Iowa State's football defense is thriving despite linebacker injuries

AMES – There’s a lot to be impressed by No. 13 Iowa State football’s undefeated start to the season.

The Cyclones, 5-0 for the first time since 1980, have so far lived up to even the most optimistic expectations. The offensive is largely humming. The defense is the best in the Big 12.

However, nothing may be more impressive than the way the Cyclones have overcome repeated and serious injuries at the linebacker position.

If you had ranked every Iowa State linebacker on the roster this spring, the guys seeing the field now at times would well have been in double figures, or at least close to it.

Still, the Cyclones have the Big 12's best defense with 10 points allowed per game and also lead in total defense with 276.1 yards per game. They have eight interceptions and three fumble recoveries in their quintet of games.

It's truly breathtaking to see the success they can achieve despite playing against people who would otherwise be playing on the second and third lines.

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“That’s why you try to build your team with depth,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. “Obviously it’s a challenge, but it’s given some guys great opportunities to step in and play.”

“We have a lot of really good players. We felt like there was a lot of depth in that linebacker room before the season started, and now it's just an area that got hit and the next guy had to go in and play good football.”

The Cyclones may have lost a starting trio of linebackers in the first quarter of their season opener.

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Caleb Bacon suffered a potentially season-ending injury against North Dakota, preceded by a torn ACL to Carson Willich and a preseason injury to Will McLaughlin that has sidelined him.

Current midfielder Cael Brezina missed the season opener due to injury and was hobbled and sidelined in the second half against Baylor last week. This latest blow could keep him out of contention this weekend in West Virginia (7 p.m.; FOX).

John Klosterman suffered an injury in late September that would keep him out for an extended period of time, according to Campbell. Jack Sadowsky, who started all 13 games as a true freshman last season, was held out of the game last week out of consideration for a possible redshirt.

Injuries are, of course, part of this violent game, but their focus on a single position group — especially one so important in coordinator Jon Heacock's 3-3-5 defense — is almost unbelievable.

The fact that the Cyclones' defense is performing well despite these ailments is undoubtedly incredible. Almost impressive.

“These guys work hard every day,” Iowa State cornerback Jontez Williams said. “We all notice that. Nothing goes unnoticed. So when these guys go out and take their chance, it's fun to see. It's great to see.

“Sometimes they don’t get a chance, but when they do get it, they excel.”

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Iowa State played a trio of in-state linebackers — Jacob Imming (Sergeant Bluff), Rylan Barnes (Britt) and Kooper Ebel (Hartley) — whose hometowns have a combined population of about 8,500, which is just over half the capacity of the southeast end zone of Jack Trice Stadium. Imming balances these numbers with the 5,000 people who live just outside the bustling metropolis of Sioux City (population 85,000).

As impressive as the Cyclones' ability to deal with injuries without major impact is, it's also an area of constant concern.

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One would like to believe that Iowa State's injury contingent, distributed by the wisdom and cruelty of the football gods, is depleted at this position, but we all know it doesn't work that way. There is no cosmic justice in football. Just the incessant danger that comes from incessant violence.

Another injury — or two or three or whatever at this rate — will only put more strain on that position and the defense as a whole. And the further down the depth chart you go, the greater the burden becomes. Ultimately you would have to fear a collapse.

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“Thanks to (linebackers) coach (Colby) Kratch – he’s done a really good job of maintaining the standard that we’ll continue to play good football at,” Campbell said. “There are a lot of people there who played good football and will only continue to play good football.”

All of this is happening in the context of a team that isn't looking to win a few games or hoping to squeeze out six wins and bowl eligibility. No, this is a team that is eyeing the best start in school history, thinking about its first conference championship since 1912 and dreaming of a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The stakes are among the highest in school history, and Iowa State is relying on guys who might otherwise have played on scout team defense this fall to perform.

“Every season is a journey,” Campbell said, “and we understand that.”

For these linebackers at least, it's a journey that so far resembles all the dangers of the Oregon Trail, with knee and leg injuries instead of dysentery or crossing a river, but arduous nonetheless.

However, these linebackers just keep going. Keep getting in and out. Keep producing.

And most importantly: keep winning.

Iowa State columnist Travis Hines has covered the Cyclones for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune since 2012. Contact him at [email protected] or (515) 284-8000. FFollow him on X at @TravisHines21.

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