With a 2-10 record, there were few bright spots in the 2003 ISU football season. The emergence of true freshman defensive end Jason Berryman was one of them.

Berryman, a Houston native, was named the Big 12’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year and co-freshman defensive player of the year by the league’s coaches. He also earned all-Big 12 honors and was chosen as Iowa State’s Most Valuable Player.

Berryman came into the season opener last year against Northern Iowa behind Tyson Smith in the depth chart, but Smith suffered a broken leg in the game, and Berryman was inserted into the lineup.

Berryman said he thought he’d have a chance to play and was prepared when the opportunity arose.

“Looking at the depth chart, there was a very high percentage I’d play,” Berryman said. “With the good coaches we have, they had me ready to go the first game.”

When his time came against the Panthers, Berryman said he was excited to get on the field and contribute.

“There’s a difference between nervous and anxious,” Berryman said. “When you’re anxious, that means you want it, you’ve got to have it, and I think I was more anxious than nervous.”

ISU defensive coordinator John Skladany said the Cyclones knew from early on they had found a gem in Berryman.

“We knew in training camp we had a special football player,” Skladany said. “As a freshman, his speed and his tenacious attitude gave him a chance to compete in the Big 12.”

After Smith’s season-ending injury, Berryman was pushed to the forefront.

“We were going to share time [between Berryman and] Tyson, but when Tyson broke his leg, we put Jason in at that position, and he played the rest of the season, and each week he just got better and better,” Skladany said.

Berryman amassed 110 tackles last season, second only to team leader JaMaine Billups’ 116. Berryman also recorded 19 quarterback hurries and had three sacks, anchoring the Cyclone defense.

Skladany said a rookie season with the success of Berryman’s is uncommon.

“That doesn’t happen very often for a freshman,” Skladany said. “Some of the things he did out there were really something. I think the last three or four games, he was the defensive player of the game, making double-digit tackles and running things down — he was just terrific.”

At the ISU football banquet in December, Berryman was also awarded the Durwood “Dury” Moss Award, given to the team’s outstanding newcomer; the Al and Dean Knudson Award as the Cyclones’ outstanding defensive player; and the Arthur Floyd Scott Award as the team’s outstanding defensive lineman.

Berryman said he didn’t expect to receive all the recognition that he did, but was pleased his hard work paid off.

“I was surprised to win the [awards],” Berryman said. “But with all the hard work and the effort I put into it, there’s always rewards when you put everything you got into something.”

Coming in as a freshman, Berryman said he didn’t anticipate having the immediate success that he did.

“I didn’t expect anything; I really don’t ever expect anything,” Berryman said. “The only thing I can expect is what I put out of myself.”

The question now for Berryman is where will he go from last season’s successes — will he plateau from here, or was last season just a glimpse of Berryman’s potential?

“The challenge for anybody who has success early in their career is to keep improving and not settle for what you did in the past and reach the top of your potential,” Skladany said. “He can get a little bigger and stronger, physically develop, and, as he learns the game more, we just hope he’s more productive and an even better player.”

Berryman said his main goal for next season is to win games, and that winning outlook begins with spring football.

“Spring practice has been great; ever since the first day we’ve been cranking it up, stepping everything up and coming in with a lot of intensity,” Berryman said. “We’ve got all the utensils we need for next season.”

Berryman said his accolades from last season won’t add any pressure to him this season.

“Our focus at Iowa State is the team and playing team ball,” Berryman said. “The focus is never really on one player, it’s people coming together as a team and working together trying to make the whole team better. So I feel there’s no more pressure on me than there is my backup.”