Big 12 Media Days: Iowa State's Development of Young Talent Could Lead to Success in 2023
For the first time since 2016, the Cyclones suffered a losing season. Matt Campbell has built Iowa State into a program of consistency, and a few of his biggest wins have come against Oklahoma. Lincoln Riley and Campbell had a few back-and-forth battles, with the Cyclones toppling the Sooners in both 2017 and 2020. Despite losing NFL talent in Will McDonald IV and Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State could be in line for a bounce back season in 2023.
The Cyclones went 4-8 a season ago after losing key talent to the NFL, but reloading takes time.
According to Campbell, the Cyclones were the third youngest team in college football a season ago. With an offseason of growth and development — one of Campbell’s strong suits — Iowa State could be a conference sleeper.
“It certainly was a challenge,” Campbell said at Big 12 Media Days. “I've always said what has made our place special is we are worthy to suffer. The ability to grow through tough and trying times has been some of our strengths. What I feel like we learned last year was a lot, there were a lot of tough lessons that had to be learned.
“What we had enough humility to learn from, grow from, and take in the offseason, if we’re humble enough to grow from it, it will serve us well going forward.”
Typically, after a disappointing season, Campbell’s teams have been quick to bounce back. After an opening 3-9 campaign in 2016, Iowa State followed it up with back-to-back 8-5 seasons putting the Big 12 on notice. In 2019, the Cyclones dropped back down to 7-6, and followed it up with a 9-3 season falling just short of a Big 12 championship. Campbell gets the most out of his teams, and knows what it takes to complete a rebound.
The Cyclones return Hunter Dekkers at quarterback, and having an experienced signal caller in the Big 12 is always a good place to start. Dekkers threw for 3,044 yards and 19 touchdowns a season ago, but added 14 interceptions through the air. The potential is there for the redshirt junior, but the turnovers are an area that must be shored up for Iowa State to compete.
The Sooners were a beneficiary of Dekkers’ inconsistencies through the air, picking him off three times in Ames on 57 passing attempts. The Cyclones got pass-happy on a few occasions a season ago, forcing Dekkers to step up and throw the ball a lot. The bounce back this fall starts with him.
“Lot of talent,” Campbell said of his quarterback. “I think the humility has to start at the top, and when you start at the top it starts at the quarterback position. I think there are a lot of positive things that Hunter had the ability to do last year. If we can have consistency with the positives, yet humble enough to learn from taking care of the football, then I think he’ll have the ability to grow forward.”
“What I’ve been really proud of with Hunter is the ability to have that humility as soon as the offseason started, and really dig deep. Where were the areas, where were the gaps, and I think he’s done a great job of that.”
On the ground, the Cyclones will need Jirehl Brock to stay healthy. He started off the season with back-to-back 100-yard games, looking like the immediate heir to Breece Hall in Ames. He was banged up for a good portion of the season, but still amassed 455 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. With a full season of health, Brock could be a special talent in Iowa State’s offense.
Campbell has always pieces together impressive defenses, and his 2023 unit should be no different. The Cyclones were consistent across the board a season ago, finishing fourth nationally in yards allowed per game. The secondary will be a spot of strength this fall.
The Iowa State head coach called T.J. Tampa “one of the best young DB’s in college football” after taking home Second Team All-Big 12 honors in 2022. He had an interception and nine pass break-ups and will lead a defense that got plenty of reps to improve last fall.
“We’ve really looked inward after a tough football season for us a year ago,” Campbell said. “Really looking at the things that are really important to us when we’re at our best. Our culture, our process, our people and certainly our purpose”
“I don’t know if I could be prouder of our coaching staff and our young men for the growth we’ve been able to make over the last six-to-seven months.”
The Sooners and Cyclones square off in Norman on September 30th, as Oklahoma has a chance to make it four straight wins before bolting for the SEC.
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