AMES - Iowa State’s cornerback room is drawing attention early in training camp, and position coach Mike Banks made it clear Thursday that the competition is doing exactly what the Cyclones want.
After a tornado warning in Ames pushed practice back on Day 8 of camp, Iowa State still got onto the field and kept building toward the season. Banks then met with local media and laid out a simple message: the depth at corner is real, the competition is constant, and the staff feels good about the options it has.
Seth Johnson has been one of the names standing out. Banks said the work in the weight room and nutrition program has changed Johnson’s body in a major way, crediting Chris Campbell and the people working with him behind the scenes. He said Johnson is “working his tail off,” and that the before-and-after pictures made the transformation obvious.
That physical change is only part of the story. Banks said Johnson and David Coffey are both ahead mentally, already comfortable with the scheme and doing a better job of helping the rest of the back end stay aligned. For Banks, that kind of growth matters just as much as what shows up on the field.
“That’s huge,” Banks said of their understanding of the defense.
Coffey’s return has been a big piece of that. Banks called it “huge” to have a player with that much actual playing depth back in the room, especially someone who already knows Iowa State and the Big 12 and can serve as a leader for the younger corners.
The room’s competition is not limited to one or two names, either. Banks said Beni Ngoyi and Jaheim Singletary are both having strong camps, with no real issues on the mental side.
The battle, in his view, comes down to who keeps making plays. He also pointed to Keyon Washington as another corner who is right in the mix.
Banks said Ngoyi has been helped by his physical traits, but the bigger step has been consistency. The goal now is for him to keep showing up the same way every day, in technique, communication and positioning.
“He’s in the right spots all the time now,” Banks said.
The Cyclones are also using Johnson in a variety of roles. Banks said he’s comfortable in the slot, and that his versatility gives Iowa State more ways to get its best players near the ball. Johnson can work inside at nickel, move back, slide to safety or stay on the perimeter at corner.
Banks said the staff’s approach is less about locking players into one spot and more about putting the best 11 on the field based on the opponent and the situation. That flexibility can change from week to week and even snap to snap, depending on what the offense presents.
On the nickel position specifically, Banks said the coaching work is not dramatically different from last season. The main adjustment is making sure players are ready for more than just third-down responsibilities, since they may need to handle base-down assignments too.
For Iowa State, the bigger picture is simple: keep the competition high, keep the room connected and keep building depth that makes the staff comfortable no matter who is on the field. Banks said that is the point of fall camp, and it is exactly what the Cyclones are trying to create in the secondary.
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