Former Perry linebacker and current Iowa State Cyclone Kane Seeley is getting ready to participate in spring ball for Iowa State. The Cyclones are trying to forget about a tough 2014 schedule that saw them suffer a lot of injuries.
The linebacker position was plagued by injuries a year ago. A stable force in Rhoads’ defense in his first five seasons with All-Big 12 players like Jesse Smith, Jake Knott, A.J. Klein and Jeremiah George, the production on the field dipped in 2014.
Rhoads, however, feels there is young, improving talent in the program ready to show their skills this spring. ISU does return two starters in Kane Seeley (6-2, 241, Jr.#, Perry, Iowa) and Luke Knott (6-1, 221, Jr.#, Lee’s Summit, Mo.).
Seeley started the last four games of the season when senior leader Jevohn Miller went down with an injury. He posted 46 of his 54 season tackles in the last five games, including a career-best 13 stops vs. Kansas.
Iowa State Coach PAUL RHOADS ON THE LINEBACKERS
“This is a position where we remain young, and quite honestly, inexperienced. There is some speed, athleticism and talent there. Wally (Burnham) has his hands full in developing that group as we go throughout the spring and it will be exciting to watch. The player with probably the most experience returning will be Kane Seeley, as he took over for Jevohn Miller late in the year when Jevohn went down with an ACL injury. Kane enters his junior year and I think the light is starting to turn on. You saw him be a very productive player when he became the regular starter at the Mike linebacker spot. Jordan Harris is once again another junior college player that has been with us for a full year and hasn’t played yet. He’s really training and studying to be an effective player for us here in the off-season. I’m looking forward to seeing Jordan compete for playing time. Brian Mills got some snaps for us late when Luke Knott was suffering through some hip injuries that were addressed in the off-season. Luke will be somewhat limited in the spring. The redshirt is off of Willie Harvey and I think that gives us great depth and opportunities at the Will linebacker spot. Reggan Northrup and newcomer Jarnor Jones give us a pair of athletic defenders at the Nickel/Sam linebacker position. We’ll be anxious to see how far they can come this spring.”