Iowa State's offense seeks to "throw haymakers" in year one under head coach Jimmy Rogers

AMES — Tyler Roehl coached the tight ends this season for the Detroit Lions, but he naturally formed a strong relationship with one of the best running backs in Iowa State history.

That, of course, would be David Montgomery, who personifies the cerebral, yet hyper-physical identity Roehl seeks to create in his first season as the Cyclones’ offensive coordinator.

“He’s one of, if not the best player, to ever come through the school,” said Roehl, who led ISU’s running backs room during its record-setting 2024 season before his one-year stint in the NFL. “Just seeing his daily workings as a professional — a true professional. Work ethic. Curiosity to learn. And then an unbelievable football player. In my time there, I was in charge of a lot of the short yardage (stuff), and (It was) how many times can you get David Montgomery the ball? Because it may not be blocked for a yard, but you know he’s gonna get a yard.”

Roehl intends to run the football. A lot. It’s keeping in line with first-year ISU head coach Jimmy Rogers’ time-honored philosophy that the toughest team wins. Maybe not every game, but in the long haul — and in the critical moments.

“I think that emphasizing the physicality of who we want to be and what we want to do daily is a part of it,” said new running backs coach John Johnson, who served in the same role for New Mexico last season. “But also going out there and putting it on tape and making sure that the first defender never tackles (you), and one defender doesn’t bring us down. And then being able to be physical and having great contact balance to run the ball and not get tackled by the first guy — that’s gonna be the definition of it from a running back. We’ve got to exercise that every single day, we’ve gotta emphasize that every single day, and we’ve gotta go out and do it. That’s gotta be who we are.”

It’s also a hard-nosed expectation that starts up front. So from holdovers in the running backs room like Aiden Flora, to newcomers such as Bowling Green transfer Cameron Pettaway — the MAC freshman of the year, that blue collar running style is only as good as the line that forms its frontal attack.

Rogers said last month that he was “shocked” by how quickly and successfully his new offensive line room came together. It’s a blend of seasoned talent headlined by Maasai King (Akron), Jake Taylor (Oklahoma) and Gavin Broscious (Michigan State), and returning players such as Austin Barrett and Garrett Rutledge, among several others.

“It’s like speed dating,” said new offensive line coach Jake Thornton, who served in the same role for Auburn the past three seasons. “And you’ve gotta make a decision quickly, because you can’t wait in the portal. If you wait one day on a guy, that’s like waiting two months in real recruiting. It’s already bypassed you at that point. So just getting in the door with guys and then getting them here — I don’t know if we signed one guy (who) didn’t come on a visit and them immediately, within a day after that visit, say, ‘I’m on board.’ … I think they step foot at Iowa State and they realize how special of a community that it is.”

Former Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor felt the same way about ISU once he decided to transfer for his senior season. He’ll compete in a room that includes holdover Connor Moberly, as well as Oklahoma State transfer Zane Flores. And he’ll also serve in a position that will help define the offense’s identity in terms of both the running game and the passing game.

“He’s a connector,” said new Cyclone quarterbacks coach Keith Heckendorf, who mentored Raynor with the Red Wolves the past three seasons. “That’s where it starts with me with him, just who he is as a person, and the work ethic, and the knowledge and the mind that goes behind that.’

That’s also where it starts and ends with Montgomery, whose physical, yet versatile attributes can serve as a blueprint for ISU’s first offense in the Rogers era.

“We want to go out there and throw haymakers,” Roehl said. “That’s the identity.”

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