COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: 23 Days

Each day leading up to Iowa State’s season opener against South Dakota State, Cyclone Fanatic will check another day off the calendar with a memorable statistic, player or game as part of our Countdown to Kickoff presented by Tailgate Clothing.

Stevie Johnson is probably best remembered for his contributions on the court at Hilton Coliseum, but perhaps his coolest contribution to Iowa State athletics was his one season spent playing linebacker for the Cyclones in 2000.

Johnson recorded 17 tackles in 10 games for the team widely regarded as the best in Iowa State history despite not having played organized football since his freshman year of high school. He is without a doubt the only Iowa State athlete to play in both an Elite Eight and a bowl game victory.

Our own Rob Gray masterfully told the full story of Johnson’s journey from the court to the gridiron in a Where Are They Now feature last year. 

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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