Knowing the Big 12: Iowa State Cyclones

The eighth Big 12 opponent on the schedule for the Kansas Jayhawks in 2012 will be the Iowa State Cyclones. The Cyclones finished last season with an overall record of 6-7 and a Big 12 conference record of 3-6. They defeated Kansas last season by a score of 13-10. The Cyclones also defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys in shocking double overtime fashion. That game could be looked at as the reason why Oklahoma State did not make the BCS National Championship. Iowa State ended their season in 2011 with a loss to Rutgers in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

The big plus for Iowa State’s offense entering the 2012 season is the starters who are returning. The Cyclones will be returning both their starting quarterbacks, both their starting running backs, one of their starting wide receivers, and their starting tight end. The only starter to not be returning to Iowa State in 2012 is Darius Reynolds (WR). Reynolds recorded 695 yards on 43 receptions and seven touchdowns.

However, the biggest question mark for Iowa State’s offense entering 2012 will be about who will actually be the starting quarterback. As of right now, that answer is Steele Jantz, but is it the right answer for the Cyclones. He recorded 1,519 passing yards, ten passing touchdowns, and eleven interceptions last year and began the season as the starting quarterback for the Cyclones. He did not last long as the starter as he was replaced on October 22nd in a game against the Texas A&M Aggies.

Jared Barnett took over as the starting quarterback in that game after Jantz went 0-for-4 to start it. Barnett went on to start the next five regular season games. During the games in which he played in, Barnett recorded 1,201 passing yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions. Jantz took back most of the playing time in the team’s bowl game against Rutgers.

The defense for the Cyclones also has some important players returning in 2012. The most important of these players are the linebackers who are returning. A.J. Klein and Jake Knott will both return as starting linebackers. Both Klein and Knott had the two most total tackles for the Cyclones last year. Klein also had 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one interception while Knott also had four tackles for loss, and two interceptions. The linebackers will definitely be a strong spot for Iowa State on defense this year.

The weak spot on defense for Iowa State in 2012 will be their defensive line. There is only one starter returning on the defensive line and that is Jake McDonough (NG). McDonough had 35 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one forced fumble in 2011.

Another player that will need to step up on the defensive line for the Cyclones is Willie Smith (LE). Smith did not start a game in 2011, but played in all thirteen games. He recorded 34 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery last season.

The Iowa State defense will also be returning Jeremy Reeves (CB) and Jacques Washington (FS) as defensive starters in the secondary this season.

2012 Iowa State Cyclones Schedule –

Tulsa 9/1
@Iowa 9/8
Western Illinois 9/15
Texas Tech 9/29
@TCU 10/6
Kansas State 10/13
@ Oklahoma State 10/20
Baylor 10/27
Oklahoma 11/3
@Texas 11/10
@Kansas 11/17
West Virginia 11/23

Other “Knowing the Big 12″ Previews –

TCU Horned Frogs
Kansas State Wildcats
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma Sooners
Texas Longhorns
Baylor Bears
Texas Tech Red Raiders

For more on Iowa State, check out Clones Confidential.

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