Aiden Flora didn’t sound like a player trying to build a Heisman campaign on Saturday. He sounded like someone who knows exactly how far he’s come - and how little he feels entitled to anything.
After Iowa State rolled past Cincinnati 41-13 in Week 11, the question came anyway: did Flora deserve Heisman Trophy consideration? The Big 12’s breakout star didn’t bite.
“I don’t think you deserve anything in life. You’re just working for it,” Flora said to Cyclone Fanatic when asked about his Heisman candidacy.
He followed that up with a response that matched the tone of his season and his rise from walk-on to one of the country’s most productive offensive weapons.
“Honestly, I’m just blessed by the Lord to play this game, blessed to be with this team, blessed to be with the staff. If it happens, it happens. But honestly, the Lord has blessed me so much that I couldn’t be more thankful for that.”
That humility lands differently when you look at what Flora has done. The Adel, Iowa, native started his college career as a walk-on before earning a scholarship under head coach Jimmy Rogers. Since then, he’s turned himself into one of the most versatile players in college football.
He entered Saturday leading the Big 12 with 1,119 rushing yards and ranked fifth nationally in rushing yards per game. Against Cincinnati, he added another huge line to the résumé: 216 rushing yards and three first-quarter touchdowns, including a 77-yard scoring run.
Flora’s impact hasn’t been limited to the backfield, either. He has also contributed as a passer and punt returner, which is part of why he’s been named a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award and a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy.
Whether the Heisman conversation ever gets serious is another matter. Iowa State’s record could make that tough, especially with players from nationally ranked programs drawing more of the spotlight.
Still, Flora’s production and his climb from walk-on status make him impossible to ignore. And if his answer after Week 11 said anything, it’s that individual awards aren’t driving him.
He’s focused on winning games. The rest can wait.
In Other News...
Aiden Flora Just Gave Iowa State Real Bowl Hope
Aiden Flora gave Iowa State exactly the kind of spark it needed in a 41-13 win over Cincinnati, turning a Week 11 matchup into a much more comfortable afternoon for the Cyclones. The running back piled up a standout all-around performance, finding the end zone on the ground and through the air as Iowa State controlled the game and picked up its fifth victory of the season.
For a team trying to keep its postseason path open, the timing could hardly have been better. The Cyclones still have work to do, but this was the sort of complete showing that can change the feel of a season, with Flora emerging as a difference-maker when Iowa State needed one most. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Faces A Costly Defensive Problem At The Worst Time
Iowa States defense is carrying an unwelcome distinction into Week 11, and it comes at a time when every possession matters. Through Week 10, the Cyclones have the highest missed tackle rate in college football at 19.5 percent, according to data shared by Cody Nagel and PFF, a troubling mark for a unit trying to steady itself heading into a home date with Cincinnati.
The timing only sharpens the concern, because the Bearcats visit with bowl eligibility very much in play for Iowa State. Missed tackles have been an issue for several defenders, including linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen, and the Cyclones will need a cleaner, more reliable effort if they want to avoid letting a costly defensive flaw linger into the seasons most important stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Xzavion Mitchell May Be Forcing His Way Into Iowa States Rotation
Xzavion Mitchells role has been growing in small but noticeable steps, and his latest outing offered another sign that Iowa State may have something to consider. In the Cyclones 84-47 win over Southern, Mitchell logged a career-high 11 minutes, chipped in three points and grabbed two rebounds while continuing to show the kind of energy that has caught the staffs attention.
His path to more minutes has also come with a little wear and tear. Mitchell picked up a black eye in practice after colliding with teammate Leon Bond, though he did not need stitches, and coach T.J. Otzelberger has pointed to Mitchells consistent effort and toughness as reasons he has earned more run. For a team always looking to deepen its rotation, that kind of reliability can matter just as much as the box score. [Read more 🡒]