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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Iowa State

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08/12/22 - Trevor Downing, rSr/2023, Iowa State + More +

2022 PRESEASON ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD WATCHLIST: Trevor Downing, Iowa State, Rs Sr C,...Downing is a preseason All-Big 12 selection after earning All-Big 12 First-Team honors for his performance on the field last season. The Creston, Iowa native is making the move to center after playing mostly at right guard last season. Downing has made 26 career starts on the Cyclone offensive line and in 2021 was an anchor in helping the Cyclones record their fourth-best scoring average (31.3) and fifth-best total offensive average (424.5) in school history. - Iowa State Football

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C Trevor Downing, Iowa State
News Source: Iowa State Football
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08/12/22 - Anthony Johnson Jr., rSr/2023, Iowa State + More +

2022 PRESEASON WUERFFEL TROPHY (COMMUNITY SERVICE) WATCHLIST: Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State, Sr., DB,...He is a four-year starter for the Cyclones while playing in 50 games in his career. He's earned All-Big 12 honorable mention accolades the last three seasons and is also a three-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree. Johnson, a St. Petersburg, Florida, native, was Iowa State's first recipient of the Jack Trice Endowed Scholarship, which is given annually to a Black student-athlete on the football team who is entering his senior year. - Iowa State Football

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FS Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State
News Source: Iowa State Football
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08/09/22 - Jalen Travis, rSr/2025, Iowa State + More +

2022 PRESEASON PHIL STEELE/DRAFT SCOUT IVY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM: Jalen Travis, Princeton, Jr.,...The Tigers also had 11 members named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-Ivy teams. Iosivas, Powers, Carson Bobo, Henry Byrd, Uche Ndukwe were first team selections while John Volker, Dylan Classi, Connor Scaglione, Jalen Travis, Liam Johnson, Michael Ruttlen Jr., were named to the second-team. - Princeton Football

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OT Jalen Travis, Iowa State
News Source: Princeton Football
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08/06/22 - Xavier Hutchinson, rSr/2023, Iowa State + More +

In his second season with the Cyclones, Xavier Hutchinson was third in the Big 12 with 987 receiving yards and had five touchdowns while averaging 75.9 yards per game. In doing so, he cemented his place as a starter in Campbell's offense. It was a rise to the top of a Power 5 program that surprised some people, but not Hutchinson's head coach. "I don't know if Xavier was ever a guy that maybe surprised me in terms of what he brought to our program," Campbell said during media day. "I think I had a really good understanding of what we were getting in Xavier Hutchinson when he came here."

This could be the season Hutchinson shows what he's fully capable of. Last year, Kolar led the team in receiving touchdowns with six. Hall had three and Chase Allen had two. Long story short, Purdy had lots of options in his receiving corps and took full advantage. With all three of those players gone, Dekkers will still have an elite receiver in Hutchinson. Should Campbell need other options for Dekkers to throw to, Sean Shaw Jr. and Jaylin Noel are two names to keep an eye on. - Des Moines Register

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WR Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State
News Source: Des Moines Register
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08/05/22 - Hunter Dekkers, rSr/2025, Iowa State + More +

He's the highest-ranked quarterback recruit in Iowa State history - or at least since the star system captured everyone's fancy in the early 2000s. His seven-game career includes completing 25 of 43 passes for 311 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. It includes seven rushes for 73 yards and a touchdown. He completed 11 of 16 passes and a touchdown while playing the fourth quarter against Iowa last season. "Hunter is very talented," coach Matt Campbell said. "He's certainly got a strong arm. He's got great athletic ability, but a quarterback is way more than that. "It's the whole picture. And it's the whole puzzle, and what's going to be really fun is to see, even as we get through fall camp, how much Hunter grows in the offense - how much he's ready to continue to evolve and, really, be ready to capture what it takes to play the quarterback position at this level."

Dekkers is confident he'll be ready by the Sept. 3 opener against Southeast Missouri at Jack Trice Stadium. Everyone is confident. "One of the last things Brock told me, was that he hopefully taught me ways of handling both the good and the bad," Dekkers said. "That, to me, was interesting. It was very well put. "There's going to be some differences, like for sure in the vertical game, but there's more to it than just that. It's how you handle all the situations. Brock was very good at that." He'll be the first Iowan to take the first Iowa State snap in a season-opening game since Joel Lanning in 2016. He's replacing a guy who re-wrote Iowa State's quarterback record book. - Des Moines Register

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QB Hunter Dekkers, Iowa State
News Source: Des Moines Register
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08/05/22 - Will McDonald IV, rSr/2023, Iowa State + More +

McDonald will become the first person in his family with a college degree when he graduates this fall, Campbell said, and that was a motivating factor. Along with the ability to improve his professional prospects even more. "Just really consistently getting himself to be one of the best defensive linemen in the country," Campbell said. "He felt like there was still room for growth and opportunity to grow in some of those areas." McDonald said it was all about further preparation for a professional future. "I just felt like I had more to prove in football," he said. "I felt like I wasn't mature enough to go to the combine. It's never too bad to take another year to learn more about football. "I've got to live more professionally. I'm not saying my life is bad because it's good. I just want to make sure I'm set to go to the League."

