Iowa State readies for nine straight weeks of Big 12 play, Warren emerges

AMES - Keeping confidence levels high wasn't Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads' challenge during the bye week.

Sure, keeping the Cyclones' (1-2) confidence from sinking was a part of his responsibility, but Rhoads' challenge was making sure his team stayed the course in practicing with the urgency of a game week.

Finding a way to stay urgent during the bye week was Iowa State's goal, and Rhoads noticed right away last Thursday when that productivity started to dip.

'We had to press pause in practice and make sure they understand we have to get good work done and they responded after that,” Rhoads said. 'That's exactly what we got accomplished. We pushed through it and I know the antennas will be up and they'll be ready to go because it's game week.”

Iowa State now faces nine-straight weeks of Big 12 games without a week off, starting with a visit from Kansas. The Jayhawks (0-3) are 15.5-point underdogs to the Cyclones as of Monday afternoon, and will be the first opportunity for Iowa State to start conference play 1-0 since a 45-3 mauling of Kansas in 2002.

Red-shirt freshman running back Mike Warren emerged as the No. 1 ball carrier after his breakout game against the Rockets. Warren ran for 126 yards on 21 carries while Iowa State rushed for 207 yards as a team.

Warren said extra work he put in with running backs coach Lou Ayeni was the key to his confidence and preparation two weeks ago.

'I was probably in the film room every day for about two hours working on other things after practice like footwork drills, catching and all that,” Warren said. 'I just went into the game confident and that confidence just showed. I felt comfortable when I was playing.”

Despite his age, Warren has been credited with having the patience of an older player. He doesn't force things before he's supposed to. That maturity leads to runs like his 41-yard burst against Toledo.

'He wasn't making different cuts, but he was making them at a better time as he took defenders one more half step or one more body lean directionally,” Rhoads said. 'Then he was able to make that split-second cut and the physical tools that he's gifted with and has always had showed up in a different way.”

What will make Warren a factor is Iowa State's ability to rotate in other running backs to keep him fresh. Sophomores Tyler Brown and Trever Ryen with freshman Joshua Thomas all provide other options, but Warren has proved to be the most dangerous in the fledging running game so far.

'I saw a lot of growth over just the past few weeks,” wide receiver Allen Lazard said of Warren. 'To say that I was surprised about how he produced, I'd be lying. He's been great for our team and I expect it more out of him too.”

Healthiest squad this season

Rhoads said in his Monday news conference Iowa State will be the healthiest it has been all season against Kansas.

Linebacker Brian Mills, defensive end Gabe Luna, safety Qujuan Floyd, cornerback Sam E. Richardson and offensive lineman Jacob Dunning will all be in uniform against the Jayhawks and ready to contribute. Dunning has been out the longest after he ruptured his patella tendon in the second half against Iowa in 2014.

'He'll find his way back into our two-deep,” Rhoads said of Dunning. 'He practiced last week, the entire length of the practice, which is the first time he's done that since that game (against Iowa last season).”

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