Cyclones out to prove naysayers wrong

By DANA BECKER

dbecker@messengernews.net

ARLINGTON, Tex. — Despite being picked 10th in the new and expanded Big 12 preseason poll, Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell believes his team is ready to rebound from a 4-8 finish in 2022.

The Cyclones started last year off winning three of four before losing eight of their final nine for the first losing season since 2016.

Joining Iowa State in the conference this year will be newcomers Central Florida, BYU, Houston and Cincinnati. Central Florida was picked eighth with BYU, Houston and Cincinnati behind the Cyclones.

Texas, who will depart for the Southeastern Conference, is the preseason favorite followed by defending champion Kansas State and fellow future SEC team Oklahoma.

Campbell, speaking to members of the media on Thursday, said the entire program “really looked inward” after the season.

“Looking at the things that are really important to us when we’re at our best,” Campbell said. “Culture, process, people and certainly our purpose.

“It’s been really fun to be with this team and watch its growth.”

Iowa State is set to open the season on Saturday, Sept. 2 at home vs. Northern Iowa before welcoming in Iowa a week later. They conclude the non-conference portion of the schedule at Ohio on Sept. 16 before hosting Oklahoma State on Sept. 23.

The Cyclones play Oklahoma and TCU before getting their first look at Cincinnati on the road on Oct. 14. The season concludes with games vs. Baylor, Kansas, a trip to BYU, Texas and Kansas State.

One offseason concern has centered around the status of returning quarterback Hunter Dekkers due to an ongoing gambling investigation.

“Just continues to not really have a lot of clarity to it, but I think we’re getting closer to getting clarity,” Campbell said. “The appreciation that I have is they’ve kind of given me the opportunity to be removed from that process and just give me the results once the results come our way.”

Dekkers, a redshirt junior, threw for 3,044 yards with 19 touchdowns last year in his first season as the starter after replacing Brock Purdy. Ashton Cook and Rocco Becht both saw limited snaps behind him with only Becht returning.

Iowa State did sign highly-touted prospect JJ Kohl, a 6-foot-7 freshman from Ankeny. Kohl, the son of ex-Fort Dodge Senior High standout Charlene (Blue) and former Cyclone kicker Jamie Kohl, selected ISU over offers from Iowa, Auburn and Penn State.

Former Dodger Asle Thorson begins his redshirt sophomore season with Iowa State. Last year, Thorson recorded a tackle vs. Ohio. Ex-St. Edmond standout Nick Lawler is also a redshirt junior and former Humboldt all-stater Caden Matson is a redshirt freshman.