So what will McDonald, already the best to ever do it at Iowa State, bring with another year of college? "Hopefully an improved Will McDonald - bigger, faster, stronger and smarter," Heacock said. "He's what I consider a 'go' guy. When it's time to go, he goes. I think that's what everybody's watching. "We've got to do everything to help him. He's going to have to play a few more reps than normally, but the expectations for me is that he's gotten bigger, faster, stronger and smarter over the summer, spring and winter. "We'll have a new and improved Will." - Des Moines Register

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DE Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
News Source: Des Moines Register
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08/03/22 - Hunter Dekkers, rSr/2025, Iowa State + More +

It's hard to overstate the job ahead for Hunter Dekkers. The 6-foot-3, 203-pounder takes over the Iowa State offense after two years of an understudy, tasked with replacing Brock Purdy, the most accomplished QB in program history, and keeping Iowa State on the upward trajectory its charted for the last six years. All with minimal experience and an offense that lost All-American weapons at multiple positions. That's what makes Dekkers the Cyclones' most important player in 2022. "True superstar is can you handle being what a starting quarterback in a Power Five school looks like?" Campbell said earlier this year. "Quarterback is a different animal. Can you handle the grind of playing Power Five football, and handling the success and failures that come with it? "Hunter has competitive excellence. You see talent and ability in him." Dekkers got only mop-up duty in Iowa State's historic 2020 season, but twice saw significant time - vs. Iowa and at Oklahoma - in 2021. Both, though, were in limited quantities. He threw just 36 passes a year ago, making him very much an unknown commodity for anyone outside the Bergstrom Football Complex.

In those small opportunities, though, Dekkers has shown enough for there to be reason for optimism. He's got a big arm, making the vertical threat realer than it ever was under Purdy, whose accuracy and efficiency was often predicated on short tosses over deep throws. He's also shown the ability to be resilient, marching Iowa State down for a touchdown at Oklahoma after throwing an interception the previous drive. It's not much to go on, but Campbell has shown lots of confidence in Dekkers. Campbell has been able to watch Dekkers closely for two years in practice, and he liked what he saw enough to opt against bringing in a transfer QB to even compete for the job. "Superstar potential," wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson said of his future QB. - Des Moines Register

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QB Hunter Dekkers, Iowa State
News Source: Des Moines Register
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08/03/22 - Will McDonald IV, rSr/2023, Iowa State + More +

It's probably gone underappreciated that Iowa State had its two best-ever pass rushers overlap on the roster with JaQuan Bailey and Will McDonald IV terrorizing quarterbacks at the same time. Bailey was only briefly able to wear the crown as the program's all-time sacks leader with his former teammate McDonald wrestling it away almost immediately. He had the chance and opportunity to go pro but instead returned to Ames, where he almost certainly will put his sacks record under lock and key for the foreseeable future.

With 29 career sacks, McDonald could overtake former Texas A&M star Von Miller (33) for the Big 12 record. Individual accolades aside, McDonald's presence on Iowa State's defense should make Big 12 defenses shudder. The 6-foot-3, 236-pounder has shown an uncanny ability to physically overwhelm offensive lines, and he's continued to add technique and skill to his game. If he can elevate from where he's been the last three seasons, the Cyclones have an absolute monster on the field. - Des Moines Register

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DE Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
News Source: Des Moines Register
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08/02/22 - Hunter Dekkers, rSr/2025, Iowa State + More +

Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers will be a key to the team's success in 2022. The 6-foot-3, 203-pounder takes over the Iowa State offense after two years of an understudy, tasked with replacing Brock Purdy, the most accomplished QB in program history, and keeping Iowa State on the upward trajectory its charted for the last six years. All with minimal experience and an offense that lost All-American weapons at multiple positions.

