Anyone who puts together a mock draft this spring should start 2-for-2. Indianapolis already has announced it will select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. That’s hardly a surprise. It went from probable to definite when the team dumped future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning last month. Washington traded three prime picks to move up four spots [...]

INDIANAPOLIS — Articulate, well-spoken and naturally confident, Marvin McNutt and Leonard Johnson took the stage at the NFL Scouting Combine and impressed everyone with their stories of maturation and overcoming adversity. McNutt, an Iowa wide receiver, told the throng of reporters he originally wanted to become a professional three-sport athlete. Johnson, an Iowa State cornerback, [...]

Here are a few notes and quotes from the NFL Scouting Combine Friday at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium: Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon said former Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara (now with the New York Giants) and Iowa State’s Leonard Johnson were among the best cornerbacks he played against in the Big 12. “He’s just [...]

Seven members of Iowa’s 2011 football team were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, which is held later this month in Indianapolis. Iowa offensive linemen Riley Reiff, Markus Zusevics and Adam Gettis will participate in the multi-day event, which includes workouts, medical exams and interviews with NFL officials. Other Iowa players invited include wide receiver [...]

AMES — Bigger, faster, longer. Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads stresses recruiting players with those attributes at every position, but none more than defensive back. “The standard for defensive backs certainly isn’t looking me in the eye, but we’ve got to get more length at that position and we’ve addressed that with this class,” [...]

  AMES — Iowa State cornerback Leonard Johnson went into lock-down mode in the days leading up to his titanic matchup last Friday with Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. He turned his primary cell phone off. He talked only with teammates, coaches and the closest of friends. And his distraction-free preparation — and performance [...]

Iowa State cornerback Leonard Johnson has been released from the hospital after being carted off the field during Saturday night’s loss to Texas. Johnson strained his neck after being hit in the helmet by two teammates while trying to make a tackle in the fourth quarter. Cyclones spokesman Tom Kroeschell says Johnson was released from [...]