Campbell: Allen Lazard has a chance 'to be one of the best players in college football'

AMES — Expectations always have been high for Allen Lazard.

As a homegrown Iowan and four-star wide receiver recruit who grew up a fan of Iowa State football, Lazard made it his mission to turn the Cyclones into winners.

The wins haven't come in Lazard's junior season like he hoped, but individually the 6-foot-5 and 223-pounder has done his part. His two performances in particular have Iowa State Coach Matt Campbell offering up some high praise.

'In my humble opinion, I think Allen has a chance to be one of the best players in college football,' Campbell said. 'My job is to work to get him there, and I think Allen wants that, and I appreciate that from him, because he's really starting to dial in.'

In the last two games, Lazard has 14 catches for 210 yards and a touchdown with a long of 48 yards. He averages 73.1 receiving yards per game and leads Iowa State in receptions (48), receiving yards (658) and receiving touchdowns (5). Of his 48 catches, 19 have been successful third or fourth-down conversions.

Lazard ranks third in ISU history in career receiving yards (2,059) and has three 100-yard receiving games this season. His pass-catching skills aren't in doubt, but some of the other nuances of playing receiver like pass blocking and route running have stood out just as much to coaches.

'There's been times when we've asked him to be the main block on a play and he's done that without hesitation,' said offensive coordinator Tom Manning. 'I can tell you from experience that sometimes at receiver, that's not really what they want to do but he's done that with zero resistance and has been awesome.'

A season filled with team-wide adversity also brought some personal adversity to Lazard. He was limited in practice for several weeks after a loss at TCU with a foot injury and saw some of that game day production hampered.

After two 100-yard receiving games to start the season, he had games of eight, 47, 33, 55 and 65 yards while nursing his foot.

'It was hard because I would sit there during practice and watch my teammates practice,' Lazard said. 'That's probably the hardest part just knowing you can't go out there and practice because you physically can't. Trying to have to turn it on for Saturday, you're not really in shape and you haven't gotten the reps and timing down. It really hurts you in that aspect.'

In order for Iowa State to become consistent winners, Campbell believes it starts with his best players also being his best practice participants. He's gotten that from Lazard, particularly lately, which has bled through to other players.

'He wants to play at the next level so obviously he's got to come here and work hard,' said quarterback Joel Lanning. 'You're not just going to show up and make it to the next level.

'He's working very hard to do that and he's done it every day since he's been here.'

As for talk of forgoing his senior season for the NFL, Lazard has been mum. All he's focused on in the final three weeks of the season is the same thing he repeated in August: get some wins.

'You've just got to go out there and it's just because I love this game,' Lazard said. 'I'm going to go out there and fight as hard as I can for my teammates.'

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