The ISU football team underwent a myriad of changes in the offseason: a mostly new offensive line, new incoming players and a new coach. 

The main part that hasn’t changed is redshirt junior safety Kamari Cotton-Moya and his leadership across the defensive side of the football. 

Cotton-Moya is entering his fourth year as an ISU player, and ISU coach Matt Campbell is relying on Cotton-Moya’s focus and determination to lead the defensive players. The main concern for Cotton-Moya is staying healthy for the entire season and that will be the No. 1 priority for Campbell and his staff. 

“Kamari [Cotton-Moya] takes me back to my years at Toledo and trying to run or throw the ball opposite to where he was,” Campbell said. “He has a high ceiling of skill set and ability, but I’d like to see that ability every day.”

After the first practice of the spring season, there was already a sense of leadership in Cotton-Moya. He was going up to younger players and helping them with the new formations and strategies as well as individually asking questions to the defensive staff to clarify his concerns.

The key concern during the last few years with Cotton-Moya has been his health. He has had head, neck and hamstring injuries that have made him lose nearly 10 games in two seasons. 

Campbell made it clear at his press conference that his health is essential for the Cyclones to have a solid defense this upcoming season. He’s also depending on a strong defensive line to put a few quarterbacks on their backs this season. 

“He loves the game of football and has been tremendous since the day I stepped on campus,” Campbell said. “We have to be smart with him to keep him as healthy as possible.”

The defensive line has a veteran lineup with years of experience at Iowa State. The line consists of redshirt seniors Demond Tucker, Darius White and Pierre Aka, senior Bobby Leath and redshirt junior J.D. Waggoner, along with some incoming junior college transfers and freshmen. 

BIG time players, make BIG time plays. N this years CycloneNation Is going to be doing that. #StayTuned @istatenation

— Bobby Leath (@BLeath36) January 5, 2016

Last season, Tucker won the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year with his six sacks and 28 tackles throughout the 12 games. Tucker played at Copiah-Lincoln Community College but transferred last season to Iowa State and has led the defensive line to a higher standard. 

Aka is another leader on the defensive line after a coming out season last year. Aka was a reserved defensive lineman and played in 10 of 12 games last season, recording 20 tackles with big games at Toledo and Kansas. 

Iowa State lost Trent Taylor and Dale Pierson to graduation from the defensive line for this upcoming season.

Campbell said he’s excited about the experience and seniority the defense brings to the team this upcoming season. Cotton-Moya, Tucker and Aka are just some of the pieces and key leaders of the ISU defense.