The ISU football team was tired and beaten up before it went to Norman to face No. 6 Oklahoma.

After the ISU defense faced 94 plays from the OU offense, surrendered 52 points and the ISU offense was held to just 3 yards per play, the Cyclones returned with even wearier legs.

“Getting back at 3 o’clock in the morning on Sunday, we took day the off from a practice standpoint to try and rest our kids and freshen their legs up the best that we can,” said ISU coach Paul Rhoads at his weekly news conference Monday.

Rhoads’ attempts at resting his team may have come too late, though. Several Cyclones were already banged up as they started preparing to face No. 19 Texas on Saturday.

At wide receiver, Darius Darks left the field Saturday after a shot to the ribcage sent him off the field. A junior, Darks will likely be limited on Saturday against the Longhorns.

Running back Alexander Robinson has been hobbled with foot and ankle injuries this season, but will be “fine and ready to play,” Rhoads said.

Defensive end Rashawn Parker left the loss to Oklahoma with a knee injury. Sophomore Roosevelt Maggitt filled in for the injured Parker and would do so if Parker isn’t ready to take the field in Austin, Texas, on Saturday.

“Roosevelt has also improved, and per play, he’s as productive a defensive end as we’ve had all season,” Rhoads said. “Pleased with his growth and maturity, and he’s a guy that we’ve been able to mold a little bit as we’ve taken over the program, and I think the future is very bright with his two years remaining.”

If Maggitt sees the field Saturday, though, he won’t be the only fresh face along the ISU front four.

Junior defensive end Jacob Lattimer is listed as the starter at the end opposite Parker and Maggitt, supplanting Patrick Neal, who has started at left end since the 2009 season.

“Jake’s out-played him, especially recently,” Rhoads said. “He has really started to show up the last two or three weeks and is making more plays.”

While the defensive front four has been a point of emphasis, Rhoads insisted the Lattimer move and any future playing time for Maggitt are not looks toward 2011 or beyond.

“We would never put 2011 or 2012 in front of 2010,” Rhoads said. “We would never jeopardize the success of this game or this season just to get younger kids more playing time.”

The coach made a similar change on the offensive side of the ball, moving wide receiver Darius Reynolds to the top spot at his position, supplanting Sedrick Johnson.

Reynolds has 11 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown this season, while Johnson has 14 catches for 94 yards this season.

“Darius has been coming on and performing better, both in practice and in game situations,” Rhoads said.

Closing the speed gap

For back-to-back weeks, Rhoads has pointed to differences in team speed as a major reason for scoring discrepancies on the field.

Against Utah, Rhoads pointed to a major speed difference on special teams as a huge gap in the Cyclones’ 68-27 loss. There seemed to be a speed difference everywhere on the field in the 52-0 loss to Oklahoma.

“We certainly aren’t without athletic and speedy players,” Rhoads said, “but you don’t have them with the numbers that opponents like this do.”

With seven teams on Iowa State’s schedule in the first Bowl Championship Series rankings that were released on Sunday — including three of their remaining five opponents — the challenge of facing quicker, deeper lineups is present nearly all year.

Recruiting the kind of speed necessary to have the kind of depth that Oklahoma and Utah have, Rhoads said, becomes difficult because players with that speed at each position are fewer and farther between.

“The biggest disparity between those programs is in the interior lines, especially on the defensive side,” Rhoads said. “That’s where we need the most growth, probably, in the program.”

Kicking it old school

Freshman punter Kirby Van Der Kamp has been one of the brightest spots in Iowa State’s back-to-back losses.

The West Des Moines native and Valley High School graduate has 16 punts in the last two games and has averaged 50.9 yards per kick over that span.

While he is second in the Big 12 with his 48.4 yards per kick over the course of the season, Rhoads said there are a few things the first-year special teamer can improve upon.

“His hangtime is something that we want to increase as he kicks the ball down the field,” Rhoads said. “Our net was outstanding Saturday, but the 16-yard return that we gave up and the 10-yard return we gave up are big plays waiting to happen if he doesn’t put more hangtime on it.”

Coming into the season, punter was a question mark for Rhoads and the Cyclones. Van Der Kamp and senior Daniel Kuehl were battling to replace long-time punter Michael Brandtner who departed the team after 2009.

However, after a bit of a slow start, Van Der Kamp has proven himself to be a worthy replacement, even as a freshman.

“He’s a true freshman but he’s not kicking like one,” said ISU quarterback Austen Arnaud. “Physically, he’s probably more gifted than Mike was. So we’re very excited to have him and he’s got a great future ahead of him.”

Tau’fo’ou update

Injured ISU linebacker Matt Tau’fo’ou is recovering from the broken leg that has sidelined him nearly all season.

Tau’fo’ou broke his fibula against the then-ninth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes and has been out since.

Rhoads said that the junior will “run around” more this week, but still likely won’t see the practice field until next week when the Cyclones begin preparing to face Kansas.

Homecoming kickoff set

The Cyclones’ game against Kansas on Oct. 30 will be the first of the season not televised. The game will also be the first of the Cyclones’ games at Jack Trice Stadiums that won’t finish under the lights.

After four straight home games finishing late in the night, Iowa State will take kick off its Homecoming affair with Kansas at 1 p.m.