COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: Day 40

Nov 1, 2014; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones punter Colin Downing (13) kicks against the Oklahoma Sooners at Jack Trice Stadium. Oklahoma defeated Iowa State 59-14. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Few punters across the country have been as consistent over the past three seasons as Iowa State’s Colin Downing. The Whitefish Bay, Wis. native has averaged more than 39 yards per punt during each of his years in an Iowa State uniform.

The three-time member of the Ray Guy Award watch list enters his senior season with the Cyclones averaging 40.4 yards per punt, which ties for the eighth-best career punting average in program history.

Downing averaged 41.1 yards per punt in 58 attempts last season as Iowa State ranked 21st in the nation in punt return defense. He had 23 fair catches, 23 punts down inside the 20 and eight punts of 50 yards or more.

The highlight of Downing’s season was 51.0 yards per punt on three kicks in Iowa State’s loss to Baylor, including a career-long 67-yarder. He has boomed two other 60-plus yard punts during his career against Texas Tech in 2015 and Baylor in 2014.

Fans have long joked about Iowa State being “Punter U,” but it is easy to make that joke when players are having the level of success that Downing has had during his time in Ames.

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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