Hlas: Cyclones’ Julian Good-Jones tackles center

CEDAR RAPIDS — One of the people surprised to see Iowa State's Julian Good-Jones on Monday's Rimington Award Spring Watch List was Julian Good-Jones.

Good-Jones, from Cedar Rapids Washington, is a sophomore-to-be. He is the only returning offensive lineman who started more than one game last season. He started 11, in fact. At tackle.

The Rimington Award goes to the player deemed college football's top center.

Monday, one of the first of a torrent of college football watch lists was released. They mean little at this time of year, but they give football programs the opportunities to tout players who made those lists. Iowa State didn't let Good-Jones being one of over 60 players to make the Rimington's list go unnoticed, trumpeting it on its social media platforms.

'It definitely did surprise me,' Good-Jones said at Tuesday night's Cyclone Tailgate Tour stop at the Cedar Rapids Marriott.

On Instagram, Good-Jones was the first person to respond to @iastatefb's post about him and the Rimington, saying 'fr (for real)? Haha.'

'It's really humbling,' Good-Jones said here Tuesday. 'I haven't even played center in the season yet. It's really cool to be nominated for that.'

Good-Jones guessed he was recommended for the Rimington list by his head coach, Matt Campbell. The coach is in his corner, that's for sure.

'Julian's one of those guys that's worked really hard since the day we got here,' the second-year ISU coach said. 'He got some great experience a year ago playing right tackle, by necessity.

'We talked to Julian we got here and said at some point we'd love to have him move to center.'

The reasons: 'Just how athletic he is. He's one of the most-athletic offensive linemen we've had the ability to coach. He kind of reminds us of Greg Mancz, who played for us at Toledo and is starting for the Houston Texans right now. Athleticism and great power, and a highly intelligent young man.'

Good-Jones wasn't a big-name recruit, but schools took notice of him late. He was recruited by Indiana and took an official visit to Louisville, but signed with Iowa State.

There he was last year, making 11 starts for a team that averaged 425 yards a game, the fifth-best production in Cyclone history.

'Julian's still a real young player, but he's got so much high-end potential,' Campbell said.

'He's got unbelievable footwork,' said Iowa State offensive tackle Bryce Meeker. 'He stays true to the game. He doesn't mess up very often. He makes no mental mistakes. He's just a real, real good ballplayer.'

Good-Jones said he's happy with the switch to center, calling the position 'the quarterback of the offensive line.'

'It brings more of the mental aspect of the game into it than tackle.'

Speaking of offensive linemen from Cedar Rapids ... sophomore-to-be Meeker is from Prairie and is in the mix for a starting spot. Meeker had one start on the line last year and played in every game.

'He's one of the most-improved players on our team,' said Campbell. 'I think the potential is high for him, too.'

Cedar Rapids, people. You want to grow a program, grab a couple of our giant linemen. Fr. For real.