Iowa State Football: 3 Second-Year Players Poised for Stardom in 2023
Disappointing doesn’t even begin to describe the 2022 season for Iowa State football. Matt Campbell and co were hoping to contend in the Big 12, but the Cyclones did anything but that, finishing just 4-8 overall with just one win in conference play.
The void Brock Purdy left at the quarterback position was definitely felt as the Cyclones reverted back to the pre-Campbell days with the 4-8 finish. If Iowa State is going to get back on track and in contention in 2023, it’ll need the best players from the 2022 recruiting class to step up and become stars.
#3 Cartevious Norton, Running Back
Cyclones running back Jirehl Brock has had some bad injury luck throughout his career and if he’s back and healthy in 2023, he’ll probably be the starter. But Cartevious Norton could have an impact on the run game after a disappointing season for Iowa State in that regard.
Norton finished second on the team in rushing in his first season in Ames, finishing with 312 yards and two touchdowns on 3. 6 yards per carry. He didn’t have a great year but he’s capable of much more and we’ll see that in 2023.
#2 Domonique Orange, Defensive Line
Domonique Orange had a quiet freshman season with Iowa State. He finished with eight tackles but he made plenty of appearances and was the next man up on the depth chart if any defensive linemen got injured.
Orange was the No. 483 overall recruit and 65th-best defensive lineman in the 2022 class and was Iowa State’s second-best defensive line recruit behind Hunter Deyo who was one of just two four-stars in the Cyclones’ class. Iowa State is going to need plenty of defensive help next season after a disappointing 2022 campaign and Orange is a big body up front who’ll help out.
Domonique Orange is 6-foot-4 and listed at 300 pounds and with some spots opening up on the depth chart up front, he should make a push for that two-deep.
#1 Greg Gaines, Wide Receiver
Greg Gaines played in just four games as a freshman and had a total of one catch for two yards. He’s going to get plenty more runs next season. Gaines was Iowa State’s No. 2 recruit in the 2022 class and was ranked No. 342 overall in the class and was the 52nd receiver in the nation. He was just one of two four-stars in Iowa State’s 2022 class and it’s about time he steps up and lives up to that high rating, especially with Xavier Hutchinson gone.
Jaylin Noel is the best receiver returning in 2023 but someone else will need to step up and that could be Gaines. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound receiver from Tampa, Fla., is going to have a big season and as long as the Cyclones have the right guy at quarterback, he should break out and help fill that Hutchinson-sized void. He’s completely capable, but he just needs the opportunity and I think Matt Campbell gives him that next year.
