“This is the most fun I’ve had coaching a team since I left Madison,” said ISU Head Coach Dan McCarney at Tuesday’s press conference. “We’re anxious, and we’re ready to play.” This is, of course, good news for Cyclone fans and supporters everywhere heading into Saturday’s clash with Ohio University. Stepping onto the field for Iowa State will be 11 new starters, six on offense and five on defense. Most notably will be 360-pound right guard Lorenzo White, a transfer from Blinn Junior College in Texas. “He’s one of our favorites already and he hasn’t been here all that long,” McCarney said. Two other new starters will appear for the offensive line; at left tackle is junior Cory Hannen and at right tackle is senior Andy Stensrud making the switch from tight end. They will be accompanied by seniors Ben Bruns at center and Ben Beaudet at left guard. Senior Sage Rosenfels (captain) will be taking the first snap for the Cyclones with junior Ennis Haywood starting his first game at tailback. Redshirt freshmen Joe Woodley makes his debut at fullback rounding out the ISU backfield. Michael Wagner is expected to see action early and often, with freshmen Jamaine Billups and redshirt freshmen Hiawatha Rutland guaranteed to get on the field, McCarney said. Junior Craig Campbell will make his first start in cardinal and gold alongside senior split end Chris Anthony (captain) and senior flanker J.J. Moses. Redshirt freshmen Jamaul Montgomery will see some playing time and junior Mike Banks returns to fill the role of tight end. The linebacking crew will feature three new starters in senior Derrick Walker and junior college transfer Justin Eilers at outside linebackers, and junior college transfer Tyrone Tucker at inside linebacker. McCarney is especially fond of Tucker. “He’s an impact guy,” McCarney said. “He’s come in here and really done a good job. He was here, obviously, early last winter and spring and did a good jump on learning our defense. He’ll hit ya’; he’ll bring the wood. He’s a physical guy and loves playing the game.” ISU basketball standout Stevie Johnson is second on the depth chart behind Walker, with Whitaker backing up Tucker, and senior Ab Turner playing behind Eilers. The defense line includes only one new starter in junior end Kevin DeRonde. Up front DeRonde joins seniors Reggie Hayward (captain), James Reed, and Ryan Harklau to complete Iowa State’s most heralded defensive line in recent memory. Hayward and Reed are preseason All-Big 12 selections and Harklau returns for his second season as a Cyclone captain. “We’re ready to play, and our confidence level is high,” Hayward said. “We’re thirsty to play football.” The Cyclone secondary is the deepest it has been in years. Senior Dustin Avey headlines a group that returns seniors Jamarcus Powers, Ryan Sloth, Doug Densmore and Breon Ansley, along with junior Adam Runk and sophomore Atif Austin, all of whom saw action last season. Special teams will again be the key to the Cyclones possibly having a turn-around season. Carl Gomez will be in his last season as the Cyclones punter with junior Mike McKnight and freshmen Tony Yelk still battling for the place-kicking position. “You could see both kicking on Saturday,” McCarney said. 1999 First Team All-Big 12 kick returner Moses will be deep for the Cyclones on kick returns along with Billups. Montgomery and Campbell could also see time returning kicks. Moses will also be returning punts.