Iowa State coach Matt Campbell hasn't given up on Kyle Kempt being a Cyclone in 2018.
AMES, Ia. — Don’t freak out, Iowa State football fans. Yes, Kyle Kempt’s bio has been removed from the school’s 2018 website roster, but he was a senior last season. It’s protocol for the school to remove seniors.
It’s not a big deal that he’s not listed among quarterbacks Zeb Noland and Re-Al Mitchell and Devon Moore.
He’s attending spring-semester classes. That’s all that matters right now — until the NCAA decides whether or not to allow Kempt an additional season of eligibility.
I was among journalists who had one-on-one interviews with coach Matt Campbell Monday morning. I sensed something I hadn’t recognized before:
Kempt talks publicly for the first time about the NCAA process he hopes will grant him one more season of eligibility. Randy Peterson/The Register
I detected that Campbell is more optimistic now about the NCAA ruling in Kempt’s favor than he was before Iowa State’s 21-20 victory against Memphis in the Dec. 30 Liberty Bowl.
It’s just a hunch, obviously. Predicting the NCAA's next move is always a crapshoot.
But still, there was that line...
“I feel confident that we can come out of this as good or better at quarterback than we’ve ever been at Iowa State,” Campbell told me.
More: Campbell hasn't given up on Kempt being ISU quarterback in 2018
Read whatever you want between the lines, but would Campbell have used those words if he was certain the NCAA was ruling against Kempt?
Fans are certainly eager to know about Kempt, who had a 5-3 record as a starter during the Cyclones’ 8-5 season. He’s petitioning the NCAA for another season, claiming he was being “run off” the Oregon State team after a coaching change, and after a complicated situation that led to inactivity while playing at Hutchinson Community College.
Does Campbell know something that we don’t? Maybe, although I don’t know that to be fact.
“If the Kyle situation works out, now we’re talking about two guys that have played and won critical games, that fit what we want to do,” Campbell said. “As it sorts itself out, hopefully in the next week or two, we’ll have a better understanding.”
He stopped short of saying that he expected the NCAA to rule favorably for Kempt. Nor did he ever say that it’s a lost cause.
“It’s a really fluid situation right now,” Campbell said. “The percentages continue to go back and forth — yes, we think Kyle will be back, no we don’t think he’ll be back, and yes he will.
“It’s a little unsettling, but we have to prepare as if Kyle wouldn’t be coming back.”
So for now, Noland is the most veteran starter on the roster. Moore and Mitchell will get reps during spring ball that starts in March, too.
What else did the coach say?
On Jacob Park:
“I really like Jacob Park,” Campbell said about the quarterback who was released from his scholarship after not being on the active roster since the Texas game. “There’s a lot of good qualities about Jacob.
“You want to make sure you give him the tools and the resources to get through some of the challenges that he did have and does have.
“He still has a future in this sport.”
The two haven’t spoken in a while.
“We were supposed to meet during the second week of bowl practice,” Campbell said. “He didn’t attend.”
On his new assistants:
Campbell said he hopes to have a replacement for running backs coach Lou Ayeni soon. He also said former Kent State head coach Paul Haynes could be an addition on the defensive side of the ball — again, soon.
“Paul’s really sought-after right now,” Campbell said of the guy who has jobs at Ohio State and Arkansas on his resume. “We’re really good friends. We’re down to the final people with whom he’s looking at.
“With as much craziness that’s going on in the assistant coaching world, he’s being sought after by a lot of people.”
Among them?
Iowa State and Michigan State.
On alternate uniforms:
“We’re going to have new uniforms next year because Nike is redoing our uniforms,” the coach said. “How much different and to what extent, I don’t know.
“We’ll have new uniforms, but I don’t want the fan base to freak out about what the colors will be.”
And back to Kempt...
He’s testing the "run-off" rule, which allows the NCAA to grant additional eligibility for players transferring to a four-year school after being "run off" at a previous four-year school.
Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee won his case after starting 19 games at Tulane —before Willie Fritz became the new Green Wave coach in 2016.
Iowa State hopes that same principle works for Kempt — despite sandwiching a non-playing stint at Hutchinson Community College between Oregon State and the Cyclones.
"They told me I wasn't going to play there,” Kempt said during bowl week regarding his situation at Oregon State.”
He explained that in a letter he sent to the NCAA. He also explained what happened after transferring to Hutchinson.
"I just didn't play there,” he said. “There were some things that went on ... things I discussed in the letter that I don't want to go into."
The fact that the NCAA didn’t quickly rule is a good thing for Iowa State. Often, the NCAA requests additional documentation or details before ruling on eligibility issues. That might be what’s happening in this case.
“If he does come back, it’s almost like getting a fifth-year transfer quarterback in your program, yet also a guy that has glue intangibles — a guy your players believe in,” Campbell said.
Kempt, who led Iowa State to thrilling wins against top-5 opponents Oklahoma and TCU after suddenly replacing Park, has been going through winter conditioning drills.
The NCAA almost certainly will rule before spring ball starts, so for now, the only aspect of the quarterback position that’s a given is that Noland is back, and that redshirt freshman Moore and freshman recruit Mitchell (who already has enrolled) will get spring reps.
“We continue to develop that roster the best way we can,” Campbell said. “Not knowing Kyle’s situation creates some unique challenges, but we’re confident Zeb has a bright future here.
“This is a big six months for him. He’s still got a lot of growth in his game to make.
“Devon Moore is coming back off injury. Re-Al is here.
“We’re not a total a lost cause if Kyle can’t play.”
Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete.