Rhoads no more nervous now than he was a year ago

AMES - One of the most ambitious schedules in college football kicks off Thursday night at Jack Trice Stadium with a conference title contender that's been known to slay big-league opponents this time of year.

Still, Paul Rhoads maintains he's not any more worried facing Northern Illinois than he was a season ago when Football Championship Subdivision opponent North Dakota State opened his Iowa State coaching career.

“I was just as nervous and anxious then as I am now,” Rhoads said Monday during the first of his weekly sessions with the media. “We've got to be ready to play. Yeah, they are a good football team. We are going to find out what we are come Thursday.”

The Cyclones have no cupcakes on the schedule this year.

Four teams ranked in the preseason Associated Press Top 10 are included. Opponents had a combined winning percentage of 63.4 percent (97-56) last season, third-highest in FBS.

Northern Illinois returns 19 starters from a team that went 7-6 last year and qualified for the postseason.

The Huskies - who beat ISU in 2003 and nearly did it again in Ames the following year - have opened their season with a Big Ten team each of the last five years. The pick by some to win the Mid-American Conference is no stranger to big stages.

Third-year coach Jerry Kill led them to the International Bowl a year ago.

“They are a year ahead of us in the development of their program,” Rhoads said. “There are no weak spots. We are going to have to play exceptionally well to have an opportunity to win the ballgame.”

Fox Sports Net will televise the 7 p.m. game to most of the nation.

Youth movement

Three true freshmen will likely see playing time Thursday, Rhoads said.

Running back

Shontrelle Johnson,

linebacker Jeremiah George and punter Kirby Van Der Kamp all are on the newest depth chart.

Johnson could see time as a kickoff returner, after starters Josh Lenz and Leonard Johnson get their turns. He is listed behind red-shirt freshmen Jeff Woody and James White at tailback.

George is ISU's second-team middle linebacker and a probable special teams contributor.

Van Der Kamp is trying to win the starting punter's job. Senior Dan Kuehl has the edge right now with today's practice his last chance to prove himself.

“Dan would probably have to go out and fall on his face a little bit to not be the starting punter,” Rhoads said.

It looks right now as if freshman tailback Duran Hollis will red-shirt.

Other young players could work their way into the lineup still, Rhoads said.

“We are still evaluating a number of guys and probably will be going through games two and three,” Rhoads said. “We have two really good running backs in this class.”

Two more newcomers - defensive back Anthony Young and tight end Ricky Howard - also will play against the Huskies. Both are junior college transfers who arrived on campus in January.

Good move

Bailey Johnson has overtaken expected starter Jake McDonough at defensive tackle.

Johnson, a senior, started eight games last year. He's come on of late.

“He's more active than Jake's been in the last week of practice,” Rhoads said. “Jake hasn't dropped down. Bailey has played better, and that's a positive thing.”

A-Rob is A-OK

The health of tailback Alexander Robinson will be important all season long.

He's fresh and ready to go. Coaches limited him some during practices and allowed the 1,200-yard rusher from a season ago just 20 repetitions during scrimmages.

“I feel great,” Robinson said. “I got another massage and my legs have got the camp feel out. I'm feeling good entering this first game.”