ISU’s Sam Seonbuchner looms large in hidden role

AMES - The first thing people notice when they see Iowa State fullback Sam Seonbuchner is his hair.

He uses Pantene shampoo and conditioner to keep his blond, shoulder-length hair in pristine condition.

'Well he's got the best hair of anyone one, so I think that part's really positive,” Coach Matt Campbell said, joking.

And then Seonbuchner hits an opposing player and people forget all about his hair. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound converted linebacker is tough. He's a throwback football player who brings a defensive mind-set to the offensive side of the ball.

He's also overlooked.

He picks up blitzes on pass plays so quarterback Kyle Kempt has that extra second to make the right decision and right pass. Seonbuchner also is often the catalyst that springs big runs from running back David Montgomery.

He allows the big plays to happen.

'It's one of those positions where whatever you do is really critical,” offensive coordinator Tom Manning said.

Seonbuchner hadn't played on the offensive side of the ball since he was a sophomore in high school, when he was a running back or full back. He never played offense for the varsity team.

He started at Iowa State as a linebacker, but he's switched positions a time or two.

'The first (position change) was when Campbell first got here,” Seonbuchner said. 'They thought I'd be better at defensive end, so I went to defensive end and did that for a spring. A lot of people were at defensive end but I had a good spring so he said I'll move you to the offensive side. Thank God he did because it's a really good position for me.”

Campbell took note of how different his offense was last season when Seonbuchner started playing more at the fullback position.

'Last year in fall camp we moved him to that ‘F' position,” Campbell said. 'I think as you saw us play good football from the middle part of the season on a year ago, at least look like a football team. The positive was that Sam was a huge piece of that - lead blocking, his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He brings a lot to the table.”

Seonbuchner said the biggest difference between offense and defense is the reaction once the ball is snapped. On defense, he just had to react to the play and go hit someone. Now, as a lead blocker, he has to react to the defense's reaction and then go hit someone. It takes a split second longer, but he said he's getting used to it.

The similarities are that he gets to hit someone.

Which is important to him.

'I like hitting,” Seonbuchner said. 'It gives me an adrenaline rush. Not a lot of people like contact, but I do I guess.”

Seonbuchner and star-receiver Allen Lazard were roommates their freshman year. Lazard got to know him and his energy well.

'It doesn't matter who he's hitting, whether it's a cornerback or a defensive tackle that weighs 200 pounds more than him or a linebacker,” Lazard said. 'He's just going out there to square up to somebody and bring some energy.”

While fans may not notice him, opposing defenses do. During the Texas Tech game, he noticed all eyes were on him. The Red Raiders were trying to read him and set their defense accordingly.

'He's just got something about him where he's not afraid to throw it in there and I think that gets everyone fired up,” Manning said. 'I tell him all the time he's kind of like Larry Bird. He drives (opponents) crazy. Right before the whistle he's flying by them, he doesn't really know what that means but I think that's a pretty good compliment.”

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