Oct 5, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones tight end Benjamin Brahmer (18) celebrates after a touchdown against the. Baylor Bears at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Iowa State played in five-straight weeks following its last bye week, reaching a 7-0 record after its win against UCF, and looks to be healthier next time it hits the field Saturday (2:30 p.m. ESPN).
Head coach Matt Campbell says that it’s the healthiest his team’s been since potentially its September game at Jack Trice Stadium against Arkansas State.
“Obviously, the week off (came at) such a pivotal time for our football team,” Campbell said. “I think when you look at us, we’ll probably be close to as strong as we’ve been since probably the start of the Arkansas State game, which is huge – to be able to at least get to that point – I thought was really big for our team.”
The Cyclones lost star tight end Ben Brahmer to an injury during their win over UCF the last time on the field, and thought it could be a serious sting to their offense.
However, Brahmer’s tests came back positive, and he could see the field again as soon as this week.
“Ben’s situation probably was the biggest win of Saturday night that we had,” Campbell said. “It didn’t look great on Saturday, but as we were able to get X-rays and MRI’s and all of those kind of good things – and man, we’re going to get Ben back. Even to the point where potentially this week – we’ll see if that’s the case – he was out at practice today and was able to do some things, which I thought was really beneficial.
“I think if it’s not this week, it will be week-to-week from there,” Campbell said of Brahmer’s injury. “I’m really excited about where he’s at and obviously, he’s such a critical piece to our football team.”
As far as the rest of the offense goes, it’s expected that both running back Carson Hansen and wide receiver Jayden Higgins are freshened up after the week off from playing.
“There’s a lot of guys you could see at the end of the UCF game – where Jayden was limping, a couple of linemen were limping, the running backs were you know, banged up,” quarterback Rocco Becht said. “That bye week was huge. It came at a good time for us. Everybody got healthy last week. Obviously, we didn’t put anyone through absolute hell, but we did our part and everybody coming into this week feels good. We had a good practice today.”
The group hit hardest at the position this year has been with the Iowa State linebackers.
Starters Caleb Bacon, Carson Willich and Will McLaughlin have each missed significant time with injuries sustained in week 1 or before the season.
“(Caleb) Bacon is trending in a really positive way,” Campbell said. “I think there’s hope that maybe as we get to December, that a guy like Caleb can get himself back on the football field.”
Bacon was hurt during the season opener, but could return depending on how late Iowa State’s season goes. Campbell said something similar of Willich, who tore his ACL in the spring.
“I think Carson Willich is in the same boat (as Bacon),” Campbell said. “I think more of probably in a December or January timeline.”
Campbell also says that of those three, McLaughlin is the closest to being healthy.
“I think the guy of that group that is closest to returning is Will McLaughlin,” Campbell said. “I think Will is a guy that hopefully some time in this block here, that we get a chance to get Will back on the football field.”