Iowa State safety Jamison Patton's a builder in more ways than one

Editor’s note: Sixth in a 9-part series looking at the Iowa State football team ahead of the season opener on Aug. 23.

AMES — Jamison Patton beams with pride as he talks about his latest, greatest project.

The Ankeny High School star-turned-solid contributor in Iowa State’s secondary isn’t talking about gains in the weight room, nor acquiring deeper knowledge of playing the safety position.

Patton has grown in both of those areas, for sure — but he’s excitedly talking about constructing something else: Advanced Lego sets.

“I love building Legos,” said Patton, who has emerged as a leader in his room despite owning zero career starts in his 25 career games played. “I recently got into that in the past year. It’s interesting and it’s fun. You get to make things and you get to see the finished product of what you’re building.”

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Patton’s added the leadership piece to his burgeoning skill set out of necessity. Oft-injured exemplary leader Beau Freyler exhausted his eligibility during the Cyclones’ historic 11-win 2024 season, which left a void Patton eagerly stepped in to help fill.

“I look at Beau as Superman,” said Patton, one of many talented returners in ISU’s secondary this season. “He’s just a beast. Just seeing him go through what he did and give his absolute all to the end for the team and for us, it’s very inspiring. … When I was young and I first got up here, I was in his pocket, following him around seeing what he does and just picking up little pieces from him.”

Now, Patton’s doling out Lego-like blocks of wisdom and inspiration as the Cyclones prepare for their Aug. 23 season opener against Big 12 rival Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland — and he’s not alone. Cornerback Jontez Williams is doing the same.

“Just trying to be more vocal out there,” the second-team All-Big 12 selection said. “Calling everything out that I see. Just not leaving (any) details behind.”

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The same could be true of ISU’s entire secondary, which also returns star starting safety Jeremiah Cooper, who’s worked out at the corner spot a bit during fall camp. Safeties coach Deon Broomfield and cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat both stressed Cooper remains a safety — but his speed and versatility could make him valuable in a variety of packages.

“I think when you have a guy (who) has the hips (and) the speed, you just try to put him in the best situations that you can put him in,” Broomfield said. “If you look at just his skillset, his short-area quickness, his change of direction — he has top-end vertical speed, and then he has really good awareness in zone coverages, and that’s why he’s been able to make some plays on the ball.”

Cooper ranked sixth nationally with five interceptions in 2023 and added two more last season. Williams snared four picks last season, which ranked among the nation’s top 25. So their ball-hawking skills jump off the page for the Cyclones, who tied for 22nd nationally in turnover margin last season at plus-.64 per game.

“I can’t let it get to my head,” Cooper said. “Gotta keep working because it’s a new season. Nothing is promised. (Head) coach (Matt) Campbell always preaches that. You’ve gotta work for whatever you want and interceptions aren’t (just) gonna come to me, tackles (won’t) come to me. I’ve just gotta keep working.”

The same mentality ripples through ISU’s secondary and several of its younger players such as Marcus Neal, Ta’Shawn James and Drew Surges at safety, and David Coffey, Quentin Taylor Jr. and converted wide receiver Beni Ngoyi at corner.

“I feel like we have a pretty deep room,” Ngoyi said. “Everybody in there is a ballplayer.”

So is Patton, whose passion for football eclipses his love of Lego. He’s built himself up brick by brick, just as he’s assembled intricate Marvel-themed projects and a Super Mario Lego set that features moving parts.

“He can be as good as he wants to be,” Broomfield said. “When you talk about things that take no talent to make yourself a good player, he does all those things. He’s been a pro about his workmanship, so now it’s starting to translate on the football field.”

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