AMES – Iowa State quarterback Jacob Park is taking a leave from the football team to work through personal health issues, the team announced Friday night.
Park didn’t make the trip to Norman, Okla., for Saturday’s game at Oklahoma and Coach Matt Campbell doesn’t have a timetable for his return.
“Jacob is a great young man dealing with some personal medical concerns,” Campbell said in a release. “We are committed to helping him cope, supporting him on all levels and helping him prepare to get back on the playing field with his teammates as soon as possible.”
Through four games, Park has led the Cyclones to a 2-2 (0-1 Big 12) record, throwing for 1,181 yards and nine touchdowns.
“We are focused on helping Jacob in any way we can,” Campbell said. “I know how important the football team is to Jacob and how important Jacob is to the football team. But, supporting one another in difficult times is where our focus is.”
The quarterback position has been unstable for the Cyclones since Austen Arnaud graduated in 2010. The Cyclones have had seven different starting quarterbacks in those seven seasons since Arnaud’s graduation.
Park’s backups include redshirt freshman Zeb Noland and redshirt senior Kyle Kempt. Both Noland and Kempt have played limited snaps this season late in the fourth quarter, but neither has completed a pass with Noland being the only one attempting one.
The 6-foot-2 Noland was a three-star prospect according to 247Sports, but he missed all of his redshirt season with a torn ACL. Kempt, who stands 6-foot-5 Kempt started his career at Oregon State, then transferred to Hutchinson Community College before finally arriving at Iowa State in 2016.
Before the season Joel Lanning, who started his career at quarterback, made the switch to middle linebacker. Lanning passed for 2,537 yards and rushed for another 849 in his career. Lanning is listed as a quarterback or linebacker on Iowa State’s current roster.
The Cyclones and third-ranked Sooners (4-0, 1-0) meet at 11 a.m. Saturday (FOX).
Park didn’t make the trip to Norman, Okla., for Saturday’s game at Oklahoma and Coach Matt Campbell doesn’t have a timetable for his return.
“Jacob is a great young man dealing with some personal medical concerns,” Campbell said in a release. “We are committed to helping him cope, supporting him on all levels and helping him prepare to get back on the playing field with his teammates as soon as possible.”
Through four games, Park has led the Cyclones to a 2-2 (0-1 Big 12) record, throwing for 1,181 yards and nine touchdowns.
“We are focused on helping Jacob in any way we can,” Campbell said. “I know how important the football team is to Jacob and how important Jacob is to the football team. But, supporting one another in difficult times is where our focus is.”
The quarterback position has been unstable for the Cyclones since Austen Arnaud graduated in 2010. The Cyclones have had seven different starting quarterbacks in those seven seasons since Arnaud’s graduation.
Park’s backups include redshirt freshman Zeb Noland and redshirt senior Kyle Kempt. Both Noland and Kempt have played limited snaps this season late in the fourth quarter, but neither has completed a pass with Noland being the only one attempting one.
The 6-foot-2 Noland was a three-star prospect according to 247Sports, but he missed all of his redshirt season with a torn ACL. Kempt, who stands 6-foot-5 Kempt started his career at Oregon State, then transferred to Hutchinson Community College before finally arriving at Iowa State in 2016.
Before the season Joel Lanning, who started his career at quarterback, made the switch to middle linebacker. Lanning passed for 2,537 yards and rushed for another 849 in his career. Lanning is listed as a quarterback or linebacker on Iowa State’s current roster.
The Cyclones and third-ranked Sooners (4-0, 1-0) meet at 11 a.m. Saturday (FOX).
