Someone asked me from which Iowa State football player (besides quarterback Brock Purdy) I expect big things during the 2020 season. Only one choice was allowed.

No question. Breece Hall.

The sophomore running back has the potential to be the most exciting non-quarterback on a Cyclones team that has the firepower to legitimately contend for the Big 12 Conference championship game, assuming there is one.

In essentially just eight games last season, Hall rushed for 897 yards on 186 carries. Breaking that down, the true freshman averaged 21.0 yards in the first four games, and 101.6 yards during the final eight.

Now that hes figured out college life and big-time football, hell get a full dose of whatever the schedule permits. The acclimation process of being a true freshman is over.

Breece is maybe one of the most gifted, true running backs that Ive had the opportunity to be around, coach Matt Campbell said last week. Hes got very similar qualities, as far as skills, to David Montgomery and Kareem Hunt.

Montgomery, who dazzled ISU fans with 2,925 yards during three seasons between 2016-18, is the starter for the Chicago Bears. Hunt, who Campbell coached at Toledo, plays for the Cleveland Browns.

What allowed Breece to take a step forward was maturity, Campbell said. Its hard as a true freshman to step on campus and know what the expectations and standards to live by day-in and day-out are.

As he matured through the season with those expectations, that God-given ability he had really started to show through.

He made a huge impact the second half of the season. Hes got a bright future.

Hall has star quality right now. His first game of major action resulted in 132 rushing yards on 26 carries against West Virginia. He followed that with 19 carries for 183 yards a week later against Texas Tech.

I wasnt playing as much, and I really had to learn the consistency of working hard all the time, practicing hard, and then managing that with school, Hall told reporters in January. Once I did that, I got my chance. I took off with it, and everybody was behind me.

No longer could defenses load up against Purdys passing and shifty running moves. So much for double-teaming All-American tight end Charlie Kolar.

Breece did a great job from that West Virginia game on, Purdy said. All of our running backs are amazing. In that West Virginia game, it gave us that extra firepower from the offense that we needed.

No longer did Purdy feel pressured to make a big play. He had a game-changer hanging out with him the backfield.

Being able to trust Breece making plays was awesome, Purdy said.

Hall is the star of a running backs room that will rival anyones in the Big 12. Jirehl Brock also played as a true freshman. Kene Nwangwu and Johnnie Lang have a combined 158 carries and 727 yards. Redshirt junior Rory Walling has been impressive, too.

Running back is one of the most impressive positions coming back here, Campbell said. Those five guys have come back really impressive. Thats a high positive for Iowa State football right now.

Starring Hall, the highest of the highs.

Great players want greatness, Campbell said. One of the things I love about Breece is that hes a young man thats trending toward becoming a great player.

I was really proud of his off-the-field habits this winter, and the shape that hes come back in, and the mentality that he approached this summer.

You can tell that hes driven to take the next step.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been writing for the Des Moines Register for parts of six decades.

Excerpt from:

Peterson: Matt Campbell compares Breece Halls running back skill to David Montgomery and Kareem Hunt - Ames Tribune