Iowa State football notes: Matt Campbell sees pro potential in Joel Lanning

AMES — Joel Lanning's switch from Iowa State's quarterback to middle linebacker has gone as well as coach Matt Campbell could've hoped.

Through four games, Lanning is fifth in the nation in tackles, averaging 11.5 per game, highlighted by a 20-tackle game against Texas. Lanning also has an interception and 2.5 tackles for a loss.

'Joel is really talented,' Campbell said. 'I've said this before, but if this is year two or three of this, you're talking probably a high-end draft pick type football player. He's working himself into that conversation anyway right now.

'I couldn't be prouder of the development that he's made. He's really played at a high level for us.'

Injury update

The injury bug hasn't bitten the Cyclones (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) too hard this season, but some key pieces are still recovering from injury.

Running back and kick returner Kene Nwangwu tore his Achilles early in the spring season. Campbell said he just practiced for the first time on Sunday, and there is hope he can still play this season.

'I think he's on track to where we thought he would be and we'll make a really good decision in the next couple of weeks,' Campbell said.

On the offensive line, Oge Udeogu is still dealing with a lingering injury. Udeogu was an expected starter at right guard, but Josh Knipfel filled in his spot.

Redshirt freshman Josh Mueller is taking over the backup spot with Udeogu having surgery.

'You're talking about that race of Josh Mueller, Rob Hudson, some of those young guys that have really come on, that we're all really excited about,' Campbell said. 'But Josh is talented. He's a guy that still needs a little bit more seasoning and growth, but he's earned the right to be on that depth chart.'

When adversity hits

The last few seasons, when adversity hit, Iowa State folded. The Cyclones didn't know how to handle adversity. Games against Baylor, Oklahoma State and Kansas State are examples from just last season when Iowa State had a fourth quarter lead and squandered it.

Campbell isn't afraid of when adversity hits anymore. He believes his team has gotten past that. Now, he's focused on his team maintaining its poise play to play.

'The adversity piece of it, I don't worry about it with this team, maybe a year ago I did, but this group I don't,' Campbell said. 'Now it's how do you sustain poise when things aren't going good for a second, how do you snap it back into where you're going. We did that at times and we didn't do it at times.'

Depth chart update

Iowa State's depth chart remained almost the same, but with Nwangwu still out, the kick return spot is still up for grabs.

Mike Warren started the season as the kick returner, but after poor performances against Iowa and Akron, Campbell put redshirt freshman receiver Landen Akers back deep.

'The kick returner spot, just trying to get some momentum back there to be honest with you,' Campbell said. 'We didn't get any opportunities on Thursday. Johnnie Lang is certainly another guy that's in that conversation, Johnnie got dinged up, so he wasn't available for us last week, but we hope to get him back and his availability is possibly this week as well.'

Iowa State visits No. 3 Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0) at 11 a.m. Saturday.

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