Here's a breakdown on UNI. I'll try (probably unsuccessfully) to be brief
First, I wouldn't put much in to what happened in the spring. The OC left for a job with the Packers a day before the first game, due to COVID precautions they were never able to practice more than 25 bodies at a time and lost over 200 starts to COVID. It was a year totally in a vacuum and they've moved on as though it didn't happen..
As has been the case for the last decade or so, the defense is as good as you get at the FCS level and is really fast and physical. The offense has talent everywhere but the quarterback position is totally in flux and hasn't at all been consistent.
Offense--
QB- Appears to be a two way battle between returning starter Will McElvain (5-11, 185) and Michigan State transfer Theo Day (6-5, 235). McElvain is the better athlete but isn't an accurate thrower and isn't patient in the pocket. The game he had in Ames in 2019 is head and shoulders the best game he's ever played. Day has a big arm and is a true pro-style quarterback. He was a 4 star recruit out of high school and did see the field in limited capacity at Michigan State. He was a casualty of the coaching change there. I expect McElvain to be the guy because Farley jsut can't quit him.
RB- There's a nice mix of youth and experience but no true stand out. Should be a 'by committee' situation that goes as the offensive line goes. Should see action from 4 backs:
32 Tyler Hoosman (6-0 215) (Plainfield, IL)
7 Dom Williams (5-10 200) (Kansas Transfer)
36 Bradrick Shaw (6-1 225) (Cal Transfer
31 Kendall Robinson (6-0 220) (Waterloo East)
WR- Deep, talented group with lots of experience but can anybody get the ball to them?
80 Isaiah Weston (Jr, 6-4 210) (Albertville, MN)
17 Logan Wolf (So, 6-5 200) (Cedar Falls)
1 Deion McShane (Jr, 5-6 175) (Freeport, IL)
4 Quan Hampton (Sr, 5-10 180) (Kansas Transfer)
13 Tysen Kershaw (Fr, 6-3 185) (Fort Dodge)
82 Sergio Morency (True Fr, 6-2 180) (Naples, FL)
TE- Not a feature in the offense. Used more as an extra tackle. 84 Jayden Scott (So, 6-5 255) (Omaha) and 42 Kyle Fortenbury (Grad, 6-4 245) (Opelika, AL) will get most of the snaps there.
OL- Big and physical but not well coached or schemed at times. New OL coach brought in so there is some optimism that its better. Trevor Penning will be drafted and is the definite standout of the bunch
LT- 70 Trevor Penning (RS Jr, 6-7 325) (Clear Lake)
LG- 75 Jared Penning (RS Fr, 6-6 338) (Clear Lake)
C- 61 Chase Arends (RS So, 6-1 300) (Dike)
or 66 Erik Sorenson (RS Jr, 6-6, 320) (Waukee)
RG- 72 Justin Peine (RS Jr, 6-6 329) (Parker, KS)
RT- 76 Antoine Frazier (Grad, 6-6, 315) (Huffman, TX) (Kansas Transfer)
Defense (4-2-5 Hybrid)--
DT- Led by Valley DPOY DT 44 Jared Brinkman (Sr, 6-2, 290) (Iowa City). Brinkman is a disrupter that is very good against the run and led the team in sacks last year. 99 Khristian Boyd (RS So, 6-4, 300) (Blue Springs, MO) and 94 Tim Butcher (Sr, 6-2 300) (Palmer, IA) will handle the other tackle. Boyd is the better pass rusher and athlete, Butcher is the better run stopper
DE- UNI tends to look for length and athleticism at the end spot and tends to look for pass rushers over run stoppers. Should see four guys get the majority of the snaps
93 Caden Houghtelling (So, 6-5 255) (Cambridge, NE)
91 Brawntae Wells (Sr, 6-4 300) (Dowling)
8 Devin Rice (RS So, 6-3 255) (Liberty, MO)
96 Cannon Butler (RS Fr, 6-7 215) (Waterloo Columbus)
LB- Three All Conference guys for two spots. Very good group though Flater will be limited as he had shoulder surgery after the first game of the spring.
22 Bryce Flater (RS Jr, 6-1 230) (Grundy Center)
41 Spencer Cuvelier (RS Sr, 6-3 235) (Cresco)
47 Riley Van Wyhe (RS Jr, 6-3 230) (Rock Rapids)
Hybrid- Swing safety/LB hybrid that will line up all over the place
40 Alfonso Lambert (RS Sr, 6-1 220) (Rockford, IL)-Running Downs
10 Eric Mooney (So, 6-3 190) (West Dundee, IL)- Passing Downs
37 Jace Andregg (RS Fr, 6-3 215) (Solon)
S- Not the most athletic group but they're physical and experienced and do a nice job against the run. Sapp gets an NFL look if he runs well enough.
9 Benny Sapp III (Jr, 6-1 205) (Ft Lauderdale, FL) (Minnesota Transfer)
5 Korby Sander (RS Jr, 6-1 215) (Belmond-Klemme)
0 Jevon Brekke (Jr, 6-3 200) (Minneapolis De La Salle)
CB-Another real strength of the defense. Omar Brown was national defensive freshman of the year two years ago and then didn't get many honors last year because nobody threw at him (6 balls all spring and he intercepted 2 of them). He's a draft pick eventually and is probably UNIs most talented defensive player overall.
24 Omar Brown (So, 6-1 200) (Minneapolis North)
27 Austin Evans (RS Sr, 6-1 190) (Kansas City Archbishop O'Hara)
3 Demarcus Governor (So, 5-11 185) (Plant City, FL)
34 Edwin Dearman (So, 5-11 200) (Houston, TX)
K/P- You all saw what Cook could do the last time UNI played in Ames. Struggled a little in the spring outdoors but I'm guessing there won't be snow piled on the sidelines in a couple weeks
K 97 Matthew Cook (So, 5-11 180) (Cedar Falls)
P 63 Nate Murphy (RS Jr, 6-1 175) (West Des Moines Valley)
As I said above, this game is somewhere between 31-14 and 42-6 depending on what UNI can do on offense. The defense is legit and can hang as long as they aren't on the field all day. UNI isn't going to back down so I think it's the perfect FCS game for Iowa State. A team like this needs to have somebody that isn't going to roll over and take the check and we know UNI won't do that.
My prediction--Iowa State 38-10. Competitive for 2 and a half quarters, something like 14-3 at halftime and then Iowa State's depth and the fact UNIs defense is on the field too much lets Iowa State cruise in the 4th.
