Running a pass route over the middle with Jack Tatum bearing down on him would be a lot easier for Damien Groce than what he dealt with this week.

Instead of facing defensive backs, Groce was facing reporters — and all the tape recorders, microphones and cameras that accompany such appearances.

“I’m nervous,” the wide receiver confessed during his first major interview as an Iowa State football player.

Groce, you see, isn’t used to crowds. Some of his games at San Bernardino Valley Junior College drew only 20 or so fans, he said. Before getting to Iowa State, the biggest crowd for one of his games was 6,000 in high school.

But he played in front of 33,009 fans in his Cyclone debut at Jack Trice Stadium last Saturday and this Saturday, 70,000 fans will fill Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium when Groce and his teammates face the Hawkeyes on ESPN2.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior plans to soak up the experience for all it’s worth.

“I’ve been waiting for this all my life,” he said.

After an early bout with jitters in Iowa State’s season-opening loss to TCU, Groce played well. He dropped a well-thrown pass from Todd Bandhauer in the first quarter, then finished with five catches for 58 yards.

Included was a diving 35-yard catch along the sideline just short of the end zone. Bandhauer scored on the next play to give Iowa State a 21-14 lead.

“I was just trying to keep my feet in because I knew I was going out of bounds,” Groce said. “That was a crucial play, so I had to go all out just to get a first down.”

Iowa State’s coaches noticed Groce while he was catching 47 passes for 785 yards and a school-record 12 touchdowns at San Bernardino Valley, which finished 9-2 last fall. He also compiled 401 yards on punt returns, including an 88-yarder for a touchdown.

“We thought he was one of the better receivers out in California in the junior college ranks,” Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said. “I think a lot of people are starting to see that now just watching the game Saturday.

“He’s got a lot to learn yet, but he’s made a real fast transition,” McCarney said. “The bottom line is he’s a playmaker. He can make a difference in a football game.”

McCarney said he was pleased with the way Groce bounce back from his early drop. Groce said he doesn’t drop many passes, so it might have been nerves — first Division I game, big crowd, his parents coming all the way from California to watch.

“I had butterflies,” Groce said. “But Todd talked to me and calmed me down. He told me don’t worry about it. It’s just like it is in practice.”

Three other San Bernardino Valley players have joined Groce at Iowa State: defensive back Javon Daniels, defensive lineman Robert Brannon and wide receiver Robert Brown. All three played against TCU, with Brannon seeing the most action.

They came as a package.

“It was more of a group decision because we took all our trips together,” Groce said. “We planned on going together regardless.”

Pittsburgh, Illinois, San Diego State and Hawaii also recruited Groce, who said he and the others chose Iowa State because of the coaches, McCarney in particular.

“I could talk to him anytime I want to about anything,” Groce said. “From the day we left, we said we’ve got to come here.”

Now they’ll try to help Iowa State break a 15-game losing streak to Iowa. In his short time in Ames, Groce has been able to sense the importance of playing the Hawkeyes.

“I know it’s a big thing, Iowa,” he said. “I’m excited just to play against them. I haven’t had the privilege and the pleasure yet. I’ve been watching teams like this since I was little.”