Everybody knew that Iowa State would have a great rushing attack this year.

Ennis Haywood, Mike Wagner, Jamaine Billups, the names speak for themselves.

What people didn’t realize, however, was just how good the Cyclones’ wide receivers would be.

A year off losing J.J. Moses (53 receptions, 775 yards) and Chris Anthony (35, 449) to graduation, Craig Campbell and Lane Danielsen have had to step up and replace both their statistics and experience.

And step up they have.

Both have responded big time this season as Campbell has snared nine passes for 148 yards with Danielsen close behind with nine catches for 132 yards.

This weekend when Iowa State meets the Baylor Bears in the Big 12 season opener, the running game and passing game will have to complement each other in order for the offense to have success.

“It’s a packaged deal,” Campbell said. “We have to be able to effectively run and throw the ball. Whether we do one or the other first it really doesn’t matter.”

Teamed with new quarterback Seneca Wallace, Campbell has stepped into the role of the go-to receiver and is building the ever important chemistry with his quarterback that it takes to be successful.

“Just a couple of days ago, we had a conversation about team chemistry,” Campbell said. “Seneca and I are starting to do things that people do after they have been playing together a long time.”

The Baylor Bears responsible for stopping the talented ISU receiving corps will be safeties Samir Al-Amin and Kyle Staudt along with cornerbacks Randy Davis and Bobby Hart.

The veteran among the group is Al-Amin.

The senior leader tallied 68 tackles and a pair of interceptions from his strong safety position and has made the transition to free safety quite smoothly this year.

Despite the Bears’ abysmal 0-8 conference record in 2000, Iowa State will not be taking their opponent lightly with Nebraska lying in wait next weekend.

“They’re going to be a great team and very ready to play,” Campbell said. “As long as we execute out [our] game plan, we will be fine.”

While Baylor only gave up 176 yards through the air in last year’s contest, a porous run defense accounted for much of ISU’s yardage, and they rolled to 308 yards on the ground.

However, if the Bears are able to stop the vaunted ISU rushing attack, look for Campbell, Danielsen and company to be more than capable of opening it up through the air.