I think all of Cyclone Nation is in agreement with me when I say that all I want for my birthday is an uninjured Cyclone team. Last year was rough on the linebackers, and now half our secondary is on a milk carton.
Iowa State
I think this week, for defensive players to watch, is going to be the cornerbacks. Tre Bell has already been heavily involved with the starters as a rotational piece when someone needs a breather, while the rotation of Quentin Taylor, Beni Ngoyi, Caden Kock, and Caden Matson might all potentially
see reps. It’s going to be big shoes to fill; it might be up to the safeties, Ta’Shawn James, Marcus Neal, and Jamison Patton, to lead the secondary against a very experienced quarterback.
Brendan Sorsby should try to expose the corners the best he can, but when he gets pressure or impatient, he makes a lot of bad reads. It will be up to the defense to work as a whole to help out their new full-time partners keep the tough defensive tradition alive.
Cincinnati
With Tyson Veidt as Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator, you know that their best position and player is more than likely a linebacker, and that’s exactly who we are going to look at. Jake Golday is a Super Senior with three seasons at Central Arkansas and joined Veidt at Cincinnati in 2024. As we have seen with our own linebacker success under Vedit (Lanning’s switch, RJ Harvey, Marcel Spears, Mike Rose, Jake Hummel), Golday is their jack-of-all trades. As an outside linebacker, he comes off the edge when they bring pressure, but can also read the offensive backfield to make key plays in the option or run game.
In his first season in the Big 12, Jake had 58 combined tackles, nine for a loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Through their first four games, he has accumulated 36 combined tackles, and two for a loss. He’s been having a big impact on this defensive front and could be the one applying pressure on Rocco if left unchecked.
