Graduate transfer lineman leaves Iowa State

Randy Peterson | The Des Moines Register

David Dawson, a graduate transfer from Michigan who was expected to provide veteran depth along Iowa State’s offensive line, has left the program.

The school’s athletics media relations department confirmed Monday that Dawson “no longer is on the team.”

In a text to The Register Monday night, Campbell said that Dawson has been "gone a couple weeks to think about (his decision)."

Apparently, Dawson figured it's time to move on with his life.

"Better it happens now than during the season," Campbell said.

Dawson played in 12 games at Michigan — all as a reserve. Iowa State coach Matt Campbell was hoping the former four-star high school recruit could play both guard positions this season.

Dawson sounded optimistic in January, when he announced on Twitter that he was heading to Iowa State:

“I would like to thank God for granting me another opportunity to play the game that I love and also allowing me to meet such a great staff and team at Iowa State!” he wrote. “I’m proud to announce that I will finish my college career in Ames, IA.”

Dawson’s departure may be a reason for Iowa State getting Iowa Western Community College transfer lineman Josh Knipfel two weeks ago. The 6-foot-6, 315-pounder spent a full season at Iowa Western after a standout high school career at Hampton-Dumont.

Dawson is the second graduate transfer that left Iowa State in the past few months. The other was Khaliel Rodgers, a USC transfer who de-committed in March in favor of playing for North Carolina.

Rodgers started nine games between 2014 and 2015 at guard and center for the Trojans.