By now, you know about Iowa State’s skill players.

There’s experience and depth at running back and receiver, and quarterback Austen Arnaud has more options than ever in his third year starting under center.

For Arnaud and those weapons to be successful, though, there has to be success up front.

“If you’re not playing well up there, it’s hard to gauge where you’re at, at any point of the season,” said offensive coordinator Tom Herman. “Because it’s really hard at quarterback and at running back to try and get a full grasp of what you’re trying to do when you’re running for your life or things aren’t blocked right.”

The offensive line returns three starters from last year’s unit that paved the way for the third-best rushing attack in the Big 12.

Gone, though, is All-Big 12 performer Reggie Stephens. In his place at center is Ben Lamaak, the starter at right guard during the 2009 campaign.

“You don’t replace Reggie,” said offensive line coach Bill Bliel. “You just hope to bring somebody that can some day get to that point. Ben is playing really well. You obviously want your best inside guy at center, and that’s what we have right now.”

Lamaak, a senior, has 33 career starts, splitting time at tackle and guard. When the Cedar Rapids native arrived at Iowa State, he was a 225-pound tight end, much different from the 320-pound center he is now.

However, starting his career as a tight end has given Lamaak an advantage over his predecessor.

“If Reggie reads this, he’ll kill me, but in athletic ability Ben’s probably a little bit more athletic,” Herman said. “And I think Ben’s almost to the point where he’s understanding and grasping the offense and directing traffic the way that Reggie used to.”

There is one area, though, that Stephens held an advantage over Lamaak.

“The thing we’re still trying to get Ben to do is lead like Reggie led,” Herman said. “Reggie was a tremendous vocal and nonverbal leader, and Ben’s got to assume that role a little bit more.”

Even with the coordinator’s concern, Lamaak’s position coach said he feels good about the leadership of the front five. He did say, though, that getting to this point has taken awhile.

“We’re about to the point in camp where you’re starting to feel good about it,” Bliel said after practice last week. “I think he is doing a great job of running the show out there, and controlling everything and getting everybody directed.”

Aiding in that, though, is the fact Lamaak isn’t the only one with experience slated to start up front when the Cyclones kick off the season Sept. 2.

Senior Alex Alvarez and junior Kelechi Osemele, known as “KO” to coaches and teammates, are the other two returning starters and will anchor the left side of the line. Meanwhile, Hayworth Hicks returns from an injury that forced him to miss all of 2009 after playing in all 12 games in 2008. Brayden Burris, a backup who played in 12 games as a true freshman last season, will replace Scott Haughton at right tackle after his dismissal from the team in May.

“We keep improving every day,” Lamaak said. “It’s fun to play with guys that know what they’re doing and can go out there and make plays. It’s fun to watch.”

Despite the experience of all five starters on the line, Osemele was the hot topic during fall camp. The 6-foot-5-inch, 335-pound left tackle will protect Arnaud’s blind side after earning second-team All-Big 12 honors last season.

“It’s great playing with KO,” Lamaak said. “He’s big, he’s strong, he’s physical, he can move and he just loves the game.”

Lamaak called Osemele nasty at left tackle, something that isn’t traditionally a trait on the outside of the line.

Herman labeled the left tackle position as more of a finesse-oriented position. He also said, though, that Osemele brings a “new dimension” to the position due to his style of play.

“He’s like a nose guard playing left tackle because he’s so physical,” Herman said. “He’s able to have the feet and the change of direction to make plays in space, but also when he locks on you, you’re locked on.”

Outside the loss of Stephens and Haughton, not much has changed up front.

Osemele, Lamaak and the others hope to build off their successes in 2009. Because of that experience, they believe they can hold their own against the tough defenses the ISU offense will go against this season.

“They’re coming off a pretty good fall last year, and we had some success,” Bliel said. “Hopefully, we can grow and keep getting better with depth, and it looks like the young guys are playing well.”