Mitchell Meyers’ senior season went ‘above and beyond’ expectations after cancer battle

AMES - There was never any doubt in Mitchell Meyers' mind.

He knew he would run out of the tunnel when the Iowa State football team opened its season. Now, along with 21 other seniors, the defensive end will be running out of that tunnel for the last time after he overcame a cancer diagnosis almost two years ago.

Iowa State's season finale against West Virginia is 2:30 p.m. Saturday (FS1).

'I told them the other day, I wish they all weren't leaving,” said defensive coordinator Jon Heacock. 'I wish we were just starting. That's where I wish we really were. I think we've made so much progress in what our standards are and what we're trying to achieve.

'You're not coaching all those little crazy things all the time. They're working themselves into it. Mitch is one of those guys that's helped lead that change.”

After losing his junior year while he battled Hodgkin lymphoma, Meyers returned last spring and as he worked through fall camp, he elevated himself to starter at defensive end and is one of two players to start all 11 games on defense. He's amassed 25 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss, which is poised to be his best collegiate season.

Meyers didn't put expectations on himself when he returned this season after his 18-month battle. The disease took away some of the physical abilities he had before, but he put the work into being the most fundamentally sound player on the field.

'This is one of the greatest stories in college football this year,” said Iowa State Coach Matt Campbell. 'He started for us, probably played averaging 65 plays a game for us on our defense front. For what he's done and the ability he's done it with, he's been our most consistent defensive lineman all year. That's not even a question. To do it how he's done it has been remarkable.”

Meyers is on track to graduate in May with a degree in Supply Chain Management and has job interviews lined up with companies in and near Houston - his hometown is The Woodlands, Texas.

Saturday will mark the end of Meyers' football career, which he anticipated before he began the season. After he was diagnosed cancer free, Meyers knew he had to return to football for something bigger. He wanted to end his career on his own terms.

'I think this season kind of went above and beyond my expectations, if anything, just being able to play as much as I have and contribute and help,” Meyers said. 'I'm really proud of where I've come from.”

His status as a 2016 captain proved Meyers and the coaches aren't the only ones inspired by what he's accomplished.

'To fight it and come back and start every game and be productive out there, and be a leader and captain is unbelievable,” said senior linebacker Kane Seeley. 'On the field he's done a great job, is a great leader and it's an unbelievable success story.”

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