ISU’s Cotton-Moya hopeful for return this season after hamstring injury

AMES - Kamari Cotton-Moya couldn't quite process what was happening.

Pain enveloped the sophomore defensive back. He went to the practice turf, crying out from what was determined to be a serious hamstring injury. Cotton-Moya has had his share of injury scares, but his latest was particularly disheartening.

'I just really thought I was done for the season and that really hurt me,” Cotton-Moya said. 'It hurt me deep inside and I went and got some pictures of it and they told me it's treatable.”

Although Cotton-Moya went down without contact last Wednesday on the last drill of practice and missed Saturday's game at Baylor, he has been the general in the secondary during Iowa State's transition to a 3-4 defense. He has 40 tackles (fourth on the roster), 2.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup in six games.

Iowa State Coach Paul Rhoads said in his Monday news conference it could be an injury that keeps Cotton-Moya sidelined for the season, but was encouraged by the progress he saw through the first two days this week.

'He went from walking stiff legged to now his normal walking gate,” Rhoads said. 'You couldn't tell (he was injured). (He's) probably surprising the medical staff as well, so there is an outside chance. But he's still got a long ways to go.”

Since his injury, Cotton-Moya's days have consisted of rehab and treatment sessions as well as acting as a coach to the secondary. Qujuan Floyd, Darian Cotton, Jomal Wiltz and De'Monte Ruth are filling Cotton-Moya's void, with Floyd taking more of a leadership role.

Standing idly by during practice and directing his teammates hasn't been something Cotton-Moya has loved, but he knows it's part of the process. There is no timetable for his return to the lineup, but with the progress Cotton-Moya has seen from himself, he is as confident as ever that he'll play again this season.

'I told myself if I have to miss two more games or three more games or whatever it is, I'm going to get back out there,” Cotton-Moya said. 'Even if it's the last game of the season.”

Hope For Lazard

Wide receiver Allen Lazard was held out of last week's game against Baylor because of an injured rotator cuff, but Rhoads said the sophomore has looked 'better” through the first couple days of preparation for Texas.

Lazard is back atop his position on the depth chart and has been a consistent pass-catching threat for the Cyclones through the first six games this season. He has 29 catches for 406 yards and three touchdowns, including a 74-yard scoring grab against TCU.

'He was actually out running around catching some balls,” Rhoads said. 'Not in pads and not taking hits. He won't take any hits until Saturday, but the training staff's opinion this morning was he'll play.”

Burnham cleated

After the shake-up involving the Iowa State offensive coordinator spot, defensive coordinator Wally Burnham had to leave the field for a short period Tuesday after a player accidentally scraped his shin with cleats.

Rhoads assumed defensive coaching duties while Burnham received 20 stitches on his shin, but returned shortly after and resumed coaching.

'I was standing right behind him trying to tell him what to do in the drill and the kid just stepped back like that and his cleat got me,” Burnham chuckled. 'So it wasn't anybody's fault except for mine, probably.”

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