Mike Warren will shoulder more responsibility for Iowa State this season

AMES - Iowa State sophomore running back Mike Warren felt the pressure to become the program's first 1,000-yard rusher in six years. He went over the mark with ease.

Going into the spring of his sophomore season Warren has set high expectations for himself on the field, but will feel the weight of responsibility off the field too. In the film room, meeting room and locker room, the 6-foot, 200-pounder will be the beacon of experience for his teammates.

'Based off last year I [was] just kind of getting used to things,” Warren said. 'Now it's like everybody is looking at me to lead the team. Like my mom always says, ‘You're a leader even if you don't want to be.' I guess I just get thrown in that spotlight.”

Warren's 1,339 rushing yards as a freshman was the fifth-best single-season total for the Cyclones and led all NCAA rookies last season

Now as a leader within the running back room with less experienced players like senior Mitchell Harger and red-shirt freshman Sheldon Croney Jr. this spring, expectations have shifted from what they were six months ago. ISU running backs coach Lou Ayeni saw Warren last season as a guy that just wanted to see the field and has started to see a transformation.

'He kind of was more worried about himself,” Ayeni said. 'Now he's worried more about what the team is doing and worried for the younger guys and worried about being a better player and worried about the little things it takes to be a championship team.

'For me it's like, ‘Good, you get it.' That's a lot of fun as coach. He's doing it himself now and now you can get to the more advanced stuff.”

Some of that advanced play comes with things like consistent rushing production, improved pass protection and flexing out wide in the pass game. Building off last year comes in the form, Warren said, of more film work, fieldwork and attention to detail within the drills.

'He'll only become great if it's great all the time,” said Iowa State coach Matt Campbell. 'I think that's Michael. He's still a young pup and still learning how to become that and I think he'll continue to get better day in and day out but I've seen improvement from Michael there for sure.”

Warren had six 100-yard games last season - including 245 yards against Texas Tech - and averaged 131.7 rushing yards in Big 12 games, which was the best average in the conference against league opponents.

Even with the ISU offensive line expected to be a much different look than it was last season - the Cyclones lost five linemen with starting experience last season - Warren hasn't shied away from making expectations for himself. Ayeni said he hasn't set numeric goals for Warren, but the Lawton, Okla., native wants to reach 1,500 yards as a sophomore and become a 2,000-yard rusher at some point in his career.

Before any of those numbers can become a reality, Warren said he's maintained his focus within his position room and has tried to bring his teammates along with him in development.

'I knew that more expectations were going to come for me, but it's just part of the game,” Warren said. 'Once you do something that hasn't been done for a long time then people are going to look up to you and expect you to do bigger and better things.”

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