See Wednesday practice video as the Zac Lee-Cody Green QB battle continues:

AMES, Iowa — The Doctor, Textbook, Ocho, Pretty and King Kong will have to play well Saturday for Iowa State to stand much of a chance of upsetting Nebraska.

The Cyclones' offensive line has emerged as one of the most productive units in Division I football, featuring center Reggie Stephens (The Doctor), guards Alex Alvarez (Ocho) and Ben Lamaak (Textbook) and tackles Scott Haughton (Pretty) and Kelechi Osemele (King Kong).

Iowa State leads the Big 12 in rushing, and in allowing just three sacks in seven games, the Cyclones rank second behind league and national leader Oklahoma State (two in six games).

“We have a reputation growing that we have a pretty good offensive front five,'' Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said. “We've run the ball effectively over the course of seven football games. We've protected our quarterbacks well.''

It might be argued that Iowa State hasn't faced a defensive front wall as challenging as Nebraska's or an individual as imposing as Husker defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Iowa does have a solid defensive line, and that game didn't turn out well for the Cyclones: The Hawkeyes cruised to a 35-3 win.

Overall, though, the offensive line has been Iowa State's strength through its 4-3 start. It's a group made up of a senior in Stephens, who will make his 36th straight start on Saturday in Lincoln; junior guards in Alvarez and Lamaak; and sophomore tackles in Haughton and Osemele, who at 6-foot-5 and 349 pounds is the biggest of the bunch.

“We thought going into the season they would be a good unit,'' Rhoads said. “We thought they would be the best position group on our football team.

“But to be running the football like we have and to be leading the conference and up toward the top of the nation in sacks given up, I think they have exceeded our expectations.''

A year ago, Iowa State finished 67th nationally in rushing production at 138.4 yards per game. They also gave up 19 sacks in 12 games to rank 40th nationally.

Iowa State has gained almost as many rushing yards in seven games (1,497) as it did in 12 games last season (1,661). The Cyclones are 14th nationally with 213.9 yards per game and are averaging 5.2 yards per attempt. They averaged only 4.1 yards per rush last year, including quarterback sacks.

The line has earned the admiration of running back Alexander Robinson, who leads the Big 12 in rushing (105.3 yards per game), and quarterback Austen Arnaud.

“They've played great as a unit,'' Arnaud said.

Robinson disagrees with his coach that the linemen are exceeding expectations.

“They just get out there every day and get after it,'' Robinson said. “I don't know what they grade themselves on or what the coaches grade them on, but I think they've done pretty well judging from an overall perspective.''

Any grading system starts with accountability, Stephens said.

“We hold each other to pretty high standards,'' Stephens said. “We're always critiquing each other, and guys have gotten a lot closer.

“We're always laughing and joking with each other. It's a good room to be in right now.''

So has this group exceeded its expectations?

“We've come a long ways and proved a lot,'' Stephens said. “The young guys have really come along.

“Scott Haughton has played exceptionally well, and KO (Osemele) might be the most dominant offensive lineman that we have. We're getting better every week as a unit, and hopefully we can ride the success we've had into this week.

“I expect us to continue to play well. And I know that we can get better. We haven't reached our full potential. We just need to continue to get better each week.''

Few players have had a better spot to watch the offensive linemen's development than has senior defensive tackle Nate Frere, who has been butting heads with the group daily.

“They were good last year, but this year they're on a whole different level,'' Frere said. “They're big, they're strong, they're physical and they're fast.''

The linemen also are developing a sense of pride that comes from putting opposing defenders on their backsides and keeping Arnaud off his.

Stephens was asked what means more to the line: Paving the way for the conference's best rushing attack or allowing just three sacks.

“Neither one of those stats are what we're talking about on a daily basis,'' he said. “We're just trying to win games. If we continue to win games, I don't think anyone is going to care about either one of those stats.''

Contact the writer:

679-2298, steve.pivovar@owh.com

• Also, see the latest edition of the Big Red Today Show, as our Husker writers break down all the latest Nebraska football news and more:

« Sports - Big Red Today

Share