The interior linemen are regularly left to do the dirty work for the defensive unit, which can become a daunting task against heavy opposing offensive lines.

Despite not having one defensive tackle eclipsing the 300-pound mark, the Cyclone interior line has been working on strengthening other facets of its game to prevent itself from getting pushed around when the season starts.

“We play get-off defensive, we get off the ball,” said senior nose guard Stephen Ruempolhamer. “So we work with our momentum to have success up front.”

The interior line has been showing signs of improvement in getting off blocks, better than it has in the past, said defensive tackles coach Shane Burnham.

“In the past maybe we’d get in our gap, we could hold a block,” Burnham said. “But they’ve done a better job finding the football, getting off the block and playing with their eyes.”

Junior Cleyon Laing’s transition to the interior line from defensive end brings the athleticism of an end that Burnham felt is ideal for helping with the inside pass rush. However, Laing still needs to work on defending the run.

“It’s a little noisier on the inside than it is on the edge, and I don’t think he’s used to the noise yet,” Burnham said. “I’m trying to get him to embrace that noise, but I don’t know if he has yet.”

In contention with Laing for the starting spot at three-technique is junior Jake McDonough, who has seen much improvement from last spring.

“My pad level is the main thing that has improved a lot from last year,” McDonough said. “I’m starting to be a little more explosive off the ball from where I was last year.”

McDonough also credited Director of Strength and Conditioning Yancy McKnight for his improved agility and an improved hip flexibility that has helped lower his pad level.

“I told my guys, ‘If Jake McDonough can play with pad level, then anybody can play with pad level,'” Burnham said. “Because he might have been the most high-hipped guy I’d ever come across.”

As far as the concerns about size, Burnham is not concerned with his players facing offensive linemen who could possibly outweigh them by 40 pounds.

“The smaller you are, the better technique you’ve got to play with,” Burnham said. “That’s what I tell them.”