Iowa State star linebacker Caleb Bacon's long layoff is over

GALWAY, Ireland — Iowa State star linebacker Caleb Bacon can’t remember precisely what words popped into his head when everything went wrong just five snaps into the 2024 season.

Uh-oh?

Oh, no?

Something far more pointed that can’t be printed here?

All of the above, probably, as a wave of searing pain swept over Bacon’s left leg mere moments into the Cyclones’ 21-3 season-opening win over North Dakota.

“I kind of blacked out a little bit,” the 6-foot-4, 240-pound senior said of the season-ending injury that’s fully healed as No. 22 ISU prepare to face 17th-ranked Kansas State at 11 a.m. Iowa time in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin. “I do remember hearing a little snap and I knew something wasn’t good, but I didn’t know what it could be.”

Bacon underwent surgery one day after the season opener and worked on his mental game while watching his teammates compile a program record-setting 11-win season. Saturday’s matchup with the Wildcats will mark the 357th day since Bacon suffered that crippling injury on special teams duty.

It also will mark a new beginning, because by all accounts, Bacon’s come back as strong — or even stronger — than ever.

“The biggest thing for him is, man, he goes out there and makes plays,” said ISU’s second-year linebacker coach Colby Kratch, who had to cobble together patchwork lineups last season because of a spate of injuries to his unit. “Everybody feeds off him. And I think that's been the big thing that I've noticed in fall camp. Him coming back from an injury, you’d think the kid would, you know, have to (re)build some confidence. Like, no.

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“It’s like he never left. Which is awesome for our team.”

It’s glee-inducing for Bacon, who relished putting on pads again for the first time in the spring, and powered through every arduous summer workout and fall camp drill. He’s back and he’s better, ready to lead a unit that’s now laden with experience three-deep at each spot.

“I feel like it had been forever, and to get back out there, first game back, it's gonna be pretty emotional,” said Bacon, who ranked second on the team in tackles with 60 two seasons ago while notching three sacks and forced fumble. “I feel like I'm already kind of a pretty emotionless guy, so I don't think it'll be too big of an impact on me, but I feel like it's going to boost my play even more, really — just give me that extra gear when I'm out there.”

The Cyclones — who seek their first three-game win streak against Kansas State since winning five in a row to close the 1980s — will need Bacon and all their other defensive headliners on the field if they hope to slow down dangerous Wildcats tailback Dylan Edwards and contain dual-threat quarterback Avery Johnson.

ISU did well in both of those areas last season, but that was before Edwards became the No. 1 back and Johnson enjoyed another offseason of strength, conditioning and mental work.

“Avery is probably going to be the fastest guy on the field when we're out there,” Bacon said. “I mean, he's got it all, really, so it's really just playing down to our keys every play. Having a guy for the quarterback, stuff like that.”

Bacon could end up being that guy, with help from backup Zach Lovett. He also could simply be asked to come off the edge and aid the Cyclones’ pass rush. Or maybe all of the above.

Just imagining the possibilities sends a wave of excitement through Bacon’s body. No more uh-ohs. No more Oh, nos. No words that can’t be mentioned here.

Consider him fully lit, with eyes ablaze instead of being in a daze.

“(He’s) one of the toughest guys I’ve seen,” said Cyclone tailback Carson Hansen, who shares the number 26 with Bacon. “Going through that (injury), that was really tough to see in the first game of the year. … But he looks great out there and I’m excited for his year to come.”

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