ISU Football: Lattimer’s hair, play mirror NFL star

AMES - Jacob Lattimer has been watching NFL football - the Green Bay Packers in particular - with a keen eye this season.

The linebacker-turned-defensive end has become an admirer of Packer defender Clay Matthews. And it's not because the two share similar hairstyles.

“I watch him and try to mock what he does,” said the long-haired Lattimer, who was named the Big 12 Conference's defensive player of the week Monday after a standout performance in last Saturday's 28-21 win at Texas.

Lattimer had seven tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in his first career start.

The 6-2, 245-pound junior was a huge reason for ISU's defensive success against the Longhorns. Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert threw three interceptions and Lattimer's sack and fumble led to the deciding touchdown of the game.

He'll be on the field at the start again this week for ISU's 1 p.m. game against Kansas (2-5, 0-3 Big 12) at Jack Trice Stadium.

“What his play does is also elevates the play of those around him,” Coach Paul Rhoads said. “The front four played extremely well and Jake was certainly the leader of that group.”

Lattimer was stuck at linebacker this spring and wanted a chance at getting on the field more.

He's proving the move to the front four was a good one. ISU (4-4, 2-2) moved to within two victories of bowl eligibility.

“I know how hard he works,” linebacker Jake Knott said. “It wasn't a big surprise to anybody. He just runs around and loves to hit. He wants to kill somebody.”

The starter he replaced, Patrick Neal, and more experienced ISU ends Rashawn Parker and Roosevelt Maggitt have been good teachers for Lattimer.

Learning how to play with his hand on the ground was not an easy transition.

“They brought me in as one of their own and taught me all the things I needed to know,” Lattimer said. “It's a lot of work.”

So is keeping his flowing locks of hair in order.

Lattimer hasn't put scissors to it in more than two years.

“I'm pretty attached to it now,” he said. “I've had mostly short, shaggier hair my whole life but I decided to grow it out. It's something different.”

So is going up against 300-pound men every play.

“That's a new feature to football that I didn't really know about,” Lattimer said. “On the line you are going all-out every play, the whole play.”

Game time for Huskers

The Cyclones' Nov. 6 game against Nebraska at Jack Trice Stadium will kick off at 2:30 p.m. and be televised regionally by ABC, officials announced Monday.

This Saturday's home game against Kansas is not being televised.