Crunch time for Latusek and ISU football's offense

AMES – The next three weeks will be crucial for Ben Latusek.
 
The Dike-New Hartford grad, now in his redshirt sophomore season with Iowa State University's football team, spent most of last season figuring out how to best contribute to head coach Matt Campbell's offense after transitioning from being a defensive lineman.
  
In mid-July, Latusek was listed on the pre-fall camp depth chart as a second-string player at the 'F' position and was on the field for second-team snaps at that position during spring practices.
  
But the tight end/'F' positions are competitive at Iowa State this year, and Latusek knows he'll have to prove himself to get a chance anywhere on the field. The season starts at Jack Trice Stadium on Aug. 31 against the University of Northern Iowa.
  
"We're all ready to get going with fall camp," Latusek said at ISU's Media Day last week. "We're ready to prove it and do whatever needs to be done by me or anyone in the tight end room. We'll do special teams, work on the offensive side of the ball, we're just excited to get going here."
 
Skovgard continuing to develop
  
Mason Skovgard, a redshirt freshman for the Cyclones and Gladbrook-Reinbeck grad listed as an offensive lineman, got an eye-opening experience in his redshirt season.
  
"I got moved from D-line when I first came in and the older guys on the line were very helpful and taught me a lot of stuff," Skovgard said. "There was a lot of weight room stuff, a lot more than I even thought it would be and I thought it'd be a lot. Getting to know the guys and roommates was a big deal – the first part of the fall was rough but once you know everyone the workouts are easier and you get along better."
 
For the full story, see the Aug. 8 Grundy Register. Subscribe by calling (319) 824-6958 or clicking here.