After a long run of good linebacker groups headlined by Tim Dobbins, Alvin Bowen, Jesse Smith, A.J. Klein, Jake Knott, and Jeremiah George (all of which played in the NFL), Iowa State had struggled at linebacker for a few seasons. Even in 2016, the linebackers were arguably the weakest part of the defense. Going into the 2017 season, we knew the group’s talent overall level was better than it had been for the past half decade, but questions still loomed.
Who was going to play middle linebacker?
Joel F****** Lanning. That’s who.
Wait.......what?
In January, Matt Campbell sat Joel down in his office and asked him to make an enormous sacrifice.