Big 12

Big 12 Preview Series: Iowa State Returns Talent, But Stumbles in Opener

Published

4 years ago

September 14, 2020

(photo via cyclones.com)

WVSN’s Big 12 Preview Series will give a snapshot of all nine of WVU football’s Big 12 opponents throughout this week. The schedule for this week is:

Monday: Baylor and Iowa State
Tuesday: Kansas and Kansas State
Wednesday: Oklahoma and Oklahoma State
Thursday: TCU and Texas
Friday: Texas Tech

In stark contrast to Baylor, Iowa State will return a slew of talent and production for the 2020 season.

Only three of the Cyclones’ eight all-conference players from 2019 have moved on from the team and defensive end JaQuan Bailey, an all-conference player in 2018, will make his return to the field following an injury last season.

On offense, Matt Campbell’s team will return quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Breece Hall and tight ends Charlie Kolar and Chase Allen, all all-conference players last season. Just a sophomore last season, Purdy beat out both Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger and Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer to earn second-team All-Big 12 honors.

Defensively, ISU will return eight starters from last season as well as the aforementioned Bailey. The leader on that side of the ball is safety Greg Eisworth II, a preseason All-Big 12 pick in 2020. During Big 12 Football Media Day on Big 12 Now, Eisworth said the Cyclones’ focus in 2020 is to be more sound on defense and force more turnovers.

“We just want to focus on just doing our job,” Eisworth said. “Just putting more emphasis on what is our task, completing our assignment each play and then trying to create more turnovers. Keep it simple, knowing out jobs and executing.”

Expectations were high for Iowa State entering the year with all of this returning talent, but the Cyclones stumbled out of the gate, losing 34-14 go Louisiana-Lafayette in their opener this past weekend. Purdy completed 16 of 35 passes for just 145 yards and an interception against the Ragin’ Cajuns.