AMES - Jaylen Raynor arrived at Iowa State with something the Cyclones badly need: real quarterback mileage.
By the time he finished his Arkansas State run, Raynor had stacked up 36 straight starts under center. That’s 13 more starts than all of Iowa State’s returning players combined, and it gives the 6-1, 208-pound Winston-Salem, N.C., native a rare edge as he settles into a completely different setup.
Raynor is learning Tyler Roehl’s pro-style offense after thriving in Arkansas State’s power spread, and the adjustment is a big one. He’s lining up under center far more often than he did in the shotgun-heavy system he came from, and he’s also taking on a new responsibility before every snap: calling out every offensive teammate’s assignment.
“All of the reps since January meetings and things like that just continue to help me build confidence,” Raynor said. “It can be a lot, but it’s something you sign up for, something you want as a quarterback, challenging yourself.
It comes down to being able to study (and) retain information. It’s kind of fun to do it once you say all of those words and everybody just goes out and does exactly what they’re supposed to do.
It’s an amazing feeling.”
That learning curve has been made easier by the way Raynor works. Tyler Fortenberry, another Arkansas State transfer, said Raynor has been all over the facility as he gets comfortable in Ames.
“Jaylen’s in the facility at least 12 hours a day even if we just had workouts for two hours a day,” said Fortenberry, a 6-5, 245-pound tight end who caught two touchdown passes from Raynor last season. “So everything’s pretty smooth for him. He (was) in here watching (season-opening foe Southeast Missouri State) film two months ago, so I think it’s pretty easy for Jaylen just because of the work that he puts in.”
That work shows up in the way Roehl talks about him, too. The coordinator sees a player whose confidence lifts the people around him, and whose voice carries real weight in a room full of mostly new faces.
“Confidence is contagious,” Roehl said. “And his belief, work, aptitude, ability to help, lead, bring along players - it’s huge.
As a player, you want extra coaches one the field. Player-led programs are championship-level programs, and when you have guys (who) are all-in without waver, every day, that’s when you know you’ve got something special.
And his continued growth, leadership - I mean, that’s from day one. His energy was contagious and we can’t have enough of those guys.”
Raynor’s leadership didn’t come out of nowhere. He said he’s felt that pull for a long time.
“Maybe high school?” Raynor said rhetorically.
“Being able to lead a junior varsity team, I guess is kind of the same way. Middle school basketball - I’ve just kind of always been that type of guy to want everything a certain way.
Like, things done the right way, and, obviously, most importantly, I like to win. So I’m gonna do whatever it takes to put my team in the best position to win at the end of the day.”
He’s also bringing production with him. Over the last three seasons, Raynor accounted for 67 total touchdowns, and now he’s trying to translate that success into a Power Four setting while helping Iowa State adjust under new head coach Jimmy Rogers.
Whether that turns into a big first year for the Cyclones is still an open question. Raynor isn’t waiting around for the answer, though. He’s preparing as if he’ll be the guy who helps set the tone.
“The more and more I do it, the more and more I see it, it just becomes more natural,” he said.
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