The ISU football team already has two tailbacks returning from last year’s 2-10 season in Stevie Hicks and Brian Thompson. Add in Cyclone signees Jason Scales, Greg Coleman, Brandon Gunn, Webster Patrick and Tyease Thompson, all at tailback, and the words “running back controversy” come to mind.

ISU head football coach Dan McCarney said having seven possible running backs is a dilemma he doesn’t mind.

“It’s a great problem to have,” McCarney said. “In the Big 12, you better go in every week with three [tail]backs ready to play, and we know that.”

McCarney, who will begin his 10th season with the Cyclones, said it’s essential to have a lot of depth at the tailback position.

“We went through many games where three backs have played,” McCarney said. “It’s a high injury rate position, and we lost a couple of scholarship running backs [to graduation] in [Hiawatha] Rutland and [Michael] Wagner. We knew we needed to bring in some kids this year, and we were just real fortunate to sign the kids we did.”

Hicks enters spring practice as the No. 1 back on the depth chart. McCarney said it is Hicks’ job to lose — and the competition is tough.

“The advantage [Hicks] has right now is he’s No. 1,” McCarney said. “They have to take the job away from him; he’s not climbing the ladder right now, he’s there. He’s on top as our starter and the [challenge for Hicks is], can he be consistent enough and productive enough to stay No. 1.”

At 6-foot-2, Hicks is the tallest of the tailbacks. Last season, he accumulated 511 total yards and started the final four games of the season.

“I have a different running style than the others,” Hicks said. “They’re shorter, and it’s hard to see them, so I have to have more moves and power.”

Retaining the No. 1 position is something Hicks has set his sights on.

“I’m trying not to make any mental errors,” Hicks said.

Thompson, a redshirt junior, has the most experience after Hicks. Thompson spent the last two seasons on special teams, but played some tailback his freshman year.

“I came to play tailback, but the team needed me on special teams, so that’s where I had to play. But I’d rather play tailback,” Thompson said.

He said his game involves more finesse than power.

“I’m a back that will try to make you miss, before I run you over,” Thompson said. “I try to break away with speed.”

Thompson said football isn’t football without good competition.

“It gives me motivation to know that I have to work harder,” Thompson said.

Scales joined the Cyclones in January, after graduating early from West Des Moines Valley High School. He rushed for more than 2,000 yards as a junior and senior and finished his career with 6,050 yards and 78 touchdowns.

“Right now, I’m just trying to concentrate on spring football,” Scales said. “I’m trying to get in and learn the system.”

With Scales joining the Cyclones early, he’s gotten a head start on his fellow recruits, but he’s not sure how much difference it’ll make come fall.

“I don’t know how much of an advantage [I have on them], but it allows me to come in here and learn the playbook and get adjusted to the speed of the game,” Scales said.

Scales said the competition is stiff, because everybody wants to play and everyone wants to win.

“They’re all good running backs,” Scales said. “My style is just trying to contribute to that one particular play in any way I can, whether it’s running or blocking.”

With all of the talent coming in at tailback, McCarney said position switches and redshirt seasons are possibilities.

“We’re not going to play six or seven running backs,” McCarney said. “Gunn is the one we’ve talked to the most about moving to the secondary. Those other guys all want to be running backs, and we’re willing to give them a shot.”

Even though the competition is tough now, McCarney said it’s going to become more difficult the closer it gets to the season opener Sept. 4 against Northern Iowa.

“It’s tough now because of Stevie, Brian and Jason, and it’ll be tough in the fall because those are some real talented running backs [coming in] that a lot of people recruited,” McCarney said.

“We’ve just had a tremendous tradition here with our running backs, and we’re just trying to get back and strengthen that again this year.”