A number of familiar faces will grace the Iowa State football roster this season, and head coach Dan McCarney will look to his standbys to anchor an optimistic 2000 campaign.

Sage Rosenfels will control the huddle for the second year in a row, and elder statesman Ben Bruns will command the offensive line — the traditional strength of Cyclone football — from his center position.

Reggie Hayward, James Reed and Ryan Harklau all resume their roles on the vastly improved defensive line, and veterans are sprinkled throughout the secondary.

Few will argue with Hayward when he says last year’s record didn’t match the talent and potential on the ISU roster.

Fewer still, however, will argue with Rosenfels’ assessment several months ago of the importance of the new faces on the Cyclone roster.

“I said it last year,” Rosenfels said. “If we’re going to improve, we’ll have to get some production from the younger guys and we see that happening now.”

While the Cyclones can look to their seasoned veterans for leadership, a number of promising young athletes will have to emerge to keep them competitive.

First and foremost, tailback Ennis Haywood will have a chance to display his talents on a weekly basis after backing up Darren Davis for the last two seasons.

Small in stature but big on emotion and talent, Haywood will offer Iowa State a different look from behind the line with little or no dropoff in ability.

“I don’t have a spin move in me [like Davis],” Haywood said with a smile, “but I’ve got a couple of shakes in the bag.”

Haywood has averaged well over five yards a carry during his first two seasons and may be the most promising of the new Cyclone starters.

“Haywood’s a big, strong, physical back,” McCarney said. “He comes to practice each day and has as much fun as anyone. He loves the game, and I love to have him on this team.”

Defensively, the biggest surprise may be former quarterback Derrick Walker, who has moved to an outside linebacker role and forced his way to the top of the depth charts.

“He’s a natural,” Hayward said. “He’s very aggressive; he comes off the ball. He looks like he’s been playing defense for a long time. I think he’s giving me tips out there.”

McCarney said that Walker was eager to see playing time in any capacity that could help the team. At this point, he’s battling Eric Weiford for the starting nod.

“He’s got a chance to be a special outside linebacker,” McCarney said. “He’s learning the fundamentals, but he’s got toughness, he’s got strength, he’s got good speed. He loves it. That’s where we want to leave him.”

In all, the Cyclones will look to over a dozen redshirt freshmen to contribute next season and are currently listing 13 new starters on their spring depth chart.

Among the highest profile of those newcomers is former hoopster and current strong safety Stevie Johnson.

“He’s done a nice job,” McCarney said. “He’s got a great attitude and work ethic. There’s no question he’ll help our defense next year.”

Johnson is currently listed at third-string and will likely be bumped to fourth when starter Dustin Avey returns from injury, but McCarney isn’t counting him out for next fall. While he won’t be a starter heading into the summer, Johnson could certainly work his way up as he learns the college version of a sport he last played four years ago.

At linebacker the Cyclones will also look to youngsters Matt Word and Chris Whitaker to contribute. The duo combined for 54 tackles last season in limited action as true freshmen.

Offensively, Iowa State will call upon a number of young receivers to supplement seniors Chris Anthony and J.J. Moses.

Redshirt freshmen Lane Danielson and Jamaul Montgomery, in particular, may be crucial to next season’s offense.

“Danielson’s got toughness,” McCarney said. “He’s got tremendous hands and he’s a lot faster than our defensive backs think he is. He’s definitely going to be a Big 12 receiver.”

Montgomery comes in with even higher expectations.

“Jamaul may be the best athlete on this team,” Rosenfels said, “the way he runs and jumps and makes plays. He could make some really big plays for us next year.”

The offensive line may also undergo a facelift, particularly if veterans Ben Beaudet and Marcel Howard can’t return from complications related to past concussions.

Currently, 11 offensive linemen without starting experience are listed on the 12-man depth chart.

Perhaps the most important newcomers to the ISU football program will not take a single snap next year.

Steve Loney will take over the role of offensive coordinator in 2000 for the departed Pete Hoener, and former McCarney associate Bob Elliott will coordinate the special teams and act as associate head coach.

While the Cyclones will bring a lot of young players to the field next year, expectations and optimism may be at an all-time high.

“Last season, we just needed a few more players and a few more plays,” Rosenfels said. “The difference between three-and-eight and eight-and-three isn’t much. If you blink, you’ll miss it.”