2008 Iowa State Cyclones
July 18, 2008
Gene Chizik got his Cyclones to play their best football at the end of ‘07, a great sign that Iowa State can be much more competitive in 2008. They beat Kansas State and Colorado for two wins in their last three games overall. With no Texas Tech , Texas ore Oklahoma on the schedule in ‘08, the Cyclones are automatically in line to pick up more than two wins in Big 12 play this season. Let’s see just how many with Info Plays 2008 Iowa State Cyclones football predictions .
Offense:
Brett Myer made 48 consecutive starts dating back to 2004 for the Cyclones under center. Now two sophomores are fighting for the right to replace him. The frontrunner is local boy Austen Arnaud, who completed 50 percent of his 37 passes for 267 yards in six games. He is more mobile than Meyer and has a big arm. Phillip Bates worked at receiver last season, but coach Chizik simply wanted him to be on the field. Bates’ running ability will likely have him on the field somewhere this season if he can’t beat out Arnaud for the starting quarterback job. The line broke in four new players a year ago, but this unit should be a strength in ‘08. There’s starting experience returning at almost every spot, which bodes well for a stocked backfield.
Jason Scales is a senior who started five games last year, including a 115-yard, two touchdown performance against Nebraska. He’s likely to back up sophomore Alexander Robinson, who’s an elusive runner with more power than his 181-pound frame would indicate. Robinson also caught 23 passes out of the backfield and displayed his big-play ability last season. Senior J.J. Bass returns from shoulder surgery, after gaining 130 yards or better twice as a junior. R.J. Sumrall will be expected to fill the big shoes left by school-record holder Todd Blythe at receiver. Sumrall is built like a running back and led the Cyclones with 54 grabs last season. Junior Marquis Hamilton has a big frame at 6-3, 220 lbs. as a nice red-zone option. He had one touchdown last season, deferring to Blythe, but caught 45 balls for 534 yards to show his potential.
Defense:
Gene Chizik is a former defensive coordinator under Texas and Auburn, bringing championship experience to this side of the ball. He wants to turn up the heat defensively. Defensive ends Kurtis Taylor and Rashawn Parker offer head-turning first steps to make opposing quarterbacks antsy. The big question heading into the spring was whether or not they’d have help on the inside. Junior Nate Frere and Bailey Johnson worked with the first-team in the spring.
The top two tacklers on the team in Alvin Bowen and Jon Banks at linebacker were the heart and sole of this defense last year. Now Jesse Smith, a former walk-on who tied for third on the team with 79 tackles, and junior Derec Schmidgall will be expected to fill those big shoes left by Bowen and Banks. The coaches will let the competition play out at all three linebacker spots through fall practice. Right corner Chris Singleton is a two-year starter and teams with free safety James Smith, who had 79 tackles last year, to lead a secondary that appears to be a bright spot on defense.
Iowa State Predictions at Info Plays: 5th in the Big 12 North
The Cyclones must create a new identity after losing a host of senior studs on both sides of the ball. Chizik’s recruiting prowess with ties to Texas should show signs of a turnaround this season. Chizik is building from the ground up and put together a strong recruiting class. The Cyclones aren’t among the elite in the Big 12 North, but they should be another step closer in year two of the Chizik era.
Big 12 Wins Expected in ‘08: at Baylor , at Kansas State
Potential Scares/Losses: KANSAS , NEBRASKA , TEXAS A&M , at Oklahoma State , at Colorado , MISSOURI