Cyclones corner Reeves employs unusual workout partner to beef up

By Rob Gray, Correspondent

AMES - Iowa State cornerback Jeremy Reeves credits his workout partner for his stellar summer in the weight room.

And no, that partner's not a roommate or fellow defensive back.

It's ... backup junior quarterback Brett Bueker?

“I took it to another level because of (him),” said Reeves, who added several pounds of muscle to his 5-7, 176-pound frame.

It helps that Bueker's majoring in health fitness management.

But how did the cornerback from Allen, Texas end up working out with the quarterback from Bettendorf who starred at Pleasant Valley?

“Sometimes I'd lift at six and he does too,” said Reeves, who had two interceptions last season - one for a touchdown. “And he actually stays until eight or nine. I'd be like, ‘Man, why are you always doing all this extra work? He'd be like, ‘I just want to do it. It feels good for my body and it makes me want to do more work.' I see someone doing that and I want to do it all.”

So he did, executing lift after lift, but he still can't keep up with Bueker.

“He actually works hard in the weight room,” Reeves said. “Harder than anybody.”

BEAT LOCAL?

Let the battle for in-state bragging rights begin.

Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said Thursday he welcomes the chance to kick off the season with back-to-back intra-state rivalry games: Sept 3, against FCS power Northern Iowa, and Sept. 10 against Iowa.

Both games will be played at Jack Trice Stadium.

“No time to rest,” said Rhoads, who is 1-0 against UNI and 0-2 against the Hawkeyes as the Cyclones head coach. “It's exciting to play those games and I don't mind playing those games early. When you're in training camp you want to have a challenging period to prepare for and I feel we certainly have that.”

D-LINE DEPTH

Rhoads said at least six and as many as 10 players may become part of the regular rotation at defensive line this season.

That will allow veterans such as Stephen Ruempolhamer, Roosevelt Maggitt and Jake McDonough more time to remain fresh.

“We get tired,” Ruempolhamer said.

The Cyclones recorded a total of 11 sacks last season, which ranked better than just three FBS schools.

“There's a lot of reasons,” defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said of the lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks in 2010. “You've got to pick what you think you are. Are we a zone blitz team? Are we a man blitz team? Now we feel like we've moved in a direction where we can do some things because of (personnel changes).”

HOUSEKEEPING

Rhoads said defensive end Jacob Lattimer has been fully reinstated and will be eligible to play in the Sept. 3 season opener. Lattimer was suspended in March after an arrest that resulted in charges of assault on a peace officer and interference with official acts. ... Defensive tackle Henry Simon, a transfer, isn't on campus yet, but is expected in the next few days. Rhoads said he's finishing up some academic work.