Tommy Birch

tbirch@dmreg.com

AMES, Ia. — If Iowa State’s football season started right now, Joel Lanning would be among the team’s starting linebackers.

Iowa State linebackers and assistant head coach Tyson Veidt said the former starting quarterback has already positioned himself atop the team’s depth chart at mike linebacker.

“He’s the No. 1 mike linebacker for us right now,” Veidt said. “(He’s) doing a great job there running with the ones. It’s certainly his job to lose.”

Lanning spent his first four seasons with the Cyclones primarily playing at quarterback. He even started 14 games there the last two seasons. During the offseason, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell went searching for other ways to use the versatile 6-foot-2, 225-pound redshirt senior.

One of the possibilities he came up with was using Lanning at linebacker. Lanning, who hadn’t played linebacker since eighth grade, has quickly adapted. Veidt said he wouldn’t be shocked to see Lanning starting at the mike linebacker spot for Iowa State’s season opener on Sept. 2 against Northern Iowa.

"I don’t think it would shock any of the coaches on the defensive side," Veidt said.

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Lanning started Iowa State’s final five games of the 2015 season at quarterback and entered the 2016 season as the starting play-caller, until he started splitting duties with Jacob Park. Park would go on to finish the season as Iowa State’s starting quarterback. Lanning, meanwhile, found another role as a dual-threat quarterback who was used mostly in run situations by the end of the season.

The 2016 season ended with Lanning passing for 1,290 yards and nine touchdowns. He led the team in rushing touchdowns (11), was third in rushing yards (518) and even tied a school mark with five rushing touchdowns in a game.

Campbell believed Iowa State had just started to scratch the surface of Lanning’s versatility. So after the season, the two talked about another way to use Lanning. While Lanning may not be Iowa State’s best quarterback, Campbell believed he was one of the team’s best football players.

“He just asked what I wanted to do,” Lanning said. “(He) kind of gave me the opportunity, if I wanted to play linebacker or not. I said, 'Sure, I can do it, but I want to stay on the offense too.' I’ve been doing both at practice — working on everything.”

And Lanning’s days at quarterback may not be totally behind him yet either. Lanning said he’s still rotated in and out at the spot — and even played some special teams this spring. But his primary position may now be behind the defensive line.

“I don’t know what the plans are, maybe, on the offensive side, but we’re told he’s a linebacker, and coach Campbell’s committed to playing him at linebacker, and that’s what he’s going to play,” Veidt said.

Veidt credited Lanning’s work in the weight room and the film room for his ability to quickly transition into the new role. Part of what has made the move a success is Lanning’s ability to learn quickly.

“He’s not making many mistakes,” Veidt said. “Naturally, he’s still learning and he is making mistakes, but he learns from mistakes, so he’s not making the same one over and over again.”

Lanning’s body type and athleticism and Iowa State’s lack of depth at linebacker have helped propel him into the starting spot conversation. It’s become one of the top storylines surrounding Iowa State this spring. It’s also a rare occurrence. Veidt said he’s never had a player transition from quarterback to the defense.

What makes Lanning a good candidate for the major move is his versatility and his love for contact. Lanning, a wrestler, baseball and football star at Ankeny High School, often embraced contact while playing quarterback at Iowa State. He won over the affection of fans when he would lower his shoulders and bulldoze over opponents who were trying to take him down on runs over the last two seasons.

“It really hasn’t been that big of a challenge,” Lanning said. “I feel like the way I play on offense, running the ball and stuff, I was physical. ... It’s kind of like running the ball, so you’ve just got to run up and tackle someone.”

There's more to it. But Lanning believes his experience in dealing with multiple playbooks over the years has helped him adapt to a new position that has different responsibilities.

“You’ve got to set the front, you’ve got to change things and do all that,” Lanning said. “So you’ve definitely got to know what you’re doing over there.”

Lanning made a strong first impression.

“The first day he came out knowing a lot — a lot more than I thought,” said Iowa State linebacker Willie Harvey. “So I feel like he’s going to be pretty good during the season.”

In an ideal world, Lanning said he’s playing on defense and offense.

“Coach Campbell told me, ‘If everything works, you’re probably going to be throwing up after all the games because you’re going to be playing so much,” Lanning said.

While others may be surprised by Lanning’s rapid rise up the depth chart, he said he isn’t. He’s confident in his abilities no matter where he's playing.

“I’m athletic enough to do it,” Lanning said. “I’ve just got to believe in myself and just keep having fun.”