Iowa State enters the 2017 season with a weapon in their arsenal that has gone unseen for several seasons. That weapon is an experienced offensive line with a long future under offensive coordinator Tom Manning.

The group is led by senior Jake Campos, who is said to be at 100 percent after going down with a knee injury early last season. Campos’ injury, among others, forced Iowa State to play a game of musical chairs along the line.

However, that didn’t stop Iowa State’s offense etching themselves into the record books after averaging 421.6 years of total offense, good for fifth in school history.

“Jake [Campos] is a tremendous leader and Jake is a guy that really demands the respect from the teammates, especially the offensive lineman,” Manning said. “When Jake walks in the door it’s the exact same guy, literally every day.”

That guy was someone that the Cyclones’ offensive line missed last season, but in a way it allowed for new guys to step in and prove to the coaching staff that they could take the offense to new heights.

As a redshirt freshman, Julian Good-Jones was able to give a little glimpse of the future for this position.

Now a year later, they have also added the likes of sophomore Bryce Meeker and Josh Knipfel, junior Oge Udeogu and senior Robby Garcia.

The most intriguing addition might be Garcia after he transitioned over from the defensive line, which Manning jokes, was overshadowed by the Joel Lanning move from quarterback to linebacker this offseason.

“I was excited just knowing nothing about what [Garcia’s] skillset is,” Manning said. “Just the way the kid works and how bad he wants to play for Iowa State and how much he has put into this program and how much he’s put into himself. So, it’s been really awesome to have him.”

Luckily for Garcia, Campos is his roommate, and at times another coach. Campos has been able to lend a hand to the transition and has also shared his notebooks to Garcia.

“I did talk to [Jake] and he said that would be kind of cool for me to switch and play O-line,” Garcia said. “Then to have him as a roommate, who better to have. I can talk to him, ask questions and look up to him for guidance.”

Behind the scenes, the transition at times proved to be harder than anticipated with the techniques and new playbook that Garcia had to learn after learning a new defense not long before.

“[Robby] is playing really well right now and he was obviously a bit raw coming over,” Campos said. “I keep telling you are starting to look like a guard, you’re starting to look like a guard every play.”

Campos has been known to fill up notebooks throughout his career during meetings, according to Manning, but he simply just uses it as a way to tell himself what he needs to do to get better and what he can do to help the younger guys next to him.

Two of those younger guys are Knipfel and Udeogu, both of which transferred to Iowa State with several power-five offers. Both are also battling for a spot at right guard.

Campos said that the talent coming up is something that has never been in Ames before.

“I think we’re working together a lot better than we ever have,” Campos said. “Everyone in O-line room has a really good chemistry with each other and we’re probably the tightest O-line that I’ve seen since I’ve been here.”