get to fall camp.'

Uniform changes in the works

Iowa State had a couple uniform alterations in ISU coach Matt Campbell's first season, most notably the white helmets and all-gray uniforms. Campbell said the future will bring about more change too.

'Whether it comes this year in totality, I don't know,' Campbell said. 'I can tell you I think our entire image will change here shortly. That's something we're really big on.

'Obviously you've got to work through Nike and you've to work with some other areas to be respectful of their contracts, but I think what you'll see is you'll see our image and brand continue to grow in a multitude of different ways.

'I think there will definitely be some things that appear this year and in the years that follow.'

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