No. 11 Iowa State:

Benjamin Brahmer, tight end

While Brahmer hasn’t gotten consistent numbers this season, he still has proven to be a reliable target for quarterback Rocco Becht and this Iowa State offense.

In the five games he has played, Brahmer has caught seven passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. In the earlier games of the season, Brahmer dealt with an injury that held him back from making the type of plays he was used to making during his freshman campaign.

But it seems like those injury concerns have been dealt with, as Brahmer looks to continue to be a threat on this Cyclones offense throughout the rest of the season.

Iowa State’s upcoming game against West Virginia will be another test of how this Cyclones offense looks against yet another rough environment by playing in Morgantown.

Wide receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins will get their expected targets and usage as they have thus far this season, but it leaves a guy like Brahmer and the other weapons on Iowa State to step up and make big plays that could lead Iowa State to its sixth straight win this season.

Jontez Williams, defensive back

Williams has been on a tear recently when it comes to getting key turnovers for Iowa State, as he’s grabbed two interceptions in each of the last two games for the Cyclones.

Both interceptions came against Big 12 teams in Houston and Baylor, and both have been Williams’ first two interceptions of his collegiate career.

Iowa State’s secondary has been playing off the charts through five games this season.

Williams is currently tied in interceptions on the team with fellow defensive backs Jeremiah Cooper and Darien Porter.

Now, the Cyclones get a chance to face West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene, who hasn’t been perfect in his passing this season.

Greene has only completed 57.1% of his passes while having seven touchdowns to four interceptions thrown.

While Greene has mainly been effective with his legs, expect a guy like Williams to pull off the hat trick of interceptions when the Mountaineers are forced to throw the ball downfield.

Kyle Konrardy, kicker

Konrardy has seemed to find his stride in his first full college football season, converting on key field goals and extra points that have led Iowa State to its 5-0 start thus far.

Not to mention his game-winning 54-yard field goal in Iowa City that dethroned the Iowa Hawkeyes for the rights to the Cy-Hawk trophy and the bragging rights that go along with it.

But now, Konrardy enters his sixth game as the kicker for the Cyclones in another hostile environment. This game is expected to be similar to the Iowa game in terms of the amount of noise that will be caused by the Mountaineer faithful.

That causes a guy like Konrardy to be relied upon during the times that Iowa State’s offense stalls out and cannot score a touchdown.

It will be crucial for the Cyclones’ success to hang on the leg of Konrardy if they want to find a way to escape Morgantown undefeated.

West Virginia:

Garrett Greene, quarterback

The success that West Virginia’s offense has had this season has hinged upon the shoulders of its play caller in Greene.

While his passing numbers have not looked great, Greene has relied upon the use of his dual-threat abilities by obtaining 295 yards on 55 carries and three touchdowns.

Greene has been able to rush for at least 45 yards with a touchdown in three of the past four games.

However, in the two Big 12 conference games that the Mountaineers have played, Greene has looked explosive in both aspects of the game, leading West Virginia to wins over Kansas and Oklahoma State.

Only time will tell if Greene can keep up his explosive play-up against an Iowa State defense that leads the Big 12 in average points given up with 10.

CJ Donaldson Jr. and Jahiem White, running backs

A two-headed monster that the West Virginia offense brings comes in the form of its running back duo, Donaldson Jr. and White.

Starting with Donaldson Jr., he has been the Mountaineers’ leading rusher this season with 361 yards on 71 carries and five touchdowns. 

Along with his rushing stats, Donaldson Jr. has caught two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown, as he doesn’t seem to have trouble finding the endzone in five games thus far.

Then comes the other side of the rushing game with White. So far, White has nearly tied Donaldson Jr. in yards with 352 on 56 carries while having four touchdowns.

White has also caught more passes than Donaldson Jr. has, as he’s gotten 26 yards from five receptions so far.

With the dual-threat abilities that Greene already presents for this West Virginia offense, it could be easy for this duo to find success against an Iowa State rushing defense that has proven to be a weak point this season.

T.J. Jackson, defensive lineman

One player on the Mountaineers defense that can give the Cyclones offense fits on Saturday is Jackson.

The Troy transfer has had no trouble starting his season by being a pass-rushing threat, as Jackson has collected a team-high 3.5 sacks this season.

All of his sack numbers had come in back-to-back-to-back games, with at least one sack against Albany, now-No. 22 Pittsburgh and Kansas.

While it may be hard to get sacks across an Iowa State offensive line that has only given up three sacks this season, don’t be surprised if Becht goes down from the hands of a player like Jackson on Saturday.