New ISU wide receivers coach Todd Sturdy has one thing in mind.

“Consistency,” Sturdy said when asked what the group needs to focus on most. “In everything that they do. Not just on the field. Consistent performance day-in, day-out.” 

The Iowa native became the Cyclones’ wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator on Jan. 31. Sturdy joined the staff after tenuring as head coach at St. Ambrose University and also as offensive coordinator at Washington State. 

“I was thrilled to be back here, and it’s really exciting,” Sturdy said. “When you have to move that’s always the tough thing, being away from family, but it’s good to get back home to family too. Once we get settled down here we’ll get things back to normal.”

Sturdy said he was happy to get outside on the practice field and finally get acclimated with his group of 14 receivers. That group includes eight upper-classmen including newcomer Jerome Tiller, who came over to the position after serving a one-year absence due to academic ineligibility. 

“I think we’ve got a mixture of some veteran players and obviously some young talented players as well,” Sturdy said. “You never know what you’ve got until you get out there and starting working. So now that I’ve been able to get out here for spring practice, I’m excited about this group.”

The group as a whole has seen some injuries so far this spring. Recently Aaron Horne broke his collarbone, while Ja’Quarius Daniels hurt his shoulder and Chris Young sustained a concussion in the team’s first live scrimmage last Saturday. 

“You can look at it as the glass half empty or half full,” Sturdy said. “You’ve just got to be positive and move forward. Next guy in.”

Even though the coach has a group of newcomers and has not had long to work with them, he said they feel like they are gelling as a whole nicely so far. 

“I’m pleased with where we’re at,” Sturdy said. “I’m more excited about where I think we can be. We’re nowhere near where we need to be, but I’m excited about where we’ve set the bar and excited about where the group’s headed.”

The wide receivers have started to gel as a unit. Now Sturdy said it is just up to the coaches to put the guys in the right spots in order to help them succeed. 

“It gets down to us coaches understanding what each guy can do really well,” Sturdy said. “What are his strengths, what are his weaknesses. Just being smart about putting guys in situations where they can succeed.”