ISU notebook: Cyclones shift linebackers

AMES - Jevohn Miller knows what he has to do, but he feels comfortable with where he's at.

The senior linebacker, who was tabbed as the starting weak side linebacker, slid into the starting middle linebacker spot against Kansas State, which was a move Iowa State started to make last week.

Sophomore Luke Knott replaced Miller as the starting weak side linebacker with senior Drake Ferch starting on the strong side.

'I know we just want our best three linebackers out there and that was a move coaches talked to us about,” Miller said of the change. 'So we just tried to learn it in a week. We talked about it Sunday and then just in practice working on it and studying film on it and learn the Mike position.”

Miller finished the game with a team-high 11 tackles, five of which were unassisted in the Cyclones' 32-28 loss Saturday in Jack Trice Stadium. Coach Paul Rhoads knows things about the position will become more natural to Miller as the season progresses, but having him in the middle makes the defense faster in his mind.

'Jevohn gives us more athleticism, he gives us more speed, he's a veteran player, he's been out there and been a part of it,” Rhoads said. 'He'll be a guy with reps that will also make good improvement at the Mike linebacker position.”

Lazard, Campos start

With receiver Quenton Bundrage lost for the season after tearing his ACL and right tackle Jacob Gannon quitting the team Thursday, freshman Allen Lazard and red-shirt freshman Jake Campos got see the field as starters sooner than expected.

Lazard got his first taste of college football last weekend against North Dakota State with one catch for 48 yards. Against the Wildcats, he played an even bigger role as a starter, tallying three catches for 42 yards. Lazard's first touchdown came on a 29-yard pass from fellow receiver Jarvis West.

'It wasn't really what I expected for my first touchdown. I didn't think it was going to be from Jarvis West,” Lazard said. 'I pictured it to at least be from Sam (Richardson) or Grant (Rohach), you know a quarterback.

'I'm glad I got it out of the way, but I still have to get better though.”

Gannon's sudden departure from the team thrust Campos into a starting role. The West Des Moines native had never played a snap of college football before Saturday's game against Kansas State, and he was presented the task of fending off preseason All-Big 12 senior Ryan Mueller.

'He played unbelievable. I don't care if you can look at it on film and he messed up here or there, it's a huge role guarding Mueller there, and All-Big 12 player,” Richardson said of Campos. 'He stepped up and made some big plays for us. In a situation we were in, losing a right tackle, it's tough, but he played big for us.”

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