Iowa State's Brian Peavy has mind on Houston

AMES — Brian Peavy sees the images and hears the updates.

Being 969 miles away from family in his hometown of Houston while they deal with the effects of Hurricane Harvey makes the situation tough for the Iowa State defensive back.

'Just knowing you can't physically help,' Peavy said. 'That's one of the hardest things that you can't really be there for your family. Just the support system and being here, that's really tough.'

Iowa State, which opens its season against Northern Iowa on Saturday at 7 p.m. (Cyclones.tv), has 10 Texas natives on its roster. Four are from the Houston area, and Peavy is the only one from the city itself.

Peavy's grandmother was evacuated from her home Monday, but is safe with the rest of his family. He also found pictures online of a neighborhood high school, which brought home just how much widespread destruction this storm has caused.

'It's really crazy just to see some of the areas you grew up in being under water,' Peavy said. 'It's something you never really imagine. But another exciting thing is the people that are coming and supporting.

'There's a lot of people out there doing great things for the community.'

Peavy, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound redshirt junior, and Iowa State Coach Matt Campbell were able to give his mother, Sheronda Odums, some reprieve in the heart of the storm. The pair called Odums to check on the family and let them know Peavy was named one of six ISU captains for 2017.

'We were able to at least call his mom and give her some really good news in a little bit of a stressful time,' Campbell said. 'I think our biggest thing is continue to keep contact.'

Allen Lazard, Joel Lanning, Jacob Park, Jake Campos and Kamari Cotton-Moya also were named captains as voted by their teammates. Lazard, Lanning and Cotton-Moya are the first two-time captains since running back James White in 2012 and 2013.

'We're sending prayers out to those people in Houston,' Lanning said. 'We've got a bunch of guys on the team from that area or some guys have family from that area. It's not a good situation. Hope the best for those guys.

'Every day after practice we always say a prayer before we leave the practice field. We always say a prayer for Houston.'

While his family and hometown are on his mind, Peavy knows all he can do is offer his support from afar and raise awareness for flood relief. Playing a game Saturday will be a welcome distraction.

'That's one thing my parents kind of know, I kind of attack the task at hand,' Peavy said. 'Inside the 100 yards or inside the field, I'll be locked in. I'm playing for my team as well as my family back home.'

Joel Lanning ready at linebacker

Since his conversation with Campbell, Lanning has had seven months to make himself a linebacker.

All of the film sessions and practices have gotten him as ready as possible, but until the Cyclones' kickoff against Northern Iowa, there will be an unknown.

'It's one of those deals where I'm trying to get out there and see if I can actually do it,' Lanning said. 'You can practice and scrimmage as much as you want, but there's nothing like that actual game experience.'

Lanning always has had poise, even in his time at quarterback in 2015 and 2016 when he started 14 games. His steadying presence, coaches said, has carried over to his role on defense, even as he's tried to learn the position.

'We're going to help him through it and he'll get better every snap he takes from this point, as he has, all the way through the end of the year,' said defensive coordinator Jon Heacock. 'I feel good about him.

'In fairness, it's his first game at MIKE linebacker. Let's be real. But man, what a guy to have at MIKE linebacker.'

Campbell also opened up the door for Lanning to be the first two-way ISU player in the same game since Joe Woodley in 2002.

'Being close to him and seeing the struggles he's gone through the past few years and making that sacrifice, as his teammate, it makes you go out there and want to work harder,' said senior wide receiver Allen Lazard.

l Comments: montzdylan@gmail.com