AMES, Ia. — One of the many duties of the Iowa State football managers is to try on the team’s uniforms to make sure the design, logos and color combinations match up effectively.

When manager Gage Gunnerson tried on tried on Iowa State’s new black uniforms last year, Cyclones’ coaches discovered they didn't just like the style. They also liked how Gunnerson seemed like a natural fit wearing it.

“They were like, wow, you’re filling that out pretty well,” said Gunnerson’s mom, Cindy Menke.

That ended up getting the ball rolling on Gunnerson’s new career. The Carroll native has gone from manager to walk-on for the Cyclones this spring.

“That to me is what I love about college football in a lot of ways,” said Iowa State coach Matt Campbell. “He worked his butt off and, literally, I don’t think ever had the interest (in playing football when he came to Iowa State).”

Gunnerson really didn’t, despite being a four-sport standout at Carroll Kuemper High School.

One of his best sports, though, was football. During his senior season, Gunnerson led his team to a 9-2 record, throwing for 1,615 yards and 17 touchdown passes. He also ran for 520 yards and 11 more touchdowns.

The success caught the attention of some smaller non-Division I schools. The largest school to show some interest in Gunnerson was UNI. But Gunnerson was intent on either playing at a high level or not playing at all.

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So he enrolled at Iowa State and got a role working as defensive line coach Eli Rasheed’s equipment manager last football season. Gunnerson did laundry, folded uniforms and prepared lockers for games. During one road trip, he rode with the team’s giant semi-truck.

“He’s a guy that I think certainly earned the trust because of how he did the job that he did every day with our program,” Campbell said.

Gunnerson’s work ethic wasn’t the only thing that caught the attention of Campbell and his staff. His 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame also opened up some eyes, especially when he put on Iowa State’s new black uniforms the Cyclones’ debuted for their game against West Virginia.

Then, when Iowa State’s managers had their annual game against the program’s trainers, Gunnerson took the field at quarterback and shined in front of some of Iowa State’s coaches and players who were watching.

“He threw for like four or five touchdown passes and then ran the ball (well),” Menke said. “I guess that was when a lot of the coaches said, ‘He’s an athlete — we need him.’”

So Gunnerson gave up his job as a manager and joined the team as a walk-on. He’s listed as a tight end, but Campbell said the Cyclones are still looking for ways to use him. They’ve even contemplated putting him with Rasheed again on the D-line.

“Gage is one of those kids that he’s got a great heart and I think everybody’s really fired up that he wants to do this,” Campbell said.

Gunnerson doesn’t want the story to end there, though. He’s intent on getting on the field. And Campbell hasn’t ruled it out. Menke said Gunnerson has been watching film and working out, trying to once again impress the coaches.

“We kind of tease him about being Rudy,” Menke said. “He wants it. He didn’t want to tell anyone about this. But he wants to play. He’s taking this super seriously."

The story could get even more interesting if his brother Blaise Gunnerson joins the football team. He's a star defensive end at Kuemper who has gotten a lot of interest from Division I colleges, including Iowa State. Menke said Blaise is still undecided but is considering the Cyclones "very seriously."

But that's not why Gage decided to join the football team.

"He wants to play," Menke said. "He wants to help out."