After a 14-13 loss to Alabama in the Independence Bowl, the Cyclones were anxious to hit the practice field in the spring.
"There is definitely a sense of urgency," McCarney said. "We are looking to build momentum after consecutive bowl game seasons. Even with what we have done there is a lot of room for improvement. Our guys know that, our coaching staff knows that.
"We have a feeling of pride after winning 16 games the last two seasons and we want to build on that."
McCarney has attacked his project with a vengeance. In 2000, the Cyclones posted the program’s first nine-win season since 1906, and their victory over Pittsburgh in the Insight.com Bowl was the program’s first bowl victory in five appearances.
After that bowl game, the Cyclones were ranked No. 25 by the Associated Press. It was their first appearance in the poll since 1981.
Iowa State’s 16-8 record over the last two seasons is its best since a span during the 1977 and ’79 seasons when the Cyclones posted the same record.
QUARTERBACKS
After transferring from Sacramento City College, senior Seneca Wallace (5-10, 193) quickly earned the respect of coaches in the Big 12. Wallace was chosen as the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press, the league’s coaches, the Kansas City Star and the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
"Geez, he’s like trying to tackle the wind," Nebraska defensive coordinator Craig Bohl said. "He’s got the agility of a guy like Eric Metcalf. Then you add in his ability to throw, and he’s got great presence for a first-year guy. It’s particularly unique for him to come into a tough league like this and perform the way he has."
"He is one of the best in the league and we have some great players in our conference," Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said late in the 2001 season. "It will be interesting when they try to pick the all-Big 12 quarterback because Seneca Wallace is one of those guys when you talk about newcomer of the year that [he] has to be there."
For the season, Wallace completed 167-of-269 passes for 2,044 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His 132.71 passing efficiency rating was third best in school history, and it was even better on third and fourth downs (139.54). Iowa State was second in the Big 12 in third-down conversions (46.2 percent) in large part because of Wallace’s passing accuracy and scrambling abilities.
Sophomore Cris Love (6-5, 210) will probably be Wallace’s backup, although junior college transfer Dustin Ochs ( 6-3, 220) will push for playing time.
Love was the backup last season and completed 17-of-28 passes for 181 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Ochs passed for 2,308 yards in junior college two years ago at San Bernardino Community College and didn’t play last season
RUNNING BACKS
Despite the loss of Ennis Haywood, who rushed for 1,169 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, the Cyclones are solid at running back.
Haywood, however, will be missed. He was one of eight semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award given annually to the nation’s top running back. His 106.3-yard average per game and 118.8 all-purpose yards per game ranked third among Big 12 backs. He finished his career with a 125-yard game in the Independence Bowl and was chosen to the All-Big 12 first team for the second straight year.
Stepping into his spot as the starting tailback will be junior Hiawatha Rutland (6-2, 202), who has been a special teams standout the last two seasons. Rutland rushed for 158 yards on 29 carries the last two seasons and doubled as a kickoff returner.
Rutland won’t carry the rushing load alone, however. Junior JaMaine Billups (5-8, 202) and junior Michael Wagner (5-7, 188) will battle for the backup job.
Wagner has the most experience of the three tailbacks, having rushed for 539 yards on 138 carries in his career. Last season, Wagner rushed for 475 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
As a sophomore, Wagner replaced the injured Haywood against Oklahoma State and rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.
Billups may be the hungriest of the tailbacks for a starting job. He rushed for 46 yards and one touchdown last season.
Junior Joe Woodley (5-10, 227) will likely start again at fullback. He has been used primarily as a blocker and has rushed for 24 yards and four touchdowns on 13 career carries.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
At the start of the 2001 season, the receiver positions were a concern because of lack of experience, but that soon changed with the emergence of former walk-ons Lane Danielson and Jack Whitver . Both earned starting jobs and should do so again this season.
Danielson (6-0, 195), a junior, led the team with 49 catches for 694 yards and four touchdowns, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention honors. He had two 100-yard games, and his 49 catches rank ninth in school single-season history.
One of the Cyclones’ surprise weapons was the reverse with the fleet-footed Danielson getting the carries. He rushed for 74 yards and one touchdown on seven carries, and his 33-yard reverse set up a touchdown in the Independence Bowl.
In the 2001 preseason, Whitver (5-10, 181) made it into the two-deep depth chart, and playing the flanker position, finished with 272 yards and three touchdowns on 21 catches. A junior, he started eight games last year.
Sophomore Todd Miller (5-8, 170) was slotted as the backup split end behind Danielson in the preseason with junior Lance Young (6-0, 170) backing up Whitver at flanker.
Look for junior Jamaul Montgomery (6-0, 197) to play much more of a role this season. Montgomery had 19 catches for 195 yards last season. He should be the starting wide receiver, while junior David Banks-Bursey (5-8, 172) will be his backup.
