Iowa State football tweaks depth chart at quarterback, running back

AMES — For the first time all season, the Iowa State football depth chart reflected some changes at its two most high-profile positions.

Quarterback Joel Lanning and running back Mike Warren had been listed as starters through the preseason and every week for the first nine games. Now the competitions at each spot are recognized on paper.

True freshmen running backs David Montgomery and Kene Nwangwu are listed as 'ORs' alongside Warren while quarterback Jacob Park, who started Thursday in the loss to Oklahoma, is an 'OR' with Lanning.

'We've got three guys that are doing things that are really positive and great for us,' Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said in his news conference Monday. 'I think you can look at video clips of all of our guys that there are some positive things that they've done in eight, nine games.

'You look at the same thing at quarterback, that's a tough situation because they've done some really good things and I don't know if there are any things where you go, 'Man, that guy's so bad you shouldn't be playing that guy.'

'For me, those are things that you love competition and I'm a guy that I love competition. I wish we had more of it on our team.'

Warren missed the last game with a sprained ankle, making way for Montgomery to get the start and Nwangwu to rotate in as a backup. They combined for 16 carries and 69 yards even with Montgomery exiting in the first half with concussion-like symptoms.

Campbell said all three players are currently cleared to play Saturday at Kansas (11 a.m., FSN), and reiterated that all three were also cleared at the beginning of last week. Each back, Campbell said, brings their own skill set to the position and doesn't see the crowded tailbacks room as a negative.

He characterized Warren — 124 carries and 530 yards — as an effective runner, Montgomery — 53 carries and 222 yards — as a jack-of-all-trades that can run, catch and block and Nwangwu as a 'home-run hitter,' as evidenced by his 24.5 yards per kickoff return.

'It's hard to have one guy carrying the football all the time,' Campbell said. 'I said that a couple of weeks ago. It's a great situation for us. When there's competition in practice for carries, that's always a great thing as well.'

Park and Lanning continued their rotation against the Sooners, but Iowa State (1-8, 0-6) moved to letting one guy throw more than the other. Lanning threw one pass — a long incompletion — and had seven carries for 61 yards while Park threw 16-for-29 and 160 yards.

'Whoever is starting, whoever is playing more reps, whatever it is at any position, I don't think that matters anymore,' Lanning said. 'I think everyone just wants to win games and whoever is giving us the opportunity to win games I think is going to play the most.

'For whatever reason it is, who knows what's going to happen, but every game is going to be different I assume.'

Texas Tech kickoff time announced

Iowa State's home game against Texas Tech on Nov. 19 has been slated for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff and will be televised on FS1.

l Comments: montzdylan@gmail.com