Iowa State Football: Joel Lanning is Cyclones’ 2017 defensive MVP
Iowa State football has had a sneaky-good season in the Big 12, but who has been the Cyclones’ defensive MVP in 2017?
Matt Campbell’s defense showed great improvements between his first and second season in Ames. In year one, the Cyclones were ranked 87th in the country in total defense, but in year two they jumped all the way up to 28th in the country. Many changes were made following Campbell’s first year, but the one that made the most impact was the insertion of ex-quarterback, Joel Lanning, into the middle linebacker spot.
Iowa State’s defensive MVP: Joel Lanning, LB, Senior
It’s a pretty safe assertion to say that the Iowa State defense would not be in their current position if it wasn’t for the play of Joel Lanning. The hometown hero who hails from nearby Ankeny, Iowa came to Iowa State with dreams of playing quarterback for the Cyclones. While he did for most of his career, Campbell asked Lanning to move to linebacker following the 2016 season as it appeared that Jacob Park had won the starting job.
Without hesitation, Lanning agreed to do so and made an instant impact. In his lone season as a linebacker, Lanning 110 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery. Many have attributed his high football IQ to his immediate success at middle linebacker, a trait that will have many NFL scouts intrigued with Lanning for a possible late draft pick.
Lanning however has not solely contributed on defense, he has registered two offensive touchdowns this season, both of them coming in the Cyclones close loss to Oklahoma State.
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Lanning’s versatility has made him a popular candidate for the Paul Hornung Award, which is given to the most versatile player in college football. It’s no secret that Lanning has played a huge role in Iowa State’s 7-5 season and will be missed following his departure, but he will be a fan favorite of Cyclone Nation for years after he’s played his final down.