A pair of Iowa State walk-ons got some good news this week. Senior special teams contributors Josh Jahlas and Jack Spreen have both been placed on scholarship by Matt Campbell.
Josh Jahlas (left) and Jack Spreen (right) were put on scholarship by Matt Campbell (center) earlier this week. COURTESY: Iowa State Athletics Communications
Jahlas, a native of Cedar Rapids, has won the Jim Doran Award, the program’s prize for special teams player of the year, the last two seasons. He’s recorded 21 tackles during that span.
Spreen, who is originally from Bedford, Ind., tallied three tackles last season and was named the program’s best walk-on in 2014.
“They are both so deserving of a scholarship,” Campbell said in a statement. “The sacrifices and hard work they put into our program hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
Both guys had a role in the story that went viral earlier this year in which a group of Iowa State football players saved a woman’s life after pulling her from a sinking car while on a spring break trip.
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.
