Reserve quarterback Joel Lanning saw his first significant game action of the season Saturday, lining up in some interesting formations. 

Lanning’s presence created a new element to the ISU offense that struggled at times against Toledo.

When on the field, Lanning saw a mix of both rushing and passing plays. Mostly lining up in the shotgun formation, he ended the day with 14 rushing yards on three attempts. 

On one play, Lanning and starting quarterback Sam Richardson played off each other, leading to a double pass and a Lanning catch for a first down. 

Lanning was used sparingly throughout the game, and he said he wasn’t sure if the team wanted to use the set more in the future. 

“We might add more, we might not,” Lanning said after Saturday’s game. “It just depends on what team we’re playing and what we can maybe get out of them from me.”

But ISU coach Paul Rhoads said he wants to implement Lanning more in the future. It’s unclear if he will use Lanning in the same fashion he did against Toledo or if he will use his versatility with a read option of some sort. 

“He did a really nice job,” Rhoads said during the Big 12 coach’s teleconference Monday. “[He] came in and was poised and executed. [He] ran the ball hard, threw a nice ball in his completion and showed great concentration on the catch he made. As we move forward, Joel will remain a part of our offense.”

Cole Netten’s missed kick

After kicker Cole Netten missed the field goal in the closing seconds of Saturday’s game at Toledo, ISU football was the subject of scrutiny on social media. 

The kick, a 32-yarder that sailed wide left, was set up at the left hash mark. The team had more than enough time to bring the ball to the middle of the field to make the kick straighter and potentially easier. 

“He was lined up in a position to make the kick,” Rhoads said.

Netten went on to make his next field goal, a 44-yard boot, in the first overtime, but Iowa State fell in double overtime. 

Mike Warren shakes up running game

Running back Mike Warren had a big game for the Cyclones on Saturday, rushing for 126 yards on 21 carries, including a 41-yard rush in the third quarter. 

It was the first sign of life from a running attack that looked dismal through the first two games of the season.

So much so, it’s making Rhoads reconsider his choices in the backfield. 

“Potentially, yeah,” Rhoads said when asked if he’s shaking up the running game. “[Warren] just had an extremely positive week of practice and gave us a lot of confidence going into the game. And he went right back out there and backed that up with his performance.”

Running backs Trever Ryen and Joshua Thomas are also going to take part in some other formations the team may use in the future.

Redshirt sophomore Tyler Brown, who has been listed as the starter all year, is nursing a knee injury but still figures to be in the mix in the backfield the next time the Cyclones take the field.

Some of the positivity in the running attack came from the return of offensive lineman Daniel Burton after he missed the game against Iowa because of injury.

“Going into the season, we certainly expected Burton to be a main cog for the offensive line, and he would be a main cog for the running game,” Rhoads said. “[Burton] is one of our most powerful offensive linemen. … He’s part of the reason we were running it.”