Big 12 Q&A: Joel Lanning, Iowa State linebacker
Iowa State’s Lanning has made the switch from quarterback to middle linebacker
Once the Cyclones starting quarterback, Joel Lanning has made a career switch to defense. And not a conventional switch, but a move to middle linebacker.
Lanning talked with The Oklahoman about the move Monday:
Q: How did the conversation go with head coach Matt Campbell, regarding a possible switch to linebacker?
“I wasn’t mad at all. I’m the type of guy, I’ll do anything for the team. He asked me if I’d do it, and I said, ‘Sure, if it’s going to make the team better, I’ll do it.’ He was like, ‘We’ll throw you there and if it doesn’t work out, we’ll put you back on offense and we’ll find a way to get you on the field and help us out there.’ He put me over there and I just took off from spring practice No. 1.”
So did you take to the switch right away?
“The first two weeks I was dying, my body was sore from hitting all the time. You’ve got to be in a lot better shape than when I was at quarterback.”
Had you played linebacker before?
“In eighth grade. That’s the last time I played defense.”
So what’s the change been like so far?
“Honestly, it’s a lot less stressful. I don’t have near as much pressure on me now as I did at quarterback. I can go out there and play and have fun. Not that I wasn’t having fun at quarterback, but it’s a little more serious back there. Everything’s on you if something (bad) happens.”
What’s the biggest thing you’ve had to learn at linebacker?
“Keep your head up. I remember the first practice, I was just trying to crush people. I was just ducking my head. I know I missed a few tackles because of that. So keeping your head up, see what you’re hitting, that’s been the hardest thing. And wrap up; you don’t want to just hit them with your shoulder.”
Any chance you could find yourself back at quarterback in a specialty role?
“You could see me like a true Wildcat. Just depends on who we’re playing, how the game is going. But my true position is linebacker now.”
Do your offensive linemen, who used to protect you, give you a break at all in practice?
“I have great relationships with them. But it’s funny, they want to get at me a little bit. I want to get at them. Just having fun. They definitely let me know what’s up pretty quick. I needed it though, to get used to the physicality. And by the end of spring ball, I felt like I’d been playing linebacker for four years.”