Expectations for Iowa State already were low when the calendar turned from July to August.
They’re lower yet now that quarterback Hunter Dekkers and four other projected starters are out, possibly for the season, in the wake of criminal charges filed against them in the state’s ongoing investigation into sports wagering by athletes at Iowa State and cross-state rival Iowa.
Even if the players were available, the outlook was not bright for a team that lost eight of its last nine games, beat only one Big 12 opponent and finished 4-8 in its first non-bowl season since 2016.
The Cyclones, who are 11-14 overall and 6-12 in league play since making the conference championship game in 2020, are picked 10th out of 14 teams in the newly expanded Big 12. Eleven of those 14 losses have been by seven points or less.
Dekkers, offensive lineman Jacob Remsburg, tight end DeShawn Hanika and defensive lineman Isaiah Lee have pleaded not guilty to charges of tampering with records in connection with the gambling investigation. Lee has since left the program. Electronic court records indicated running back Jirehl Brock has not entered a plea.
All are accused of disguising their identities on mobile sports betting apps because they were NCAA athletes and under the legal betting age of 21 at the time the accounts were set up.
ISU has declared the players ineligible and, if it’s proved they placed wagers, each faces up to a permanent ban for violating NCAA gambling rules. The criminal charges are aggravated misdemeanors carrying punishments of up to two years in prison and fines.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell speaks during an NCAA college football media day, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. Campbell is entering his eighth season at Iowa State, where his Cyclones have gone 11-14 since they appeared in the Big 12 championship game in 2020. Credit: AP/Charlie Neibergall
Dekkers started all 12 games last year as the successor to Brock Purdy. Dekkers’ absence has left redshirt freshman Rocco Becht, freshman JJ Kohl and junior-college transfer Tanner Hughes to compete for the No. 1 job.
Cartevious Norton and Eli Sanders are the top two returning running backs, and three promising newcomers also could challenge to be the starter as the Cyclones try to improve a ground game that averaged just 3.3 yards per carry.
The loss of Remsburg hurts, but new offensive line coach Ryan Clanton’s work to upgrade the line and build depth has gotten good reviews from coach Matt Campbell. Though the Cyclones are without their top receiving tight end, Hanika, offensive coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase said Gabe Burkle, Easton Dean and Tyler Moore give him plenty of options.
DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE
The Cyclones were the No. 1 defense in the Big 12 last season and have had a top-three unit all but one season since 2017. They’ve allowed fewer than 22 points per game for four straight years.
Defensive coordinator Jon Heacock’s 3-3-5 system emphasizes strength up the middle, and that’s where ISU looks vulnerable. Lee’s departure has left Domonique Orange and J.R. Singleton to battle at nose tackle and the competition is wide open at middle linebacker and safety.
Cornerback TJ Tampa is the undisputed leader. Ends Joey Petersen and Trent Jones II are names to know for a unit looking to replace school career sacks leader Will McDonald.
QB SITUATION
Becht is the only quarterback with major-college game experience, having made three appearances last season. He played 29 snaps against TCU in place of an injured Dekkers.
The 6-foot-7, 250-pound Kohl is from nearby Ankeny, Iowa, and was rated a national top-10 quarterback by ESPN and Rivals. The 6-5, 240-pound Hughes threw for 25 touchdowns against just five interceptions over two seasons at Butte College in California.
IT’S ALL ABOUT DEVELOPMENT
Building and maintaining a winning program is tougher at a place like Iowa State, which often relies on the development of two- and three-star recruits to be competitive.
“We’ve got to go up the rough side of the mountain. There’s no easy fix,” Campbell said. “We’re not going to have just human erasers just running all over the film. Our team has to play together to win football games.”
LOOKING AHEAD
The Cyclones open the season Sept. 2 at home against Northern Iowa and then host Iowa the following week in the annual Cy-Hawk Game. A couple of their toughest games come at the end of the regular season, at home against Big 12 preseason favorite Texas on Nov. 18 and at Kansas State on Nov. 25.