Everyone knows the age-old saying of, “defense wins championships.”

While that is partially true, especially for an Iowa State defense that ranks third in total defense in the Big 12, there is also the case for the Iowa State special teams unit.

“Since I’ve been here at Iowa State, special teams has really been an emphasis,” said senior punter Colin Downing. “We take a lot of time to get our special teams to be as good as we possibly can… I think it showed up today in a game that could’ve really exposed us in a negative way.”

How good is that unit?

Good enough to hold 11 opponents under their season average in kick return yards and four opponents to zero kick return yards at all.

And six times they held their opponents under their season average for punt return yards. 

“Special teams means a lot to our team,” said Trever Ryen. “It’s kind of like our foundation. It gets the offense going and it gets the defense going.”

And over half of Chris Francis’ kicks went for touchbacks, relieving pressure from that coverage team. But, when those kicks did get returned, opponents didn’t get very far. The Cyclones were one of the best kick return defenses in the Big 12. On just one occasion they allowed an opponent to have a return of 30-plus yards, making them the only team in the Big 12 to only allow one kick return that went for more than 30 yards.

Iowa State’s lone kick that went for a touchdown came from the hands of then-No. 4 TCU to open up the second half.

Perhaps the most memorable play came from Mackenro Alexander near the end of the first half against Oklahoma State on Nov. 11. Alexander, after a Francis kick, barreled downfield as LD Brown caught the ball up. As Brown ran up the right hash marks, Alexander’s left shoulder blew up Brown at the Cowboy’s 25-yard line, sending a jolt of energy through Jack Trice Stadium.

I️ want Thank our amazing coaching staff for believing in me and cyclone nation for everything I️ wanted to leave a “booming” expression in the jack one last time. #God1st pic.twitter.com/VVv0V8yT23

— mackenro alexander (@macalexander06) November 12, 2017

That is just how good Iowa State’s kick return coverage has been.

Then, there is Garrett Owens, an Oregon State transfer looking to reboot his career at Iowa State. And boy, did Owens reboot his career. The redshirt senior tied for first in the Big 12 with a 100 percent PAT percentage, hitting all 42 attempts.

“You look at Garrett, Garrett’s a guy that I felt like had a little bit of a chip on his shoulder coming in here with something to prove,” said coach Matt Campbell.

He also had the third best field goal percentage in the Big 12, making 17 of his 21 kicks. Nationally, Owens tied for 34th with an 81 percent field goal percentage and his 17 made field goals put him tied for 20th.

And, finally, there is Downing, the four-year punter that has handled nearly every punt for the Cyclones since he stepped on campus. While Downing’s numbers aren’t eye popping, he has certainly showed flashes of just how lethal he is.

And it started with the coaches believing in him.

“I think the coaches are starting to realize [my strength is pocket punting],” Downing said. “That’s a big thing that has helped me this year is our communication with the coaches. They’re allowing me to kind of do a lot of things I like to do and that I’m good at.”

Downing’s 40.34 yards per punt average ranks him at 79th in the nation, but he’s tied for 46th in punts per game (5.2). On the season, one of Downing’s best performances came against Iowa in a 44-41 overtime loss. The senior contributed five punts for an average of 47.20 yards and had a season-long 61-yard punt.

While Downing, Owens and Francis have each held down the kicking duties with a string grip, Ryen and Landen Akers have been the offensive catalysts on returns.

“If I get the opportunity to [return] I’m going to take full advantage of it],” Ryen said early in the season.

Man, did he take advantage.

The former Northern Iowa track star set himself up for one of the most dazzling punt returns of the season. Against Kansas, Ryen caught a punt at Iowa State’s 35-yard line and proceeded to cut across the field for De’Monte Ruth to lay a punishing block to spring him for a touchdown.

That was only after Ryen recovered a muffed punt early in the game and of course, Mr. Everything, Joel Lanning, was there to help force the turnover.

“He’s got 20 tackles, five touchdowns in one game and an [interception],” said redshirt senior Kamari Cotton-Moya. “I don’t know what he can’t do. You name it, he can do it.”

Ryen sits at No. 21 in the nation with 10.1 yards per punt return and has that one punt return touchdown against Kansas. Akers, a redshirt freshman, has 11 kick return attempts and sits at No. 45 in the nation with 22.7 yards per return. However, his 11 attempts are the least of anyone ranked above him – a sign of his potential.

And yes, while the Cyclones have been dominant on special teams through 12 games, there is still the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Memphis. The Tigers posses the best kick return man in the nation in Tony Pollard.

The redshirt sophomore is averaging 42.4 yards per return on 19 attempts. He’s also tied for first in the nation with four kick return touchdowns.

Come Dec. 30, Pollard will be truly be able to show just how good the Iowa State special teams unit is, or how many holes there are.