ISU football had its spring game last Saturday, which ended spring practices and started an individual expectation from the coaches. 

Starting Monday, the coaching staff is not allowed to have communication with its players. That means this summer will be an individual effort from each player to continue practicing and improving for the fall.

Here’s a few major topics going into the summer and what fans can expect for the first football season with Matt Campbell as the head coach: 

Minor injuries

The Cyclones came out of spring practice with only a couple minor injuries. Campbell said Tuesday on the Big 12 teleconference that he wished the team could come out completely healthy, but he’s glad there aren’t too many injuries. 

Receiver Allen Lazard and offensive lineman Jake Campos are getting through minor injuries. Both are expected back for summer camp. 

Lazard missed the spring game with a hairline fracture in his left hand. Lazard struck a wall after not catching a pass from quarterback Joel Lanning during practice, the Des Moines Register reported. 

Campos also missed the entire spring season after having offseason hip surgery. Campbell said Campos took a few reps during practice and had little contact.

The good news for the Cyclones is that the two players have played multiple seasons in college and can catch up from missed time.

“I’m confident that Allen [Lazard] and Jake [Campos] will be ready for the regular season this upcoming fall,” Campbell said. “They’re veterans and they’ve been able to participate in most of the drills to learn the playbook. I’m not worried about these two over the summer.” 

Major injury

Iowa State had one big injury during the spring with wide receiver Denver Johnson. The redshirt freshman tore his ACL this spring and had surgery April 15. He will be going through a long rehab session to return to the field. 

I’d like to thank everyone who had me in their prayers🙏🏽. The surgery went great and I’ll be back better than ever! #CyclONEnation 🌪

— Paco (@DenverJohnson81) April 15, 2016

Campbell said this was an unfortunate event for a young and talented wide receiver, but he knows Johnson will recover quickly and be back on the field soon. As of now, Johnson’s injury is the only one that affects the fall season depth chart. 

Leaders this summer

Now that Campbell and the ISU football staff can’t be in contact with their players, it’s time for the veterans to step up and take control.

Campbell said that if the players work hard during the summer to improve their skills, Iowa State can be a great football team in the fall. If the players decide not to work as hard as the staff hopes, then “we’re in for a long regular season,” Campbell said. 

Running back and redshirt senior Mitchell Harger hopes to become that leader during the summer along with starting running back Mike Warren. The two of them know the system and what’s needed to be at a high level from September. 

Harger underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum after the spring season. 

“Even though the coaches are gone for the summer, it shouldn’t be a hard transition because you’re doing the same thing as spring practices,” Harger said after the spring game. “You also have veterans like myself that will fill the role as coaches over the summer, so I’m not worried at all.”