Hines: 5 takeaways from Iowa State football media day

AMES – Media day is the best day of the football season.

It’s not the most exciting day of the year, of course. It certainly isn’t the most dramatic or even the most interesting. It’s definitely not the most fun.

But it is the best, at least for the teams involved, because everyone is bigger, faster and stronger. There’s never been a more together team and the optimism for a special season – whether it’s to prove the haters wrong or to go snag that national championship – is simply unquestionable.

The vibes, as they say, are always immaculate.

It was no different Friday at Jack Trice Stadium, where Iowa State held its annual media get-together to unofficially kick off the 2024 campaign.

While the confidence coming from these yearly events can sometimes feel somewhat, let’s say, thin, the Cyclones’ has certainly been earned.

More: Iowa State football's Matt Campbell on the 2024 season outlook: 'A lot of work to be done'

After weathering the gambling probe that cost them five starters and pulling away from the abyss that was the 1-2 start, last season’s 7-6 Liberty Bowl team provided plenty of evidence to suggest there could be quite a bit more in store.

I’m not here to say that coach Matt Campbell’s guys are College Football Playoff locks or even that they’ll make it back to Arlington for the Big 12 title game. But Iowa State finds itself on an upward trajectory really for the first time since 2020.

There’s real reason to believe the Cyclones have the potential to make this a memorable season.

Here are some things that caught my attention Friday.

More: Hines: Campbell exuding quiet confidence about Iowa State football in 2024

A new hand guides the offense

The Iowa State offense will be helmed by a first-time coordinator for the second-straight year with Nate Scheelhaase now with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL, and Taylor Mouser now at the controls for the Cyclones.

“When you’ve been in the offense as long as I have, the roots of it are still the same,” Mouser, whose career started with Campbell as a graduate assistant at Toledo, said. “You don’t have to come, and I have to learn something new and the kids have to learn something new.

“We want to be a physical team that has a downhill running game that’s physical and nasty. That plays as hard on the last play as they do on the first play. The effort jumps off the film.”

Mouser will certainly have plenty of weapons at his disposal with Iowa State boasting perhaps its most talented offense since the 2021 team led by Brock Purdy and Breece Hall.

Getting them to wring every last ounce out of that potential is one of Mouser’s biggest tasks.

“If you watch Iowa State football, you know it’s going to come down to a play here, a play there,” he said. “It’s going to be a one-score game. We’ve had a million of those since we’ve been here, and you have to win the inch here.

“You have to have that mentality every single day with every rep you do in the weight room and practice. Trying to get the guys to carry that mentality through the offseason and through practice that way when the moments come, we’re ready for them.”

More: Iowa State football's defensive line says pass rush will improve behind year of experience

A slight defensive tweak?

Iowa State has become football famous for its adoption of the 3-3-5 defense early in the tenure of Campbell and defensive coordinator Jon Heacock. But the Cyclones started talking last month about incorporating more four-man fronts into their defense this year.

According to Campbell, though, that’s already been a significant piece for the Cyclones.

“Really since (2021) we really have I think that uptick of four down-lineman has really grown,” he said. “I’d say last year to even the point that 20% of our snaps was a four-down front.”

That four-down front gives Iowa State an extra layer of unpredictability.

“It’s hard in college football to just say, ‘We’re this,’” Campbell said. “You have to have multiplicity. You have to continue to find ways to put your players in the best situation to be successful, affect the game.

“We’ll continue to evolve that way and I think our staff has done a great job of the evolution of what this defense is.”

Even if the four-down remains a changeup for the Cyclones, the prospect of getting J.R. Singleton and Domonique Orange on the field together in the interior is intriguing.

What kicking competition?

Chase Contreraz’s departure does not appear to be kicking off a kicking battle for Iowa State.

Kyle Konrardy, a freshman from Dubuque, appears to have the job all but locked up.

“I think Chase would tell you part of the reason he became so good is because Kyle was pushing him every day in practice,” Campbell said. “We’re super fortunate to have Kyle.

“There’s a high-end belief factor from our coaching staff and ourselves because I’ve watched Konrardy went 8 of 10 on field goals with a long of 52, while also connecting on 22 of 23 PATs for Dubuque Senior in his senior season."

More: Hines: The Big 12 Conference's two realities on display in Las Vegas during Media Days

The Sama 'Shift'

Abu Sama was hesitant to admit it, but it was almost too obvious to avoid.

After rushing for 273 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start at Kansas State, his life changed.

“I felt a little shift,” he said with a smile. “Probably just a little more attention. I try not to let that get to me too much. I’m definitely going to do a lot more in the future, a lot more things on the football field.

“I just try not to let all that shift within my life get to me.”

More: Iowa State football wins wild one against Kansas State as Abu Sama stars

The reports from the coaching staff are that the breakout performance did nothing to dull Sama’s offseason work ethic.

“Abu Sama looks completely different today than when you saw him play his last football game at Kansas State or the bowl game,” Campbell said of Sama’s increased strength.

Campbell hasn’t been reluctant to heap praise on Sama, and that’s notable given Campbell has shepherded the likes of Kareem Hunt, David Montgomery and Hall from collegiate backfields to the NFL.

“You see the spurts of excellence,” Campbell said. “How do we repeatedly get ourselves into that? Abu was such a multi-sport athlete. Until we got to the end of his (high school) senior year, we didn’t know if he was going to be a great tailback or a great corner.

“We just knew he was this great athlete. The fun thing about Abu is he’s learning to become a great football player, and that’s the thing I love about him. He’s got that willingness and curiosity.”

Cyclones' top-two receivers ready to make an impact

Campbell also isn’t shying away from how talented his receiving corps is this season, headlined by wideouts Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins.

“Jaylin Noel, what he’s got the ability to put a finishing touch on just a phenomenal football career at Iowa State, and I think we’ve all watched him transform into this great football player in his time," Campbell said. "And what Jayden Higgins has meant to our team has been awesome.”

No one is more appreciative of that duo than quarterback Rocco Becht.

"I’m super lucky to have those guys," he said.

This is also not to forget Ben Brahmer, who had a breakout freshman season at tight end in 2023.

“His talent is certainly through the roof of what he’s got the ability to become,” Campbell said.

As a group, Iowa State’s pass-catchers might be as talented and deep as they’ve been under Campbell, which is a high bar to clear with the likes of Allen Lazard, Hakeem Butler, Charlie Kolar and Xavier Hutchinson having previously been in the locker room.

“The great thing about those guys as much as their talent is, we all know talent is never enough,” Campbell said. “The reality is those guys are addicted to being great. They have an unbelievable passion to become their best.

“I don’t think any one of them are satisfied with what they’ve accomplished. They all have great dreams and aspirations. They’re relentless workers.”

Iowa State columnist Travis Hines has covered the Cyclones for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune since 2012. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000 . F ollow him on X at @TravisHines21.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Hines: 5 takeaways from Iowa State football media day