Offensive Newcomers To Watch During Iowa State’s Spring Game

The wait is almost over.  The first look at the 2012 Iowa State Cyclones is less than a week away.  The annual Spring Game will be held on Saturday at 2:00 PM and admission is free.  If you head to the game on Saturday, watch out for these four new players for Iowa State.

1. DeVondrick Nealy – Running Back – Redshirt Freshman

With Duran Hollis leaving the program and Shontrelle Johnson being out for the Spring, DeVondrick Nealy has had his chances to impress the coaches.  Paul Rhoads redshirted Nealy last year.  Coming out of high school, Nealy was a 3-star recruit and was ranked as the 9th-best all-purpose back according to Rivals.  He had offers from great programs like Arkansas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Auburn.  From what I’ve read, Nealy can really make defenders miss.  Last year, Nealy was named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year.

2.  Ernst Brun – Tight End – Redshirt Junior

Darius Reynolds, the best receiver on the team last year, graduated from the program and he leaves a large hole as a deep threat.  Hopefully newcomer Ernst Brun can fill that hole a little bit.  Rhoads has said that Brun is developing into a “downfield playmaker”.  Brun was named as a JUCO All-American according to a source in 2010 (with Steele Jantz too).  Brun is a big target at 6’4 and is a great athlete as he played basketball in high school too.  Sounds great, but at tight end, it isn’t all about receiving.  Good news for Cyclone fans is that Brun is starting to improve his blocking also.

3.  Quenton Bundrage – Wide Receiver – Redshirt Freshman

If you have been following Iowa State’s Spring at all, I’m sure that you’ve read the hype about Bundrage.  I mentioned above how Brun can fill the void of Darius Reynolds (and Darius Darks too) and it sounds like Bundrage could do the same.  Bundrage was a 3-star recruit and was listed as the 91st-best receiver in 2011.  My eyes will definitely be on Bundrage this weekend.

4.  Jerome Tiller – Wide Receiver – Redshirt Senior

Jerome Tiller isn’t exactly a newcomer, but it will be interesting to see him at receiver.  Last year, Tiller was declared ineligible for the 2011 season because of his academics.  Over the season, Tiller changed his position from QB to receiver.  From what I’ve read, Tiller has made the adjustment pretty well.  The fact that Tiller has been a QB for the majority of his time at Iowa State should help him become a better receiver.