Iowa State sophomore running back Jirehl Brock runs into the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter against TCU on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.
Iowa State’s first depth chart of the 2022 football season is officially here and there’s plenty to take away after a month of position battles throughout fall camp.
Here are a few takeaways:
*** The backup quarterback battle, unsurprisingly, remains unsettled at this point. The depth chart lists redshirt sophomore Ashton Cook or true freshman Rocco Becht as the program’s options at the position at this point, but I doubt we’ll have any level of clarity until there’s a moment when the backup quarterback is needed in a game.
*** It appears as though Jirehl Brock won the battle to be Iowa State’s starting running back as he’s listed as the unquestioned No. 1. The second spot lists redshirt freshman Eli Sanders or freshman Cartevious Norton or sophomore Deon Silas.
I’d imagine we will see all four of those guys on Saturday against Southeast Missouri State but expect Brock to get Iowa State’s first carry of 2022.
*** Redshirt junior Easton Dean will officially be Iowa State’s starting tight end. The second spot is listed as redshirt junior Deshawn Hanika or redshirt freshman Tyler Moore. How much will we see all three of those guys on the field together?
*** To no surprise, Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel are the listed starters at the x-receiver and m-receiver positions. Colorado transfer Dimitri Stanley and redshirt senior Darren Wilson have an OR between their names at the z-receiver spot.
Stanley has brought elite speed to that position. Wilson is a veteran who has struggled to stay healthy. We will get a heavy dose of both early on, I’m sure.
*** There are no surprises along Iowa State’s listed starting offensive line.
It reads Tyler Miller (LT), Jarrod Hufford (LG), Trevor Downing (C), Darrell Simmons (RG) and Jake Remsburg (RT). We know Remsburg has been battling an injury and was considered day-to-day to end fall camp.
The backup offensive line reads as: Tyler Maro (LT), James Neal (LG), Brady Peterson (C), Zach Ross (RG) and Grant Treiber (RT). At this point, I’d be surprised if Treiber is not Iowa State’s starting right tackle on Saturday due to Remsburg’s injury.
*** The starting defensive line is listed as Will McDonald (Leo), JR Singleton (DT), Isaiah Lee (NG) and Blake Peterson (DE). Obviously, we know Iowa State generally runs a three-man front, so take that for what it is worth.
*** The backups are MJ Anderson (Leo), Tyler Onyedim (DT), Dominique Orange or Howard Brown (NG) and Joey Petersen (DE).
*** Sophomore Myles Purchase has solidified one cornerback spot ahead of Darien Porter. T.J. Tampa and Tayvonn Kyle are still battling it out at the opposite corner spot.
*** There are no surprises on the starters at linebacker or safety. Here’s the starters at those spots:
Gerry Vaughn (WLB), O’Rien Vance (MLB) and Colby Reeder (SLB)
Beau Freyler (MS), Malik Verdon (BS) and Anthony Johnson (FS)
*** The backups at those spot are as such:
Kendall Jackson or Jacob Ellis (WLB), Will McLaughlin or Myles Mendeszoon (MLB) and Carston Marshall (SLB).
Mason Chambers (MS), Treyveon McGree or Trevon Howard (BS), Jeremiah Cooper (FS)
*** The depth chart does not clarify Iowa State’s situations at any of the specialist positions with battles continuing at punter and placekicker.
*** Here’s a breakdown of players on the depth chart by class:
Redshirt seniors: 15
Seniors: Zero
Redshirt juniors: 10
Juniors: Two
Redshirt sophomores: Six
Sophomores: Eight
Redshirt freshmen: Eight
True freshmen: Six
