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Iowa State football: 3 second-year players who’ll become stars in 2023

By Connor Muldowney

Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell leads warmup drills prior to kickoff against West Virginia during a NCAA football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.Iowastatevswvu 202201105 Bh
Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell leads warmup drills prior to kickoff against West Virginia during a NCAA football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.Iowastatevswvu 202201105 Bh /
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Oct 1, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Greg Gaines III (0) leads players onto the field prior to the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Greg Gaines III (0) leads players onto the field prior to the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports /

Greg Gaines played in just four games as a freshman and had a total of one catch for two yards. He’s going to get plenty more run next season.

Gaines was Iowa State’s No. 2 recruit in the 2022 class and was ranked No. 342 overall in the class and was the 52nd receiver in the nation. He was just one of two four-stars in Iowa State’s 2022 class and it’s about time he steps up and lives up to that high rating, especially with Xavier Hutchinson gone.

Jaylin Noel is the best receiver returning in 2023 but someone else will need to step up and that could be Gaines.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound receiver from Tampa, Fla., is going to have a big season and as long as the Cyclones have the right guy at quarterback, he should break out and help fill that Hutchinson-sized void. He’s completely capable, but he just needs the opportunity and I think Matt Campbell gives him that next year.

Next. Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2023. dark

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