In Saturday’s 34-3 loss to Texas A&M, the ISU special teams unit showed up — unfortunately for the Cyclones, the offense and defense didn’t.

ISU kick returner Tyease Thompson had 119 yards on four kickoff returns, including returns of 30, 36 and 38 yards. The Lakeland, Fla., native is fourth among Big 12 kick returners with a 23.2 average; he was named the special teams MVP for the Texas A&M game.

ISU coach Dan McCarney said he is pleased with the progress of the freshman.

“[Thompson] really has some speed and athleticism and courage,” he said.

Punter Troy Blankenship had a 49-yard punt against the Aggies; the punt bounced and headed out of bounds after taking a 90-degree right turn at the A&M 3-yard line.

Two weeks ago against Oklahoma State, Blankenship had a season-long 53-yard punt, including three inside the Cowboys’ 20-yard line.

Todd Miller, the Cyclones punt returner, said Blankenship has been kicking the ball well recently.

“Troy’s been working hard in practice, ever since he’s got here and he’s been hanging around Tony [Yelk] awhile,” Miller said. “This year he’s got a chance with Tony’s injury to step up and play a major role.”

McCarney said Yelk did a little punting last week and his status is still a game-to-game decision. Yelk has the second-best career punting average in ISU history at 42.3 yards.

“[Tony’s] not 100 percent,” McCarney said. “When he is 100 percent, he’ll be a great boost to our kicking game. The trainers, doctors and I are not going to ask him to go out there until he can kick it as hard as Tony Yelk can.”

For now, McCarney said Blankenship is the starter. He also said there were two main things that have helped the punt team the most this season — the player snapping the ball and the man punting it.

“[Landon] Schrage is firing fast bullets, and Blank is getting it off fast,” McCarney said. “The efficiency of our operation is as good as it’s been since I’ve been here.”

Confidence is a part of the kicking game that Blankenship said the whole punt team has as a unit has now.

“I can really feel our team coming together,” Blankenship said. “I know I’m going to get a good snap from Landon Schrage, and I know I’m going to get good protection.”

McCarney said after two straight losses, the Cyclones need to build on the little things that went right against the Aggies.

“Our special teams and kick return team was outstanding,” McCarney said. “We blocked our fourth kick of the season. I really like those things.”

Iowa State’s only points came on a 27-yard Brian Jansen field goal in the first quarter. McCarney said that was another positive for the Cyclones.

“We hit a field goal,” he said. “I’m not going to make any highlight tapes, but we hit a field goal. All of those things we’ll build on.”