By Rob Gray, correspondent
AMES — What kind of impact might former walk-on running back Aiden Flora have on Iowa State’s offense this season?
The Cyclones’ first-year cornerbacks coach Mike Banks provided a concise answer.
“He’s really fast,” Banks said.
And that’s just one off the most quantifiable positive traits the 6-0, 190-pound redshirt sophomore from Adel swiftly showcases as he seeks to carve out a more wide-ranging role under first-year offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl.
“He’s a machine,” said ISU’s first-year running backs coach John Johnson, whose unit will be leaned on heavily in Roehl’s physical and downhill scheme. “His work ethic, his mindset, his mental toughness — just that alone makes a difference. And when you add the work ethic to his athletic ability, his skillset, it just makes him really unique.”
Flora, along with Bowling Green transfer Cameron Pettaway, headline a running backs room that’s designed to be flexible and multiple. Flora and Pettaway are proven pass catchers as well as speedy and powerful runners. Oregon State transfer running back Salahadin Allah (5-10, 222) could serve as a short-yardage back, and redshirt freshmen Ryver Peppers — who suffered a season-ending injury on his first snap last season — remains a highly-talented prospect as he works his way back to full health.
So it’s a deep room, but one that lacks experience at the Power Four level.
“1000 percent — and they’re reminded of that all the time,” Johnson said. “Nobody in this room is proven. We don’t have Abu (Sama, who transferred to Wisconsin). We don’t have Carson (Hansen, who followed former ISU head coach Matt Campbell to Penn State). Sowho is the running back we’re gonna hand the rock off to? Who’s gonna be the guy to step up when the lights come on? … I always remind those guys, so they hear it from me, but those guys are hungry and they’re competitors. So 1000 percent I know these guys will step u pot the challenge ands really take advantage of the opportunity.”
Flora, a second team all-Big 12 selection as a punt returner, turned four carries into 58 rushing yards and a touchdown last season. He also caught two passers for 25 yards. Pettaway, the MAC’s offensive freshman of the year, turned 72 carries into 365 rushing yards for the Falcons, but he also caught eight passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. That duo at least for now appears to form the one-two element of the Cyclones’ punch-filled running game and they’ve already built a durable bond as backfield mates and friends.
“I love Cam Pettaway,” Flora said. “He’s very explosive, very quick, very fast, ands he pushes me every day, which I’m grateful for from him. He’s such a great guy on and off the field, as well, so that makes it really easy to cheer for him when he’s like a brother to me.”
Pettaway led the nation and set a Bowling Green record by averaging 33 yards per kick return last season — so he and Flora are fast friends in more ways than one.
“I would definitely want to play a role in kickoff return,” Pettaway said. “They have me back there right now, so yeah, I’m ready for that, too.”
Same goes for Flora, who led the Big 12 by averaging 26.2 yards in eight punt returns last season, including a 79-yard touchdown in a win at TCU.
“I just want to do what helps the team,” Flora said. “And if they decide to (keep him at punt returner), I’d love to do that.”
So Flora’s much more than simply fast, but it’s that quick-twitch ability that immediately impresses his teammates and coaches on both sides of the ball.
“If you turn on the cuts from last year, just the special teams stuff, you can see how explosive that kid is,” Johnson said. “So he’s gonna put (forth) his best effort and he’s gonna give this fan base something to be excited about.”
