MCKENZIE FINDS A SECOND HOME

The Cyclones had success switching center Scott Stephenson from the Big Ten to play in the Big 12. Now they will try again with another Big Ten transfer.

Tyrone McKenzie transferred to Iowa State after one season with Michigan State, and has already made his presence known in the battle at linebacker.

Stephenson played for Minnesota before coming to Iowa State last season and earning all-conference honors.

McKenzie will try to do the same thing.

After playing in 11 games as a freshman with the Spartans, McKenzie decided it was time for a change.

“The coaches [at Iowa State] want to win games, but yet they care more about the players,” McKenzie said. “It’s been a great family atmosphere since I’ve been here.”

The Tampa, Fla., native was going to commit to Iowa State after high school, but changed his mind at the last second.

“I saw a position [at Michigan State] I could get in and play right away, and I decided to go there instead,” McKenzie said. “I played, but it wasn’t the type of atmosphere I wanted to play college football in.”

He would have had the task of backing up the now-graduated Tim Dobbins, Jamarr Buchanan and Brandon Brown, as well as current Cyclone Matt Robertson had he come to Iowa State right away.

With half of spring practice complete, McKenzie is No. 1 on the depth chart at strong-side linebacker, and has impressed the Cyclone coaching staff.

“He’s a complete player,” McCarney said. “There’s no doubt he’s a Big 12 football player, a Big 12 linebacker.”

SCHEDULE OF OPPORTUNITY

Call it a chance to prove something. Call it a schedule of opportunity.

But most of all, call it tough.

Iowa State’s schedule for the 2006 season is loaded from top to bottom, pitting the Cyclones in games against nine 2005 bowl teams. Add to that a game against the Division I-AA national runner-up, and there is no place for a breather.

“You have tough games each year,” said offensive lineman Aaron Brant. “This time there are more than normal.”

The Cyclones nonconference games are against bowl teams such as the University of Toledo and the University of Iowa, as well as the University of Northern Iowa, a team that nearly won the Division I-AA national title.

Conference games include matchups on the road against the national champion Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma and Colorado – all teams that made postseason appearances.

Bowl teams Nebraska, Texas Tech, Kansas and Missouri will visit Jack Trice Stadium. Kansas State is the only Big 12 team on the schedule that didn’t play in a bowl.

Iowa State’s opponents went a combined 93-54 in 2005.

“When you have such great teams on the schedule, you definitely have an opportunity to go out and show your stuff,” Brant said. “Hopefully we can go out and take advantage of it this year.”

DAVIS KNOCKED OUT OF PRACTICE

The ISU offense took a hit last week when senior receiver Jon Davis went down with a freak ankle injury.

Davis snapped his Achilles tendon and had surgery on the injury late last week, said ISU coach Dan McCarney.

“It was one of the most freak injuries I’ve ever seen,” McCarney said.

“He made a cut, nobody touched him and his Achilles snapped.”

Davis has been a two-year starter at receiver, teaming with Todd Blythe and Bret Meyer to form one of the most dangerous passing threats in the Big 12.

Davis led the Cyclones with 48 receptions in 2004 and made 41 catches last year, good for third on the team.

McCarney said the receiver should be ready when the season starts in the fall.

– Grant Wall