Gabe Luna adjusting to new role in Iowa State defense

AMES - Two years filled with injuries and feeling overlooked had Gabe Luna believing he wasn't really on anyone's radar.

Luna is among the returning defensive ends at Iowa State this spring and is being integrated into a new defensive scheme.

He's ready to get back on track.

'Now that I'm healed and with everything that's happened with the coaching staff, it's a fresh breath of air and I'm just able to take it and run with it,” Luna, a senior, said. 'I'm thankful more than ever for the opportunity.”

Luna has no qualms with what his experience in Ames during his first two years has brought, but the injuries and 3-4 defensive scheme gave him less opportunities to see the field. Under Coach Matt Campbell's direction, the Cyclones' defensive will base out of a 4-2-5 scheme and have Luna serve as the Leo defensive end.

Campbell's Leo position is a hybrid defensive lineman who can also act as a linebacker who is asked to rush the passer as well as drop into coverage. Adding that Leo element to the defensive front gives Iowa State flexibility in its looks and takes some pressure of getting double-teamed off the defensive tackles.

'That guy has to be so versatile that he is a chess piece,” Campbell said. 'It's a matter of finding that right fit and that right guy. We've been really pleased with what we've seen from that spot so far. Obviously there's a lot of football left to be played and there's a lot of spring practice left to evaluate.”

So far this spring, Luna has been that chess piece.

In his first season at Iowa State, Luna injured his lower back and sat out as a red-shirt. Last season, he tore three ligaments in his ankle in the season-opener against Northern Iowa - he had two tackles - and made it back onto the field for the season finale at West Virginia.

Luna's return is paying some dividends for the Cyclones early this spring.

'I think (Luna's) very active up front, he's got a high football IQ, which that guy needs that,” said defensive line coach Eli Rasheed. 'We'll move him around. You'll see that Leo all around the field. We'll hide that guy. He gives us the best chance and then we've got some depth with Darius White. Darius has been a guy that has played and he'll also be a good Leo for us.”

Luna checks in at 6-foot-2 and 243 pounds so when he did get on the field, he was matched up primarily against a much bigger offensive lineman. As a Leo, he'll be able to get out on the edge of the line of scrimmage to get more free runs at the passer while exercising his experience in coverage. He played some pass coverage at Butler Community College.

So what is the biggest difference an observer might notice from the Cyclones' defense from last year to this one?

'Speed,” Luna said. 'This defense is going to be a lot faster. I won't get into too much detail about that, but it will be noticeable. Come April 16, it's going to be a big eye-opener for the people, supporters and Cyclone Nation.”

The fresh start hasn't just been a breath of fresh air for Luna on the field, either. Being able to line up on the defensive line has enhanced the experience with his teammates off the field.

'It's just great to have guys like that that are all on the same page and we're all excited,” Luna said. 'We're all relieved and we all have that second chance it feels like at doing something right.”

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