The ISU football team is still bandaged and bruised after a 58-27 loss to No. 19 Oklahoma State on Saturday, Oct. 26.

A number of starting players continue to be on the mend for the 1-6 team, including its starting quarterback, running back, will linebacker and special teams return man, to mention a few.

“It’s very frustrating because it’s out of your control,” ISU coach Paul Rhoads said. “We like to be in control, and when injuries crop up and you can’t play a guy and everything gets thrown out of whack — yeah, there’s a high level of frustration that goes along with that.”

ISU quarterback Sam Richardson practiced Sunday, Oct. 27, and is expected to practice all week before the game against Kansas State on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Aaron Wimberly, who jogged Sunday, was called “day-to-day” by Rhoads and will be that status until Saturday’s game against the Wildcats. Luke Knott is dealing with a hip and groin injury that Rhoads said he has dealt with since August, and it’s questionable how much Knott will play Saturday.

Return man Jarvis West, who sustained an MCL injury against Oklahoma State, won’t be available against Kansas State, but his injury isn’t believed to be as serious as other MCL injuries that were sustained this year by offensive linemen.

Nigel Tribune’s development

The only true freshman that has seen the field this season for Iowa State is cornerback Nigel Tribune.

Tribune finished last Saturday’s game with his first career interception, four tackles and a pass breakup.

“He transitions really well,” Rhoads said. “He changes direction from one movement to another and he quite honestly is capable of transitioning better than he has in games at times. Him playing at even a higher level with better knee bend and better urgency is going to create some of those plays I’m talking about.”

Tribune has been inserted into the starting cornerback role in place of Sam Richardson, who struggled in his previous starts. On the year, Tribune has 16 total tackles, three pass breakups and four pass defenses.

“What he’s doing right now is he stepped in when they needed him to step in,” said defensive tackle Brandon Jensen. “That’s a big deal because I’m sure his first week he wasn’t thinking he was going to be starting or playing like that. I like the way he’s attacking every week. He wants to get better, he’s taking coaching from everyone and he wants to be successful.”

Run defense learning

The young ISU defense continued to learn from Sunday’s film after allowing 342 yards on the ground to Oklahoma State last Saturday, including 219 yards and four touchdowns to OSU running back Desmond Roland in his first official start.

“It starts off with being in line properly and being in the right gap,” said ISU middle linebacker Jeremiah George. “I think some of the guys were getting confused where their help was at so they weren’t going to the right gap. It ends with tackling, we weren’t tackling well at all the entire day.”

The Cyclones currently rank at the bottom of the Big 12 in rushing defense, allowing nearly 220 yards per game on the ground. When Iowa State heads to Manhattan, Kansas State’s rushing offense will be waiting, ranking No. 4 in the Big 12 at 180 yards per game.

“I think it’s just missing gaps that we were supposed to be fitting and missing tackles,” Jensen said. “I mean we had a lot of those last week and you can’t be doing that kind of stuff to be successful.”