Sep 16, 2023; Athens, Ohio, USA; Ohio Bobcats running back Sieh Bangura (5) gets tackled by Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jamison Patton (21) during the third quarter at Peden Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Lunsford-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Jamison Patton never met a sport he didn’t like.
The Iowa State safety also played basketball and baseball as a prep at Ankeny and Des Moines Roosevelt. He ran track, too. So narrowing his focus to one sport — let alone a single position — has been a work in progress for the 6-2, 210-pound sophomore.
“He’s extremely gifted in terms of his athleticism,” Cyclones safeties coach Deon Broomfield said of Patton, who provided critical depth at the position as a true freshman last season. “Now you’re trying to rally peel back the layers of what the position is. How do you align? Who am I lining off of? What is the depth of my alignment? Where are my eyes at? What’s my read?”
Patton’s emergence as a talented reserve in the defensive backfield last season accelerated because of an injury to Malik Verdon. He’ll continue to push for meaningful snaps this season while providing skilled depth in a room headlined by Jeremiah Cooper (five interceptions in 2023), Beau Freyler (three interceptions) and Verdon (two picks). Patton made one start last season — in the 45-13 road win at BYU in November — and recorded his first career interception.
“It was a little interesting,” Patton said of his baptism by fire last season. “Early on, it wasn’t too long ago that I was playing high school football, so just the change of speed and just the different level of athletes you’re playing against, it changed dramatically. So it’s really (about) getting into the playbook and starting to understand the defense and expect what the offense is doing.”
Patton’s got great teachers, as well — from Broomfield to ISU’s aforementioned top three returning safeties. Cooper earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last season and Freyler was selected to the second team.
“You have a Beau Freyler, who’s in the building all the time (and) the same thing with Jeremiah Cooper,” Broomfield said. “So you try to expose them to the younger guys as much as possible just in terms of how we’re working every single day; our technique and fundamentals. How’s the communication? What are all the formation checks? You want them to be around the older guys so they can see how to do it and see how to perform and execute it.”
The Cyclones tied for 10th nationally in interceptions last season with 16 and the team’s returning safeties accounted for 11 of those takeaways. Patton’s poised to help improve that number along with fellow underclassmen such as Drew Surges, Cam Smith and Ta’Shawn James, among others.
“The depth of quality, just in pure numbers, we have that right now,” Broomfield said.
Patton not only looks the part. He’s matured physically and mentally into a trusted contributor no matter the down, no matter the situation.
“(We’re) just holding everybody to the same standard and a high standard,” said Patton, who also starred as a quarterback and wide receiver in high school. “I know what to expect now. I got those games under my belt (last season), so it kind of eased me into this year and feeling more comfortable, more confident out there on the field.”
So Patton can focus on the finer points of being a safety, even as his big-picture role expands.
“For Jamison, I think it’s the consistency of doing those things every single day with a sense of urgency,” Broomfield said. “We’re trying to have a fourth-and-one mentality that we’re trying to get our job executed day in and day out.”