Starting tight end Mike Banks must also be replaced. Banks was third on the team in catches last season with 23 catches for 212 yards.
Fifth-year senior Kyle Knock (6-2, 262) will be the starter and will be backed up by sophomores Kenny Segin (6-4, 249) or Brett Kellogg (6-2, 252).
Knock has caught 10 passes for 131 yards over the last two seasons.
OFFENSIVE LINE
With only two starters back from the 2001 offensive line, some coaches might be concerned. Not McCarney. He likes his blend of returnees and newcomers, and he believes they can help the Cyclones sustain the success in rushing and pass protection they’ve enjoyed in recent years.
The two starters back are junior left guard Bob Montgomery (6-2, 306) and senior center Zach Butler (6-3, 292).
Montgomery started every game last season, while Butler has been a mainstay on the line since his red-shirt freshman year when he was chosen to The Sporting News Freshman All-America team. Last season, he started every game.
Senior DeWayne Johnson (6-1, 321), the deep snapper, will be the backup at left guard. Junior Matt Bockes (6-0, 280) was slotted behind Butler in the spring.
"Zach Butler is a veteran leader for us and a fifth-year guy who is always ready," McCarney said.
Junior Casey Shelton (6-5, 284) is the probable starter at left tackle with red-shirt freshman Wade Boehm (6-3, 248) as the backup. Shelton was playing on the defensive line as a true freshman before receiving a medical hardship because of injury. He moved to offensive line in 2000 and showed great improvement last season at the tackle spot.
At right tackle, Cale Stubbe (6-3, 285) is the probable starter. Stubbe, another transformed defensive lineman, suffered a leg injury but has fully recovered. Freshman Kory Pence (6-4, 317) has great size but lacks experience. Pence will likely be Stubbe’s backup.
Sophomore Luke Vander Sanden (6-2, 295) is in his third year at Iowa State and should be ready for a starting role this year. Vander Sanden has good size and athleticism and learned a great deal last season playing behind All-Big 12 tackle Lorenzo White.
KICKERS
Sophomore Tony Yelk came to Iowa State as a place-kicker, and after securing that job last season, he also won the punter’s job.
Yelk (6-0, 201) had a great year as a punter, but was inconsistent on field-goal attempts, making 8-of-18. He made 4-of-5 from 20 to 29 yards, 3-of-7 from 30 to 39 yards, and only 1-of-6 from 40 to 49 yards. Four of his field-goal attempts were blocked. He made 38-of-39 PAT kicks.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Two of four starters return from a year ago -- junior right end Tyson Smith (6-2, 230) and junior defensive tackle Jordan Carstens (6-5, 300).
Smith, a prized recruit out of Des Moines in 2000, will need to have a big year. He finished strong in 2001, making 21 of his 58 tackles in the last three games of the regular seasons. He had five tackles in the Independence Bowl.
At the other end, red-shirt freshman Cephus Johnson (6-2, 230) suffered an ankle injury in the season opener against Northern Iowa and received a medical hardship. The Cylclones planned for Johnson to be a key player last season before the injury.
Carstens will anchor the line, barring injury. A former walk-on, Carstens came to Iowa State weighing 228 and has gained more than 70 pounds. Last season, Carstens was fourth on the team in tackles with 81 and had 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Sophomore Andy Leaders (6-2, 265) is the probable backup for Carstens. His father, Mike, was a linebacker on two Iowa State bowl teams in 1977 and 1978.
Sophomore Brent Nelson (6-3, 278) and junior Federico Samuel (6-2, 323) will vie for the starting job at nose guard. Nelson had the edge in the spring. Nelson moved from offensive line in the spring.
TeBrink could move to the inside at nose guard or tackle.
LINEBACKERS
Jeremy Loyd (6-2, 230) returns for his senior season after being chosen as the team’s co-defensive MVP last year. Loyd needs to have another big season. He finished the 2001 season with 68 tackles, which ranked seventh on the team, and had 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Senior Matt Word (6-0, 225) and junior Chris Whitaker (5-10, 222) both came back from injuries in the off-season. Word had shoulder surgery and Whitaker knee surgery.
Last season, Word led the team in tackles with 108 and had a team highs of 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He had nine tackles and two sacks against Alabama in the Independence Bowl.
Whitaker played as a freshman in 1999 but has been snakebit since then. He broke his leg in spring practice in 2001 and rehabbed in time for the season opener against Northern Iowa. However, he tore an ACL in practice the next week and received a medical hardship for the 2001 season.
Word was held out of spring practice and Whitaker saw limited time.
Whitaker is slotted as the starter at middle linebacker ahead of junior Derek Walters (5-10, 230).
