Oct 15, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell during the first against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell took the mic on Thursday ahead of his team’s upcoming spring game. Here’s a summary on his thoughts on a few of Iowa State’s position groups:
On quarterbacks – “We haven’t really done a whole lot on offense, you know. I think we’ve really been trying to be purposeful on what’s our process. How do we do all of the things that it takes for us to be successful? Whether it’s how we call the play, how we get to the line of scrimmage or how we work on snap count, and then I think the growth of situational football and how you understand that. I think all three of those guys (Hunter Dekkers, JJ Kohl and Rocco Becht) have really handled the ‘how to’ really well and they’ve grown in that aspect of it. And obviously, if we’re going to be successful on offense, it starts with our understanding on the ‘how to’ prior to the ball being snapped and then the understanding all of the situations that come with playing quarterback.”
On how new offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase relates to that – “I really think our staff, and Nate, has done a great job of starting back at square one and rebuilding it forward. I really think, for the quarterbacks, that it’s been really beneficial for them… I think all three guys have had really positive moments. All three guys have played really well and at times, guys have made some mistakes, but have been able to learn from it. I think it’s been positive for all three.”
On transfer running back A.J. Harris – “You’ve got to remember he was a true freshman last year. I think for A.J., number one, you knew his high school talent. We had recruited him a little bit going into his senior year of high school. The first thing for him is character and the second thing – you saw the guy that’s got the ability to take it the distance. He’s got great long speed. He’s got the ability to stick his foot in the ground and get vertical. He’s a guy that you saw some of those traits we look for at the tailback position.”
On wide receivers, and how newcomers have fit themselves into the wide receiver room – “I think the simple thing that I can say about all three of those guys in a collective whole, is that they’re elite talent. They have elite traits. I think one of the things that, when we’ve been at our best, we’ve had skill players with elite traits that, when the game’s on the line, they’ve been able to make the plays. I’d say all three of those guys have flashed elite traits and that at some point in this program, they’re going to be great difference makers for us. (I’m) really excited for all three of those guys and I think they fit the mold of the Lazard’s, the Butler’s, the Xavier Hutchinson’s – you know, the big bodied guys that have great hand coordination that can make the 50-50 catch, and can make the play in the moment. I think they’ve all shown great traits of that, I think Jayden Higgins has been a guy that’s obviously a little more mature than the two freshmen, but man he’s been uber impressive. He’s come in with those elite trait mindsets from day one. And then, boy, Beni (Ngoyi) and Kai (Black) are two guys that have big, physical tools and traits to help our football team, so we’re excited about those guys.”
On new offensive line coach Ryan Clanton – “I think what Ryan’s been able to do and what’s impressive is that he is a great teacher. I’ve always said ‘coaching is teaching.’ I think sometimes we get skewed in the world of coaching – it is still a form of education in teaching. Great coaches are certainly great teachers and Ryan has done a really great job on simplifying (things). I really think that offensively, there has been a (question of) how do we be the best communicators and how do we simplify the best way we can. (It’s) going back to not how we do, but it’s how we do what we do. I think that has been a real positive for that group. There’s a lot of guys that are back playing football for that group, so I think that’s a huge positive, and then there’s some really talented young guys that have really flashed. I think a lot of that has occurred because we’ve been able to simplify. I think they’re bigger and stronger than they’ve been really in a while here. I think that’s certainly helped those guys have confidence, and I think just the holistic approach has given that group some confidence to move itself forward. And again, there’s a lot of room to continue to work to, it will be a big summer for that group as well, but they’ve made great growth so far.”
On offensive linemen that have taken advantage of some 1st or 2nd team reps – “With the offensive line, Tyler Miller and Jarrod Hufford have been limited. I think the reps that a guy like James Neal, Oluwafunto Askinshilo, Deylin Hasert and Brady Petersen have gotten. I think all of those guys have made significant strides. Obviously, being able to get those reps – whether they’ve been first string or second string, there aren’t really any strings, it’s just quality of reps. Those guys have been able to take great advantage of that, in my opinion.”
On transfer linebacker Zach Lovett – “Zach’s a guy that just continues to grow in the system. We recruited Zach in that COVID year. We were part of his recruiting process through high school. I just think you’re talking about a guy that, in a lot of ways, is not a true freshman, but is kind of like a freshman because you’re learning a new scheme playing linebacker. I feel like that guy has grown every day in practice, but you see a guy that’s got great athletic tools, he can really run, he’s physical at the point of attack. I think him and Jack Sadowsky have probably been two ‘wow factors’ for us already in terms of practice at the mike linebacker position.”
