Cyclones tap hardworking hustlers to fill running back depth during practice

AMES - Depth at running back has been an area of concentration for Iowa State throughout spring. DeVondrick Nealy's departure in the off-season and Martinez Syria's spring-ending injury left little options for the coaching staff during workouts.

Sophomore Tyler Brown and red-shirt freshman Mike Warren have been running with the first group and making strides, but more was needed. So how did coach Paul Rhoads fill the void of ball carriers?

'It's called Mitch Harger,” Rhoads said. 'Mitch is a fantastic worker and a great team player.”

The Cyclones were put in a tough spot due to injuries and high school players not yet arriving on campus, but when coaches turned to Harger he made the most of his opportunity. The red-shirt junior from Alburnett has taken most of the second-team reps, which he estimated were about 40 touches during practice.

Coaches plan on using him in the run game frequently during Saturday's spring game.

'Mitch Harger is just an overachiever,” offensive coordinator Mark Mangino said. 'He's a great kid to have on your team. He tries and he makes some runs. He's not the fastest guy we have, but sometimes he'll pick his way and put his pads down.”

As a senior for the Pirates in 2011, Harger rushed for 2,716 yards and 40 touchdowns and was the Class 1A Player of the Year in Iowa. When he got a chance to contribute as a walk on in Ames, primarily with special teams, the 5-foot-10 and 200-pound running back wanted to do all he could.

'Special teams has always been one of my favorite things to do, just being a part of the J.U.I.C.E. family,” Harger said. 'Coach (Shane) Burnham is a phenomenal guy and just being a part of the punt return and kickoff last year was just an amazing experience.”

Harger played in four games on special teams last season and recorded two tackles, but dealt with hamstring injuries that hampered him as the season progressed. Although coaches don't know how much Harger will see the field this fall, the mark he's made this spring hasn't been lost on the coaches.

'We couldn't practice and get better as a football team without the Trever Ryen's, the Mitch Harger's, the Brian Bonacci's, the Jake Rhoads's,” Rhoads said. 'We couldn't be improving without them giving us everything they have right now.”

Fans may not recognize Harger's number or name, but that's OK with him. He can tell you exactly who he is and just what getting reps this spring has meant to him.

'I'm a small-town Iowa kid that loves to play football,” Harger said. 'I just want to show everyone in the state of Iowa that it doesn't matter where you came from, you can make it in the big leagues anyway.”