OFFENSE

The offense will have a new look this season, as the Cyclones are breaking in a new starting quarterback, tailback, center and playmakers at receiver. It’ll be either Jerome Tiller or transfer Steele Jantz under center. Both are accomplished runners who will have to show they can be effective throwing the ball in ISU’s spread offense.

A new feature back will be carrying the ball, too, though a handful of players figure to get carries. Sophomore Shontrelle Johnson showed promise last season in limited duty. He’ll likely get the opportunity to carry 15 to 20 times per game this year.

The receiving corps is largely unproven, though veterans like Darius Darks, Darius Reynolds and Josh Lenz have shown flashes over the last few years. They’ll need to be consistent targets and threats to make things happen in the open field once they catch the ball.

Coaches are excited about the depth on the offensive line and foresee a rotation of seven to eight linemen seeing time in the course of a game. Left tackle Kelechi Osemele is the anchor. He needs to get back to dominating the man across from him like he did two seasons ago.

DEFENSE

Pressure is the name of the game for the defense. It didn’t create nearly enough of it last season by rushing primarily just the front four. It’ll come from all angles this season with blitz packages designed to get linebackers Jake Knott and A.J. Klein creating havoc in the backfield. The two rising stars are the playmakers in the middle of ISU’s defense.

In the trenches will be nose guard Stephen Ruempolhamer, who’s expected to be the team’s playmaker up front. Ends Jacob Lattimer, Roosevelt Maggitt and Rony Nelson will pressure the passer off the edge. The Cyclones have zero experience at the safety spot, where senior Ter’Ran Benton is transitioning from the nickel/linebacker position to strong safety. Jacques Washington has the upper hand at free safety, with fellow sophomore Deon Broomfield close behind.

The Cyclones are solid at cornerback with Leonard Johnson, Jeremy Reeves and Anthony Young holding down the top spots. Johnson and Benton have NFL talent, coach Paul Rhoads believes, and surely will be playing their hardest to prove their coach right and impress scouts along the way.

SPECIALISTS

There’s no reason punter Kirby Van Der Kamp can’t repeat his stellar freshman season. Van Der Kamp averaged 45.2 yards per punt and landed 22 kicks inside the 20-yard line while being named to several Freshman All-America teams. Placekicker Grant Mahoney would love to finish up with the most consistent season of his career. One thing Mahoney, who was 8-of-17 on field goals last year, has yet to do is drill a game-winning kick in the closing minutes.

FINAL ANALYSIS

The defense should be able to hold its own and make enough plays. Offense is where the real work is needed. It’s been years since there’s been this kind of uncertainty at quarterback, and that can be unsettling for everyone around the program, even more so when those around candidates Tiller and Jantz aren’t very experienced.

The schedule again is a killer, with trip to defending Big East champ UConn and a home date vs. Iowa to go along with the new nine-game Big 12 slate.

If the Cyclones do indeed make it two bowl appearances in three years under Rhoads, they will have earned it.