With a spot open in the backfield after the departure of All-Big 12 running back Darren Davis, the Cyclones are hoping that junior running back Ennis Haywood can step up to the challenge. “[Davis] brought a lot of stuff to this team. I just want to start off where he left,” Haywood said. “I don’t want no drop off. I want the fans to know that I can do the same thing he did.” Last season Haywood rushed for 278 yards on 55 carries. He also scored three touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Haywood gave fans a glimpse of the future against Indiana State, when he was named Iowa State’s offensive MVP. He ran for 172 yards on 24 carries, and he thinks he may be able to put up the same numbers as three-time, 1,000-yard rusher Davis. “Same numbers, if not more,” Haywood said about comparing his statistics to Davis. In `99 Haywood sat on the bench most of the time the offense was on the field, waiting his turn. “You know it’s always anxious when you are sitting on the bench, but you gotta know coming in that you gotta wait your turn,” Haywood explained. “It didn’t bother me, I knew my turn would come and now it’s here so I’m just gonna shine.” Haywood isn’t sure how he will shine and what plays will call his number. He just knows the ball will be coming his way. “I really don’t know what is in the game plan, I don’t know. A little bit of everything,” Haywood said. “I could catch a couple out of the backfield, a little bit of everything.” “We’ll switch it up,” Haywood said of the offensive attack for this weekend. “We’re gonna pass, and we’re gonna run the ball at the same time. I’d like to get at least 20 [carries], and I’m pretty sure I’ll get that.” Haywood also understands that to be a good running back in the Big 12, he is going to have to be a good blocker. “I look at the linebackers because those are my men. Those are the people I have to pick up,” Haywood explained. “Everybody knows you can run the ball, otherwise you wouldn’t be back there, so you have to block, too, and I feel good about blocking.” Over the summer Haywood, along with over 100 other players, stayed in Ames to work on strength and conditioning. This is something Haywood thinks will help both him and the team. “I’ve been up here all summer. I wanted to get my wind right and conditioned, you know, get my body right. So I think I can pretty much carry the load,” Haywood said. Being in shape is one thing that the Cyclone team needed to work on to improve from last year. In `99 the Cyclones came close to upsetting national powerhouses Kansas State and Texas but ran out of gas in the second half of both games. “Play four quarters. K-State, Texas, I mean we took them all the way down to the wire,” Haywood said. “We couldn’t finish; we have to finish the game now. When we grab ’em by the neck, we just have to stomp on ’em. Can’t let up, never let up.” If the Cyclones can “stomp” on their opponents, the result could end in a bowl game. This adds a little extra pressure on Haywood and the Cyclones to have a good season. “It’s always good to go to a bowl, but it’s only pressure if you make it pressure. You know what I’m saying? Everybody wants a winning season. That’s the ultimate goal, so we just gotta go out one game at a time,” Haywood said. Haywood and the Cyclones will begin their quest this Saturday against the Ohio Bobcats, but Haywood said he has no special concerns about the game. “I watch film, but I go into every game just like every other game. I mean we just gotta play ball, no concerns,” Haywood explained. “We just gotta move the ball like we know how.” Haywood wants to use the first game to work on everything and hopes that the final score will show that things are working fine. “Since this is our first game we need to work on everything. So it should be a lot to a little, let’s put it like that,” Haywood said. After showing improvement last season the Cyclones hope to “turn the corner” Haywood said. “We just want to come out and shock the world,” Haywood said.