5 questions for Iowa State football entering 2017

AMES — On the surface, the Iowa State football team finished another 3-9 campaign last year and missed a bowl game for the fourth straight season.

Look a little closer, though, and you might be able to find some reason for optimism heading into 2017.

After a lackluster three-game start, the Cyclones started to find some cohesion in Coach Matt Campbell's first season. Iowa State lost five games by 10 points or less, and won two of its last three games — at Kansas and versus Texas Tech.

Another solid recruiting class plus some returning veterans have started to shape Iowa State into a team that could make strides this fall. Here are five big questions facing the Cyclones in 2017 ahead of Thursday's media day:

1. Is Jacob Park ready to take over full-time at QB?

The dual-quarterback system that Iowa State employed for much of last season is a thing of the past.

With Joel Lanning's move to linebacker, junior Park is the unquestioned starter in 2017. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder has only three starts under his belt, but the last five games last season showed a glimpse of what he could be.

Park led the team in passing yards (1,791), had 12 passing touchdowns and completed 58.8 percent of his passes on talent alone. He redshirted at Georgia and transferred to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M where he didn't play football. Park arrived in Ames last summer and missed two weeks of fall camp with illness.

Given a full, healthy offseason and an uninterrupted fall camp, Park has the opportunity to show what a regimented workout schedule can add to his skill set.

2. Can Allen Lazard stake his claim as the best receiver in school history?

After deciding the NFL could wait another year, Lazard turned his sights to his senior season, specifically toward few records that are within reach.

Ask Lazard what's at the top of his wish list this season, and he'll likely say playing in the postseason. But a number of career receiving records, all held by former ISU standout Todd Blythe, are within reach.

Lazard, 6-foot-5 and 222 pounds, needs seven catches and 677 yards to pass Blythe in career catches and yards. The only long shot is Blythe's career receiving touchdown record, which is currently 15 ahead of Lazard.

The Urbandale native already has the school record for consecutive games with a reception (35) and is one of four 1,000-yard receivers in school history. Now as he tries to lead the Cyclones back to the postseason, Lazard also has personal glory on the horizon.

3. How will life after Cole Netten affect Iowa State?

Replacing an all-time leader at a position is never easy. But that's what Iowa State will have to do at kicker after Cole Netten's departure.

As a senior, Netten was 16-for-17 on field goal attempts, and ended his career as the Cyclones' all-time leader in field goal percentage (79 percent) and scoring (300 points). Campbell and Co. will replace him with another senior, Garrett Owens.

Owens, a graduate transfer, spent the last four years at Oregon State and has a field goal percentage of 71 for his career. He was 10-of-17 on field goals last season, with five of those misses coming from 45 yards or more. Owens was 37-of-38 on PATs.

Special teams coordinator Bryan Gasser and associate for quality control of special teams Joe Houston worked wonders with Netten last season. They'll have the same opportunity with Owens.

4. How will the defensive line mesh newcomers and youngsters?

Steady recruiting for two years and the development of young players has given Iowa State some hope for consistent production on the defensive line. The key will be having that group gel and improve on last year's 218.2 rushing yards allowed per game.

Veterans like J.D. Waggoner and Vernell Trent played alongside sophomore JaQuan Bailey and Jamahl Johnson last year, but there are a number of new pieces in the mix. Ray Lima (6-3, 306), Matt Leo (6-7, 276) and Eyioma Uwazurike (6-6, 280) make the Cyclones look like a Division I defensive line. The next step is fitting all the pieces together.

5. What will Joel Lanning look like as a linebacker?

Lanning's move from quarterback to linebacker has dominated offseason storylines, for good reason.

Moving from offense to defense, particularly from quarterback to one of the most physical spots on defense is uncommon. But Lanning himself isn't common. At 6-2 and 220 pounds, he has the build of a linebacker but has developed different mentally within the game — he's played quarterback exclusively since middle school.

Amid Iowa State's newcomers and young players, it's Lanning's move as a fifth-year senior that will bring the most intrigue on opening night.

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