Flashes of hope at running back

But Rhoads wants even more from Brown, Warren

By Dylan Montz, correspondent

AMES - Paul Rhoads saw his stable of young running backs put in the work in the weight room all spring.

He knows they're strong and now wants to see them take the next step as it applies to the football field.

During the Iowa State spring game Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium, the seventh-year Cyclones coach saw glimpses of what his ball carriers could be - but, of course, he still wants more.

That all starts with their being able to run with their pads low.

'There's a time when you run with daylight and make your cuts and run with speed to get as many yards, and there's a time the pads have got to drop with your head up and you've got to push the pile,” Rhoads said. 'We've got to get better at that.”

Sophomore Tyler Brown and red-shirt freshman Mike Warren have been thrust into the spotlight at running back in the wake of DeVondrick Nealy's off-season departure and Aaron Wimberly's graduation.

The two were combined for 16 carries for 63 yards Saturday.

The third part of the equation at running back will be sophomore Martinez Syria, who missed much of the spring with a neck injury. Syria will provide the power running back as a complement to the shifty speed of Warren and Brown, something Rhoads thought was lacking Saturday.

Freshmen Joshua Thomas and Sheldon Croney are expected to provide depth to the backfield when they arrive in the fall.

Brown snagged a short pass from quarterback Sam Richardson that turned into a 45-yard touchdown, which showcased his ability to make defenders miss him.

Finding consistency on the ground would result in some weight being taken off the QBs and receivers.

'I feel like we've come a long way from the beginning of spring,” Brown said. 'We're a solid group right now, but we've just got to keep working for it until fall. By fall we should be a solid group.”

Richardson ran with the first team offense and was credited with an 11-of-23 passing performance for 145 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Sophomore Joel Lanning was 11 of 27 for 125 yards, and junior backup Grant Rohach was the most productive at 13 of 18 for 186 yards, a TD and an interception.

In place of injured wide receivers like D'Vario Montgomery and Brett Medders, red-shirt sophomore walk-on Trever Ryen made the most of his repetitions, hauling in a game-high six catches for 146 yards and one touchdown.

'Trever Ryen, if you gave out such an award, would be MVP of this spring game,” Rhoads said. 'He's had a strong flourish at the finish, and it's exciting to have another walk-on in our program rise to the surface like we've seen him. ”

Junior defensive lineman Demond Tucker also made his public debut in an Iowa State uniform, registering a tackle, pass break up and a 5-yard tackle for loss.

High expectations from outside the program have been placed on Tucker to bolster inconsistent play on the defensive line.

'Right now I've got a little more work to do,” Tucker said.

'I'm got to get more conditioning and get myself in shape, but when I get there I believe I can be excellent.”

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