Many “experts” are picking the Cyclones to finish near the bottom of the Big 12 North. I can see why the “experts” think ISU will struggle this year coming off of a 4-8 season with a brand new coaching staff coming in.
Why I am more optimistic? Iowa State is returning top players at the key positions on a football team. Who will be the top players for the 2007 Cyclones? Here is my best guess.
1. LB Alvin “Ace” Bowen – led college football with 155 tackles in 2006, leader of the defense, added ten pounds of muscle in offseason, high energy and hungry
2. WR Todd Blythe – 26 career touchdowns, coming off an injury plagued junior campaign, numbers should explode in 2007 with wide open passing attack
3. QB Bret Meyer – captain of football team as sophomore and junior, all-time Cyclone leader in total yards and touchdown passes, will try to bounce back from a rough junior season
4. LB Jon Banks – moved from safety to LB in 2006, finished with 99 tackles, third most on team, has the speed coveted at the SAM position
5. NG Athyba Rubin – the strongest player on the Cyclones, moved from OL to NG in 2006, worked hard in the weight room to get his playing weight down to 320
Others with potential to crack the top 5:
6. CB Allen Bell – big, strong corner (6’2, 189) with size and speed to play press coverage
7. RB Alexander Robinson / JJ Bass – I have a feeling one of the RB’s is going to break out this year, Robinson is quick and elusive with good hands, Bass is fast and strong
8. DE Kurtis Taylor – Kurtis will see his first extended action after missing all of last season with a knee injury, physical and fast
9. K Bret Culbertson – Most accurate kicker in Iowa State history, will shoot in to top 5 with clutch kicks
10. KR/PR/CB Zac Sandvig – the freshman will be on the field alot, will be on most special teams units and is currently the top Cyclone nickelback
