JaMaine Billups will start at strong safety this weekend just 47 days after head football coach Dan McCarney announced his intentions to convert the once-heralded running back into a defender.

The junior jumped ahead of Anthony Forrest on the depth chart released Tuesday.

Lance Young also overtook Jamaul Montgomery for the top spot at wide receiver.

McCarney said although both Billups and Forrest will play Saturday, there are several reasons he made the decision to move Billups into a starting role.

“He was more effective, and he’s been a more physical tackler,” McCarney said. “There’s nothing around here that’s permanent.”

Billups led the team with 12 tackles in Iowa State’s win over Iowa on Saturday and is fourth on the team in tackles this season with 27. He also had a critical fumble recovery against the Hawkeyes in the third quarter.

“I’m just happy I got the spot, but I’m in the majority of the games anyway,” Billups said. “I’ve got to take the role of being a leader out there now.”

Billups said he’s much more comfortable at his position than he was at the start of two-a-days, but he still has things to work on.

He said he must concentrate on using his arms to secure his tackles.

McCarney said every week he and his staff go through each players performance in the previous game. He said he’s sure he’ll see competition between Billups and Forrest the rest of the season for the starting spot.

“We’re still going to sit down and we’re going to evaluate every play and give you a plus or a minus – and reason why it’s a plus or minus – on every play,” McCarney said. “He’s definitely a better tackler than Anthony is right now.”

One of Billups’ partners in the secondary, Harold Clewis, said Billups has a knack for the ball and enjoys contact.

“He loves to hit, and I think that’s what brings his fire,” Clewis said.

ISU wide receiver Jack Whitver had even higher praise for Billups.

“He switched there at the start of two-a-days and he’s making plays like he’s been playing there three or four years,” Whitver said.

Billups, who was recruited as a safety by some schools out of high school, chose the Cyclones because he wanted to be a running back.

He said it’s hard to imagine what level he’d be at right now if he had started playing in the secondary when he got to Ames.

“I’d probably be an All-American or something like that, hopefully,” he said.