Jay Jones embracing switch to cornerback, D’Andre Payne impressing Iowa State coaches

AMES — Jay Jones knew change was coming to the Iowa State defense, but he didn't know how he would be affected.

The senior defender looked at his 6-foot-3, 209-pound frame and considered himself the wrong fit at linebacker. Jones assumed he would play in the back end, but always thought he would make a pretty big cornerback.

A meeting with defensive backs coach D.K. McDonald clarified what the plan for Jones' final year in Ames would be. The first few moments of the meeting were a bit of a shock to Jones' system.

'At first, I was just like, 'Oh man, corner?' I was thinking safety or something,' Jones said. 'But Coach D.K. kind of influenced me and just told me to work with it and you've got to believe in yourself. We'll compete and see where you're at.

'Just hearing that gave me somewhat of a motivation to go ahead and try a new position and compete at the highest level I possibly can.'

Jones was used in the nickel position last season and started nine games in a 3-4 defensive scheme. He had 41 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and two sacks through the first eight games and was a versatile defender that was used in stopping the run and pass coverage.

Iowa State is expected to base out of a four-man front this season and use five defensive backs to combat the pass-heavy Big 12, but Jones could be an X-factor. Some experience in the secondary at Georgia Military College is also in the back of Jones' mind as he dives into learning a third scheme in three years.

'(Jones is) just kind of learning the cornerback position and just the little techniques, the fine techniques, that he needs to do,' McDonald said. 'He's really taking a lot of time to do it. He's really coming in and spending a lot of extra time, but it's really showing up on the field right now.'

The Cyclones do return a mix of veterans and young guys with experience at cornerback, primarily Nigel Tribune and Brian Peavy. Jomal Wiltz is entering his second season at Iowa State on the edge too, but newcomer D'Andre Payne could make the biggest impact.

Payne, who left high school as a consensus four-star prospect, played his freshman season at Tennessee and sat out last season at Arizona Western while he red-shirted. At 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Payne has three years of eligibility remaining and has been moved around from cornerback and even played closer to the line of scrimmage in different schemes this spring.

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said two weeks ago linebacker Willie Harvey was having perhaps the best spring of anyone on the team. If he had to choose, Campbell recognized Payne as being second right behind Harvey.

'D'Andre's been kind of a flex guy for us,' Campbell said. 'D'Andre's got such a natural ability. Great cover guy, but he's got great football instincts.'

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