Getting to know Iowa State football

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas tight end Ben Johnson turns to meet Iowa State defensive back Kamari Cotton-Moya after a catch in the second quarter.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas tight end Ben Johnson turns to meet Iowa State defensive back Kamari Cotton-Moya after a catch in the second quarter.

Saturday marks the first Big 12 game of 2015 for both Kansas and Iowa State, and the Jayhawks and Cyclones have some losing streaks they’d like to get rid of at Jack Trice Stadium (11 a.m. kickoff).

Winless through three games this season, KU at least snapped a four-game skid versus Iowa State by winning 34-14 in Lawrence in 2014. But there is that not-so-insignificant matter of the Jayhawks’ 34-game losing streak away from Memorial Stadium. ISU accounted for three of those, and Kansas hasn’t won in Ames, Iowa, since escaping 35-33 in 2008.

Back then, of course, Mark Mangino was coaching the Jayhawks. Now ISU’s offensive coordinator, Mangino wouldn’t mind adding to KU’s road troubles — with no offense to his former assistant David Beaty.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas head coach Mark Mangino has words for an official during the second quarter Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.

ISU hasn’t won a Big 12 opener since bludgeoning Kansas, 45-3, in 2002. But the streak the Cyclones would really like to snap is a stretch of nine consecutive Big 12 losses.

Iowa State’s defense — unlike KU’s this season — has shown it can get into the backfield and make plays. The Cyclones (1-2) already have 24.0 tackles for loss — three times as many as KU — ranking third in the Big 12 and 17th nationally.

KU looking for a few good (D-line)men

The Cyclones, who beat Northern Iowa in the opener and have since lost to Iowa and Toledo, have enough play-makers on offense to keep KU’s road losing streak alive and well. Here are five ISU players Kansas should be worried about.

FIVE CYCLONES TO WATCH

No. 12: QB Sam Richardson | 6-2, 217, sr.

Iowa State quarterback Sam B. Richardson takes a snap during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

• Believe it or not this will actually mark senior quarterback Sam Richardson’s first career start against Kansas. Injuries kept him out of the KU-ISU game each of the past two seasons. In 2012, though, he came off the bench as a freshman against Kansas and lit up the Jayhawks — 23-for-27 passing, with 250 yards and four touchdowns.

• This season, Richardson is averaging 249.7 yards passing per game and completing 61.3 percent of his throws (65-for-106).

• In each of his first two games this season (vs. Northern Iowa and Iowa), Richardson threw two TD passes, giving him 15 multi-TD games in his career.

• He ranks 28th nationally in completions per game (21.7).

• ISU’s QB only threw one TD pass vs. Toledo. He now has 42 in his career, tying for the second-best total in school history (Bret Meyer, 50, 2004-07).

• Richardson is one of five active FBS QBs with more than 5,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards.

No. 5: WR Allen Lazard | 6-5, 223, soph.

Iowa State wide receiver Allen Lazard looks to push Northern Iowa defensive back Jordan Webb away on a punt return during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Justin Hayworth)

• Richardson’s favorite target, sophomore receiver Allen Lazard leads ISU in receptions (15) and receiving yards (150).

• He has caught at least one pass in all 15 games of his young career.

• As a freshman in 2014, Lazard had five catches for 70 yards at KU.

• Lazard delivered one of the best rookie seasons from a WR in ISU history last year, with 45 catches for 593 yards and three TDs.

• Also a threat on special teams, Lazard averaged 25.0 yards a punt return against UNI.

• The tall receiver already has two eight-catch games on his résumé. Not surprising when you consider how highly he was thought of coming out of high school.

No. 45: DE Dale Pierson | 6-2, 249, sr.

Iowa State defensive end Dale Pierson celebrates after sacking Northern Iowa quarterback Justin Black during the second half Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in Ames, Iowa.

• Senior DE Dale Pierson ranks second nationally in sacks per game (1.7), trailing only Penn State’s Carl Nassib (1.75).

• Pierson also ranks No. 5 in the nation with 2.0 tackles for loss per game. That mark leads the Big 12.

• With nine games left to play, he is 3.5 sacks shy of ISU’s single-season record: 8.5, by Shawn Moorehead in 2006. No wonder his Twitter handle is @SACKMAMBA45.

• In ISU’s win over UNI, Pierson went for 3.0 sacks and recorded his first career interception.

• Pierson, a former Pasadena CC standout, really began to take off late last season. In his last six games for ISU, he has 37 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 7.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and an interception.

No. 2: RB Mike Warren | 6-0, 200, RS-fr.

• After seeing few opportunities in ISU’s first two games, red-shirt freshman running back Mike Warren broke out against Toledo. His 126 rushing yards included a career-long 41-yard carry.

• Warren now leads ISU with 154 rushing yards on the season.

• The young RB is averaging 5.1 yards a carry.

• It seems Warren could become the first ISU freshman to lead the team in rushing yards since Alexander Robinson did it in 2007.

No. 12: LB Jarnor “Jay” Jones | 6-3, 209, jr.

• Linebacker Jarnor “Jay” Jones’ 20 tackles rank third on ISU, and he has made plays in the backfield, with four 4.0 for loss.

• A former member of North Carolina State’s football program who transferred to Georgia Military College after running into some trouble, the transfer now seems to have things figured out.

• Jones had a sack and two tackles for loss in each of his first tow games for ISU, against Northern Iowa and Iowa.