Jason Scales should still be in high school. Instead, he’s already making an impact at Cyclone football practices.

Scales, who left West Des Moines Valley early to get a jump on college, is the No. 2 running back on the ISU football team, making a quick impression on coaches and teammates.

Stevie Hicks holds the starting spot now, returning after a season in which he led Iowa State in rushing with 471 yards.

“Jason Scales is off to a great start. He’s learning. He’s going to make mistakes, we know that, but he’s shown already in spring ball that he will play next year, barring any injury,” ISU head football coach Dan McCarney said.

“I’ve seen enough of Jason Scales to know that he will not be redshirted in the fall.”

Scales helped lead Valley to back-to-back state championships, rushing for 6,050 yards and 78 touchdowns.

“He’s doing real well,” offensive lineman Aaron Brant said. “He’s trying his hardest. He’s making some plays, he’s making mistakes as well, but he’s not letting them get to him. He’s getting back up and going out there again.”

Brant, now a sophomore, also left high school early to come to Iowa State last season.

McCarney coached several great running backs in his time in Ames, and he is starting to see some similarities between Scales and two of his star pupils.

“He’s already shown that he is physical enough [to play at this level],” McCarney said. “At times he reminds me of Darren Davis and Troy Davis in the way he blocks.

“He isn’t that type of running back yet, but as a blocker, where he’s explosive and powerful and has great fundamentals, it shows me that he can help us next year.”

Scales is also adjusting to the college game, proving to his coach that he wants to get better and to win.

“He learns from his mistakes and has great pride,” McCarney said. “If he fumbles the ball, it just tears him up, he’s got that pride and that feeling of how important that is. He’s not done a lot of that but when he does, it really, really bothers him and he comes back with more determination.”