At weak-side linebacker, sophomore Brandon Brown (5-10, 220) was the starter in the spring. Two others should also figure into the mix somewhere -- sophomore Erik Anderson (6-0, 218), junior Aaron Wendel (6-1, 210) and red-shirt freshman Boyd Viers (6-1, 223). Anderson missed the spring.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Three starters return to the secondary, although senior Atif Austin (5-7, 179) missed spring practice after having shoulder surgery. Austin was a big-play defender in 2001, making 55 tackles and breaking up 10 passes.
Junior Marc Timmons (5-8, 162) returns after starting at free safety last season. Red-shirt freshman Steve Paris (6-1, 193) is his backup. Timmons was fifth on the team in tackles last season with 74.
Harold Clewis (5-8, 190), a junior, started eight games at left cornerback last season. Sophomore Henry Poullard (5-8, 166) is the backup.
Sophomore Ellis Hobbs (5-7, 183) was slotted as the starter at right cornerback with junior Johnny Smith III (5-9, 170) also battling for the job. Hobbs was a key player on special teams last season and has speed enough to keep up with the fastest Big 12 receivers.
Sophomore Anthony Forrest (6-0, 192) made 50 tackles as a freshman last season, and that earned him the staring job at strong safety in the spring. It would be surprising if redshirt freshman T.J. Klith (5-8, 198) or sophomore Nick Linder (5-9, 198) were able to wrestle the job from Forrest.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Both returners are back this season, but neither is guaranteed a starting job.
Junior Michael Wagner (5-7, 188) was the punt returner last year but sophomore Todd Miller (5-8, 170) was slotted as the starter in the spring. Wagner was the top returner last season with 15, averaging 10.7 yards per return.
Billups, the tailback, doubled as a kick and punt returner last season. He returned four punts for an average of 3.8 yards per return. On six kick returns, he averaged 13.2 yards.
Sophomore Todd Miller (5-8, 170) will battle Billups for the kickoff return job this fall.
RECRUITING CLASS
McCarney recruited heavily for the offensive line in the 2002 class, signing seven, and look for at least a couple of them to work their way into the two-deep this season. Four of them are junior college transfers -- Mohsen Hmoud (6-4, 320), Curtis James Jr. (6-5, 321), Collin Menard (6-4, 310) and Emmanuel Valcourt (6-5, 305).
Hmoud and James were teammates at San Diego Mesa College last season. Hmoud was the team’s offensive lineman of the year after his first season and James won the award last year.
With Wallace playing his last season at quarterback, McCarney signed three new ones. Freshmen Austin Flynn (6-1, 185) of Deer Park (Texas) High School and Kyle Van Winkle (6-6, 180) of Roland-Story (Iowa) High School will be groomed for the future. Junior Waye Terry (6-3, 215) will provide depth this season and could push for the starting job in 2003.
Terry, who comes to Ames from Foothill (Calif.) College, was the NFCA Offensive MVP after his sophomore season. He threw for 2,249 yards and 28 touchdowns and led all California junior college quarterbacks in rushing with 410 yards.
Flynn was chosen one of the top 60 prospects in Texas by the Dallas Morning News and was among the top 75 players in the Southwest by SuperPrep magazine. Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming rated him as the 40th-best prospect in the Southwest. He passed for 1,633 yards and 15 touchdowns last season and rushed for 420 yards, averaging 8.6 yards per carry.
Van Winkle was chosen to the all-state second team by The Des Moines Register and was selected to play in the Iowa Shrine Bowl. He threw for 1,004 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior and rushed for five touchdowns. He doubled as a safety.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
With Wallace at quarterback, the Cyclones have one of the best playmakers in college football. Wallace can do it all -- run, pass and scramble.
As long as Wallace stays healthy, the offense should be able to move the football and score. If he goes down, however, the Cyclones may be in trouble.
The Cyclones lost the Big 12’s third-leading rusher in Haywood, but there were at least three tailbacks waiting to take his snaps -- Rutland, Billups and Wagner.
At wide receiver, the Cyclones have experience returning led by Danielson. For the last four seasons, the offensive line has been very good, and that shouldn’t change this year.
Defensively, Iowa State must improve against the run, and that starts up front. Last season, the Cyclones ranked 11th in the Big 12 against the rush.
McCarney has some holes to fill on the line, same as last season, and he’s confident some backups from 2001 can fill the void. Tackle Carstens could emerge as one of the best in the league.
McCarney is counting on linebackers Word and Whitaker to come back healthy from surgeries, and if they do, the corps will be solid. The secondary is deep and talented.
The Cyclones have made consecutive bowl appearances, and a third straight this season wouldn’t be a surprise. McCarney has proved he can get the job done in the tough Big 12, and with a guy like Wallace running the show, the Cyclones are always a dangerous bunch.
