COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: Day 30

Cyclone Fanatic is counting down the days until Iowa State’s season opener against Northern Iowa by bringing you a stat, former Cyclone moment or any other random tidbits every morning to help countdown the days.

No. 30 – Iowa State’s sacks in 2015

Iowa State sacked the quarterback 30 times during the 2015 season. That total was good for sixth in the Big 12 and exactly double the team’s sack output in 2014.

They were led by defensive end Dale Pierson with 8.5, which tied the program record for sacks in a single-season. Defensive tackle Demond Tucker, who will be a senior in 2016, was second on the squad with six quarterback sacks, which helped him earn Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors.

The Cyclones returning combined to make 14 of those sacks in 2015 and, with what figures to be an improved defensive front in 2016, the Cyclones could see another big improvement in rushing the quarterback.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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