That's what makes Dekkers the Cyclones' most important player in 2022. "True superstar is can you handle being what a starting quarterback in a Power Five school looks like?" coach Matt Campbell said earlier this year. "Quarterback is a different animal. Can you handle the grind of playing Power Five football, and handling the success and failures that come with it? Hunter has competitive excellence. You see talent and ability in him." - Des Moines Register

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QB Hunter Dekkers, Iowa State
News Source: Des Moines Register
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08/02/22 - Xavier Hutchinson, rSr/2023, Iowa State + More +

Even before playing in the Cheez-It Bowl with a injured thumb, though, Xavier Hutchinson announced his intention to return for a third and final season in Ames. Given his talent and production, that would be immense news under any circumstances, but given the roster turnover Iowa State experienced, it was magnified. Having a new starting quarterback for the first time since 2018 makes his return even more critical. First-year starting QB Hunter Dekkers will immediately have one of the best receivers in the country as a target. Hutchinson has 147 catches, 1,758 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games over two seasons. He's shown the ability to change the game from all over the field with his speed, route-running and hands. He also showed plenty of grit and toughness playing in a Cheez-It Bowl with the bum thumb when sitting - or opting - out would have been a pretty easy choice following a season that began with College Football Playoffs aspirations.

For all that Hutchinson accomplished in two years with quarterback Brock Purdy, Dekkers could offer him the opportunity to flash even a little bit more. Purdy had many strengths, but throwing the deep ball was not among them. With Dekkers' bigger arm, Hutchinson could have the opportunity to stretch the field in new, dynamic ways. Regardless, Hutchinson's return raises the ceiling for Tom Manning's offense not only because of his own talent, but also because of its impact on the quarterback. Having a reliable, dynamic threat on the outside who is capable of playing every down provides the safety and security that goes a long way with an inexperienced quarterback. - Des Moines Register

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WR Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State
News Source: Des Moines Register
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08/02/22 - Xavier Hutchinson, rSr/2023, Iowa State + More +

2022 PRESEASON WALTER CAMP PLAYER OF YEAR PLAYER TO WATCH: Xavier Hutchinson, WR, senior, Iowa State,...Hutchinson, who hails from Jacksonville, Florida, earned First Team All-Big 12 honors for the second-straight season in 2021. The redshirt senior set an ISU single-season record and led the Big 12 Conference with 83 receptions. Hutchinson finished with 987 receiving yards and five touchdown catches. He leads all active Big 12 receivers in career receptions (147) and receiving yards (1,758). - Iowa State Football

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WR Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State
News Source: Iowa State Football
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08/02/22 - Will McDonald IV, rSr/2023, Iowa State + More +

2022 PRESEASON WALTER CAMP PLAYER OF YEAR PLAYER TO WATCH: Will McDonald IV, DE, senior, Iowa State,...McDonald, a redshirt senior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, enters the season as one of the nation's best pass rushers with 29.0 career sacks, which is an ISU record. He earned First Team All-America honors last season and is a two-time First Team All-Big 12 selection. McDonald has forced nine fumbles and has 34.5 tackles for a loss in his career. - Iowa State Football

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DE Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
News Source: Iowa State Football
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08/01/22 - Trevor Downing, rSr/2023, Iowa State + More +

2022 PRESEASON OUTLAND TROPHY WATCHLIST: C Trevor Downing, Iowa State,...Downing is a preseason All-Big 12 selection after earning All-Big 12 First-Team honors for his performance on the field last season. The Creston, Iowa, native has made 26 career starts on the Cyclone offensive line and in 2021 was an anchor in helping the Cyclones record their fourth-best scoring average (31.3) and fifth-best total offensive average (424.5) in school history. - Iowa State Football

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C Trevor Downing, Iowa State
News Source: Iowa State Football
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08/01/22 - Will McDonald IV, rSr/2023, Iowa State + More +

2022 PRESEASON BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY WATCHLIST: DE Will McDonald IV, Iowa State,...McDonald, a redshirt senior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is one of the nation's top pass rushers. He earned First Team All-America accolades last season and is a two-time First Team All-Big 12 selection. McDonald tied for the Big 12 lead in sacks last season with 11.5, breaking his own single-season school record and ranking ninth nationally. In his career, he's ISU's all-time career sack leader (29.0), which ranks fourth in Big 12 history. - Iowa State Football

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DE Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
News Source: Iowa State Football
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08/01/22 - Will McDonald IV, rSr/2023, Iowa State + More +

2022 PRESEASON CHUCK BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST: Will McDonald, Iowa State, Senior DE,...McDonald enters the season as one of the nation's best pass rushers with 29.0 career sacks, which is an ISU record. He earned First Team All-America honors last season and is a two-time First Team All-Big 12 selection. McDonald has forced nine fumbles and has 34.5 tackles for a loss in his career. Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 1, while the three finalists for the award will be unveiled Nov. 22. The recipient of the award will be announced on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 8. - Iowa State Football

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