AMES, Ia. — Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell isn’t giving up on Easton Dean at quarterback. But while Dean waits for his shot at that position, he’s trying out a new spot.

Tight end.

Dean, a freshman quarterback for the Cyclones, is bouncing between quarterback and tight end. And his new position might land him on the field quicker than quarterback.

“I think that’s kind of our hope,” said Iowa State tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Alex Golesh. “Coach Campbell’s biggest thing is, if you’re stuck as a position where maybe it’s not looking super bright at the moment, how can you help us somewhere else?”

The Cyclones believe that can be tight end for Dean, who is buried on Iowa State’s quarterback depth chart with Brock Purdy and Re-al Mitchell listed ahead of him and transfer John Kolar likely ahead of him as well.

Dean certainly has the intangibles of a tight end. He already checks in at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds as a true freshman. During his senior season in high school, he ran for 544 yards and four touchdowns. Dean also threw for 2,042 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Dean graduated high school early and has been on campus since January. Golesh said that Dean spent the entire spring at quarterback. But the Cyclones have since been bouncing him back and forth between positions.

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During Iowa State’s media day earlier in the month, Campbell said that Iowa State hadn’t moved Dean out of the quarterback spot for good and that the Cyclones were going to just continue to “tinker” with him at tight end. The test has gone well, so far.

“He’s super talented,” Golesh said. “And tough. And smart and long. And he can run. All good traits. I think he’s got a chance to help us at quarterback as we move along. I really think he’s got a chance to help us as a tight end as we move along.”

Possibly this season? Golesh said it’s too soon to make that decision. But Golesh likes what he has seen in Dean so far.

"I think for him to sit and learn from the guys in front of him is huge," Golesh said. "Can he help us on special teams? We’ll find out. Or does he just need the year to learn the position? I think with him moving back and forth as we continue to figure out, hey can help us. He’s certainly really good with the ball in his hands. We’ll see.”

Golesh thought it may take all of fall camp for the Cyclones to figure out what they can do with Dean this season. In the meantime, he said he’d be happy to keep Dean in his room.

“If I get the opportunity to have him in my room in the long haul, I’d be super fired up,” Golesh said.