Iowa State tight end Damian Gibson grew up in the southern Florida town of Marathon, a town 250 miles south of Miami, so admittedly he wasn’t always a Cyclone fan.

In fact, growing up in Marathon, he said he rooted for the Miami Hurricanes.

Gibson’s decision to come to ISU had a lot to do with former Cyclone record-setter Troy Davis, who signed with the Cyclones in 1994 after starring at Miami Southridge High School.

“When I heard Troy was coming up, and he was like the top [player] in Florida, I was like if he’s making the decision to go, then I thought it would be a good idea, too,” Gibson said.

Gibson has been a starter all season and will be on the field when ISU takes on No. 13 Iowa at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday. Gibson had his best showing from a receiving standpoint in a 53-29 loss to Minnesota last Saturday. He had six receptions for 45 yards.

Gibson is ISU’s third-leading receiver this season, behind Ed Williams and Tyrone Watley. He has caught eight receptions for 60 yards.

Most of Gibson’s receptions in the Minnesota came on short slant patterns to the middle of the field.

“If teams are worried about the short game over the middle, that opens up the deep stuff for Ed and Ty and everyone,” Gibson said.

Saturday’s game will be the first time Gibson will be starting against Iowa. He admitted when he first came to ISU he was not familiar with the rivalry. That has changed since.

“In my years here, I learned it wasn’t just another game,” Gibson said. “It’s real important to everybody in Iowa and on the team. I learned to feel what the Iowans have been feeling about this game in the time that I’ve been here.”

One of the first things Gibson had to adjust to when he came up to ISU was the weather. An adjustment Gibson, a junior, said is still in the process.

“Man, it’s crazy,” Gibson said, “It took me about two years to get used to. And now I’m just starting to get used to it.”

One ISU player who has always been familiar with the intrastate rivals and the midwestern weather is outside linebacker Ryan Harklau.

Harklau, a red-shirt freshman from Humboldt, will be starting his first collegiate game this weekend against the Hawkeyes.

“My first game to be starting is against Iowa, which is always a big game in the state,” Harklau said. “So I’ll really be looking forward to it.”

ISU Coach Dan McCarney said Harklau has come a long way since red-shirting last season. Harklau has recorded four solo and two assisted tackles this season in a backup role.

“Harklau’s made a lot of progress,” McCarney said. “We are going to do all we can to put the best 11 on the field, so Harklau will definitely start.”

Harklau said one of the things that lured him to ISU was the chance to play right away. He was highly recruited after being named a third-team All-American high school player by USA Today.

“Wherever you want to go you want to play right away,” Harklau said. “I didn’t want to sit out two years at some of the bigger schools, and just sit out two years and only play two years. I wanted to come in and play four years and try to make a difference and turn this thing around.”

Harklau switched from middle linebacker to outside linebacker before the season. He said the changes between the two positions are there, although they are subtle.

“[Outside linebacker] is a little more contain, a little more pass drops, getting out wider and deeper,” he said. “Other than that, it’s basically the same thing, so it’s not a huge adjustment, but it is a little bit.”