Iowa State junior quarterback Jacob Park has taken an indefinite leave from the football program, the school announced Friday evening. The leave is effective immediately and includes the Cyclones’ game Saturday at Oklahoma.
“Jacob is a great young man dealing with some personal medical concerns,” Coach Matt Campbell said in a news release. “We are committed to helping him cope, supporting him on all levels and helping him prepare to get back on the playing field with his teammates as soon as possible.”
Park has completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,181 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions during Iowa State’s first four games. His worst performance of the season came in the Cyclones’ 17-7 loss to Texas in which he completed 50 percent of his passes for 246 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions.
It is unclear what Iowa State’s plan under center will be moving forward, but it seems likely the job will be done primarily by committee with senior Kyle Kempt, redshirt freshman Zeb Noland and, possibly, senior quarterback-turned-linebacker Joel Lanning.
Campbell said in the release there is no immediate timeline for Park’s return and he cannot discuss his players’ medical issues.
“We are focused on helping Jacob in any way we can,” Campbell said. “I know how important the football team is to Jacob and how important Jacob is to the football team. But, supporting one another in difficult times is where our focus is.”
Stay tuned to Cyclone Fanatic for more on this developing story.
Here’s Iowa State’s official release in its entirety:
PARK TO MISS OKLAHOMA GAME
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State quarterback Jacob Park is taking a leave from the football team to work through some personal health issues. He remains a member of the team, but he will be inactive beginning with Saturday’s game at Oklahoma.
Park, who has passed for an average of 295 yards per game this season, is a junior from Charleston, S.C.
“Jacob is a great young man dealing with some personal medical concerns,” Coach Matt Campbell said. “We are committed to helping him cope, supporting him on all levels and helping him prepare to get back on the playing field with his teammates as soon as possible.”
Campbell is not certain of a timeline for Park’s return, noting that he cannot discuss medical issues pertaining to his players.
“We are focused on helping Jacob in any way we can,” Campbell said. “I know how important the football team is to Jacob and how important Jacob is to the football team. But, supporting one another in difficult times is where our focus is.”
