After taking a week off for Spring Break last week, the ISU football team returned to the gridiron this week to resume spring practices. On Tuesday, the team practiced on its outdoor field in the warm weather. 

With the new staff, the Cyclones know there’s a lot of work to do to implement a new set of formations and plays. 

“I think we’ve made progress,” said ISU coach Matt Campbell. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. Obviously, it’s only getting off our fourth practice. I feel like at least the foundation of attitude and effort, how to come to work every day, we’re making progress.” 

Here are some news and notes so far in spring practice: 

Mike Warren takes leadership role

ISU running back Mike Warren, who is entering his sophomore season, is coming off one of the best seasons for a freshman running back in ISU history. 

But his success has put him in the spotlight both nationally and with his teammates. Now the team is looking at him to take the reins as one of the leaders on the team. 

“Guys kind of look toward him,” said ISU running back coach Lou Ayeni. “He just needs to have a consistent effort every day. I tell him all the time, ‘As long as you’re consistently good all the time, you’re going to be great.'” 

It’s been a learning process for Warren to get to that point, though. As a freshman, he essentially just went on the field and played — not for anyone else, just him. 

Now that he has ascended to Iowa State’s most talented player, he has been thrown into the leader role for the Cyclones, whether he wants it or not.

“Everybody’s looking at me to lead the team,” Warren said. “My mom always says you’re a leader even if you don’t want to be, so I guess I just get thrown into that spotlight.”

Warren hasn’t stopped his lofty personal aspirations, though. He set a rushing goal at 1,500 yards for the 2016 season and 2,000 yards for his following years.  

“Things haven’t gotten easier,” Warren said. “But I’m always up for a challenge.”

Justin Chandler impressing at tight end

Campbell and his new staff haven’t been shy in how they want to change the team’s offensive formations. They plan to use the tight end as a flex position, moving the player from the line of scrimmage to the backfield and out on the flank based on different setups. 

But finding a one-size-fits-all player for that specific position isn’t easy. 2016 recruit Chase Allen will arrive in the fall, but Justin Chandler and Cliff Fernandez have filled in during spring practice. 

Chandler has been the most impressive so far, showing his skill on and off the line. He only played in about 40 snaps last season, but entering his redshirt senior season, he looks to be in line for more playing time. 

“For a guy who hasn’t played a whole lot, we’re putting a lot on him,” said tight ends coach Alex Golesh. “He’s a big body. He’s got really good hands. He wants to be really good. He fits well in our offense.” 

Fernandez, a junior college transfer, was a quarterback just two years ago. He has a large frame — 6 feet 3 inches and 233 pounds — and he isn’t afraid to use it. 

The only problem, though, is Fernandez has hardly any experience at tight end. 

“Cliff is not afraid, he just has no idea,” Golesh said. “So far he’s shown that he has the want to, he just has no idea. It’s everything, literally, you’re teaching him everything.” 

Chandler is a bit bigger than Fernandez — 6 feet 4 inches and 266 pounds — and he has more experience, making him the favorite to impact come fall out of the tight ends at spring practices. 

“I just came in here and kept working hard and just try to make them notice me,” Chandler said. “That’s it.” 

Spring game update

In past years, with former coach Paul Rhoads at the helm, the annual spring football game seemed more like a practice than a game. Each side started at the 25-yard line and future impact players didn’t have as big of a role. 

But Campbell said he wants to do things a little differently. 

At Toledo, where he formerly coached, Campbell simulated a real game at the spring games. And he’d like to do the same thing at Iowa State, health barring. 

“If we’re healthy enough to do so, I’d love to go out and compete,” Campbell said. “In front of our crowd, and put some of these guys in situations where they can make plays. It’s funny, sometimes when you turn the lights on and you get in the stadium … you watch guys execute.” 

But Campbell said the spring game can have a larger impact impact on the program besides just another glorified practice. 

“We’ll have a lot of our former players back,” Campbell said. “The exciting part for me is this is the day we can have our incoming freshmen, our current team and our former players involved in our program, which is really important for me.”