Aug 10, 2026 · 12 min
Iowa State bets on speed to transform its defense
DAILY CLONE: Can the Cyclone Defense Hold Teams to Less Than 15 Points Per Game?
The episode tests whether Iowa State’s new defensive structure can turn Jesse Bobbitt’s 15-points-per-game target into a credible standard.
- 1Jesse Bobbitt’s defense departs from a traditional 4-2-5 through shifting linebacker alignments, coverage duties, and disguised looks.
- 2Sullivan Schlemgen’s late freshman-season breakthrough makes him a useful test of the system’s demand for speed and range.
- 3The revamped linebackers must still fill run gaps while covering more ground horizontally and contributing across the field.
Don't miss
Jesse Bobbitt recalls Sullivan Schlemgen becoming a major contributor as a true freshman, including a memorable play against Ole Miss.
The brief
Jesse Bobbitt has set Iowa State a demanding defensive benchmark: allow 15 points per game or fewer, despite the difficult starts discussed from last season.
The new structure moves beyond a traditional 4-2-5, using linebacker alignment, coverage responsibility, rotation, and disguise to create uncertainty before the snap.
Sophomore Sullivan Schlemgen’s route from South Dakota to Iowa State included preparing like a starter while buried on the depth chart, then breaking through late as a freshman.
Bobbitt’s account of Schlemgen’s major freshman contribution, including a memorable play against Ole Miss, frames year two as a test of growth rather than discovery.
Schlemgen fits the new defense because it prizes smaller, faster linebackers who can fill gaps, cover ground, and play sideline to sideline.
Featuring
North TexasListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.