Iowa State spring football notes: Harger, Ryen expanding roles

AMES — Mitchell Harger could be taking his first job out of college this spring. But he won't.

The fifth-year senior from Alburnett has steadily increased his role with the Iowa State football team throughout his first four years and will graduate this spring with a chance to take a job in the mechanical engineering field. Instead, he'll stay with the Cyclones for one more season.

Harger is feeling a change in culture and wants to be a part of it.

'Coach (Matt) Campbell and his staff, they're so electrifying and they steal everyone's attention,' Harger said. 'They stole my attention. They got me to stay on. Just everything and the excitement with this new program, it's just been too good to walk away from.'

Harger will be of more value to Iowa State than just as an observer of the changing eras. He led the Cyclones in rushing during Cardinal's 10-6 win against Gold in Saturday's spring game with 15 carries for 48 yards and had four catches for 43 yards.

Along with sophomore running back Mike Warren, who was held out of Saturday's game, Harger has taken it upon himself to help some of his young running back teammates. Sheldon Croney, Nick Leach and Clifford Kwaw-Mensah combined for 12 carries and 39 yards.

What Harger's teammates lack in experience, he provides in steady performances. His consistency is his biggest asset in his pursuit of playing time.

'Mitchell will define [his role] as the season goes, but I'm not afraid of Mitchell Harger,' said Iowa State coach Matt Campbell. 'I'll be honest with you, I really like when he's in the football game. I have great confidence when he is in there.'

Wide receiver Trever Ryen was a breakout performer in last season's spring game and helped him expand into a role Harger hopes to see. Ryen had four catches for 56 yards and three carries for 19 yards Saturday that were a carryover to the versatility he displayed last season.

Joel Lanning finds Trever Ryen for 25 yards and a Cardinal team first down. April 16, 2016

Joel Lanning finds Trever Ryen for 25 yards and a Cardinal team first down. #Cyclones https://t.co/09Gso9GdDu

— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB)

Ryen was only one of eight players in FBS last season to score touchdowns in the form of rushing, receiving and punt return. He knows taking another step this summer means spending time at the training facility, even without the coaches.

'(We'll) just lean on each other and make everybody accountable,' Ryen said. 'Bringing people here when no one else is here and just running through routes and plays. Just making sure we get crisp before the season comes.'

Francis pushing Netten at placekicker

Sophomore kicker Chris Francis stared into the wind for a 51-yard field goal facing the south end zone at Jack Trice Stadium. He connected and watched it go through the uprights, but saw shortly after that a timeout was called.

After he lined up again, and was pushed back one yard to make it a 52-yard kick, he stared once again into the wind. And once again, he drilled the kick through.

Chris Francis nails a 52-yard field goal for the Gold team as time expires in the first half, tying the game at 3-3. April 16, 2016

Chris Francis nails a 52-yard field goal for the Gold team as time expires in the first half, tying the game at 3-3. https://t.co/mozkVzmPJI

— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB)

'It felt wonderful,' Francis said. 'The first hit, I knew the kick wasn't going to count but I got through it and just hit the same ball on the second one.'

Senior Cole Netten is getting first-team snaps and made his only field goal attempt, a 34-yarder, in the first quarter. Francis said although the team hasn't worked on kickoffs this spring, there could be a chance this fall he splits kickoff and place-kicking duties with Netten depending on how fall camp unfolds.

'Cole has been rolling with the ones and me and Peyton Paddock are kind of splitting reps with the twos,' Francis said. 'They're just trying to get a feel for the kickers they have and get a feel for each kicker.'

Wide receiver Denver Johnson tears ACL, out for season

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said Saturday red-shirt freshman Denver Johnson tore his ACL prior to the spring game. Johnson also had shoulder surgery during his red-shirt season and will seek an application for an eventual sixth season of eligibility.

'I think that's the positive is he can get a sixth year down the road,' Campbell said. 'You're talking two surgeries in two years and at least we have the documentation and the ability to get that for us.'

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