Iowa State begins 7th season under Coach Paul Rhoads in 2015

Iowa State names captains for 2015 season.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head football coach Paul Rhoads (pictued below with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz) announced his captains for the 2015 season on August 24th. The Cyclones will open the 2015 season on Saturday vs. the Northern Iowa Panthers. 

Paul Rhoads is entering his seven season at Iowa State in 2015. He has a 3-3
record against Iowa in the Cy-Hawk series. ISU will open the 2015 season
against Northern Iowa on Saturday, followed by Iowa in Ames on 9/12.

The Cyclones and Panthers are 2-2 in the series, since 2007, though ISU has lost two in a row. Iowa State's offense had success at times in 2014, but the defense struggled, as ISU finished 2-10 overall and 0-9 in the Big 12 conference, the first non-win season, since 2008, in the second and final season, under former coach Gene Chizik.

Senior QB 12 Sam Richardson, during his sophomore season,
in the 2013 Cy-Hawk Game. Iowa won 27-21 in Ames.

Senior quarterback Sam Richardson and junior linebacker Levi Peters were voted by their teammates to lead the Cyclones during the 2015 campaign. Iowa State returns seven starters on offense, lead by QB Richardson, and six starters on defense. Peters is projected to start at WLB, ahead of returning starter, junior Luke Knott. Iowa State's projected depth chart for 2015.

Northern Iowa defeated ISU in 2013, by the score of 28-20,
in the season opener. Pictured is 35 Levi Peters, as a freshman.

A native of Winter Park, Fla., Richardson enters his third season as Iowa State’s full-time starter at quarterback. Richardson, who has started at least one game in each of his first three seasons, has a team-high 21 career starts.

The Manning Award watch list member posted an outstanding season in 2014, breaking ISU’s school record for completions in a season (254) and completions in a game (37 vs. Toledo). He also tossed 18 TD passes, tying for the third-best total in the history of Cyclone football.

Rhoads noted numerous times the improved leadership qualities Richardson exemplified in the offseason and fall camp. Richardson played a major role in Iowa State's 20-17 win at Iowa in 2014.

Richardson completed 25-of-37 attempts for 255 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa. WR Allen Lazard, now a sophomore, caught five passes for 53 yards to lead the ISU receivers in last year' win over Iowa. Senior WR Quenton Bundrage returns in 2015, after missing the 2014 season, due to injury.

Peters, who hails from Gilmore City, Iowa, has become a Cyclone fan favorite in his time in Ames. He’s also been a leader in the locker room.

Peters came to Iowa State as a greyshirt walk-on in 2012. He quickly earned the trust of his teammates and coaching staff by becoming the Cyclones’ special teams dynamo in 2013 and 2104.

Iowa State beat Iowa 20-17 in 2014 in the final seconds
to bring home the Cy-Hawk Trophy.

After the 2014 season ended, Peters was awarded a scholarship. He’s now an ISU captain, the first underclassman to be picked as a captain since James White in 2012.

Peters’ work in community service projects has earned him spots on the Wuerffel Trophy watch list and the AFCA Good Works Team.

Iowa State Schedule in 2015