ISU passing game coordinator Jim Hofher, along with head coach Matt Campbell, is bringing in another new offensive system this spring, something that is not unfamiliar to quarterback Joel Lanning.

In Lanning’s four years at Iowa State, he has had four different offensive coordinators — all of whom have changed up the offensive game to some extent.

So essentially Lanning has had to learn a different system each season he has been at Iowa State, something Hofher compares to learning a new language.

“The quarterbacks in our group are learning a new language,” Hofher said. “They’re trying to become fluent in a new language. They’re doing a great job. It’s very challenging anytime there is a transition like this.”

Hofher doesn’t expect it to come easy, especially just a handful of practices into the spring season. He knows Lanning and the other quarterbacks won’t pick it up overnight.

“What is that called, Rosetta Stone?” Hofher asked in regard to ways to speed up the learning process. “Football is a repetition game. The more physical reps they get helps. The more mental reps they get through their film study helps. … The maturity of the player in many ways determines how much more fluent they become.”

This time around, though, Lanning said the transition hasn’t been that difficult.

“It hasn’t been terrible,” Lanning said. “They’re going slow with us. It’s nothing no one has ever done before. It’s kind of similar to what I ran when I was a true freshman here.”

This season will be Lanning’s first starting as the top quarterback on the roster.

Last season, Lanning had to compete with Sam Richardson for the starting job — one he eventually took over midway through the year. Now that there isn’t a competition, Hofher said the type of competition between the quarterbacks would change slightly.

But he isn’t worried about Lanning plateauing.

“[The competition is] a little more internal,” Hofher said. “There’s got to be some faith on our part. He’s a very humble guy … and that’s the good thing about him. He’s certainly a sponge when it comes to, ‘I want to learn more.’ And it’s that kind of spirit that will allow him to keep improving even if necessarily there isn’t somebody of an equal stature to him at the moment.”

Lanning also insisted that he’s still competing at the same mindset that he always does. He hasn’t let that slip.

“It’s not really different,” Lanning said. “I still have to go in and compete and show these new coaches that I can be that guy for them and run this offense and lead the team. That’s what I’m trying to do right now.”

One major difference for Lanning, though, is his experience. Now that he has several starts under his belt, he said he can finally just relax and play the game.

And while he still has to master the new system, Lanning said he feels confident that he can do so before that first gameday this fall.

“I feel a lot more comfortable because now I feel like I know what to expect,” Lanning said. “I’ve played on Saturdays. I know what it’s like out there. Now I can just go in there and focus on what they want me to do and just go execute it. I don’t get really nervous anymore.”