Peterson: Iowa State's Matt Campbell worried about transfer portal losses? Think again.

CARROLL — Iowa State football lost another safety recently.

The fourth of somewhat significance since last season, I think. 

These days, the first question everyone wonders is if either another coach, or even players from another team tampered. From now until there are Name, Image and Likeness rules with teeth — we’ll always wonder about potential shenanigans.

“Tampering comes from the player searching somewhere else, not from a coach reaching out,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said on the Paul Finebaum Show last week. “I've had kids reach out to me from other programs and call and say things — and you can't talk to them.

“I know it happens from our place out and from other places. I don't worry as much about tampering as I do about, 'Are we doing the right thing for the kids when they have adversity or things are tough?'"

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So, back to the Iowa State situation, where Campbell had at least four safeties leave after last season. Starters Isheem Young (now at Ole Miss), Craig McDonald (Auburn), and Kym-Mani King (Florida A&M) are gone. Anticipated depth chart 2022 guy Jordyn Morgan is gone, too.

Again, that’s four at one position. That’s the kind of stuff that can happen when you combine immediately transfer eligibility with money that might be made from NIL.

Tampering?

“I don’t know,” Campbell said Monday during the Carroll stop on the two-week state-wide Cyclone Tailgate Tour. “From my end, I’ve always just worried about our program — what goes on inside of our building. I’m not really worried about what goes on outside of our walls.

“If there are better opportunities at times for our own guys within our own walls that feel that way, then they’re better off going to those opportunities, rather than staying and not being happy within our program.”

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Campbell hasn’t talked much about the current state of college athletics with reporters. Monday, he gave us some of his insight.

What happened with McDonald announcing his transfer after undergoing a full spring practice?

“Craig’s opportunity to explore options,” Campbell said. “Craig is a great kid; he did a lot of great things for us. He grew a lot, but I think for him and his family, (they) felt like there were options out there for them to explore.

“When that happens, we wish every young man the best of luck, and then we just continue with the guys who want to be in our football program.”

McDonald’s three starts in 2021 included the Cheez-It Bowl against Clemson.

“Craig (is) taking advantage of his opportunity,” Campbell said before the bowl game. “His ability to go make plays was, I think, is a huge confidence-booster.

“For us as a staff, I think everybody is just really excited for Craig. He's one of those guys in our program, that's worked really, really hard to get and earn an opportunity to perform on the field.”

And then poof — he’s gone.

Concerned about depth at the safety position?

“I don’t think we’re too concerned,” Campbell said. “We feel really confident about that group.”

Anthony Johnson Jr. moved from cornerback to safety shortly after the bowl game. Part-time starters Beau Freyler and Myles Purchase return.

“If there’s a group that grew the most thins spring for us, it’s certainly that position group,” Campbell said. “We’re real confident where we are there, and really, where we are as a secondary. I think it’s the deepest it’s been since we’ve been here.”

Campbell then pointed toward the senior leadership on the team, despite the loss of 14 players who had at least one start last season.

“Xavier Hutchinson is one of the best receivers in the history of our school,” Campbell said, capsulizing 2022 veterans. “Trevor Downing one of the best offensive linemen in the history of the school. Anthony Johnson is one of the best defensive backs in the history of the school. Will McDonald the best defensive lineman in the history of the school. O’Rien Vance is one of the best linebackers in school history.

“Yes, there were some really good players that left. We’re very fortunate to have a lot of great players that are coming back.”

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Since this was the first time we spoke with Campbell in a while, he was asked to address the general state of college athletics.

“We’re living in a completely different world than we were even a year ago,” he said. “It forces us to grow and adapt and continue to understand the landscape that we’re playing in. I don’t think it leads us to differ who we are, and certainly what’s been successful for our football program.

“The positive is that we’ve got to double-down on what we built our program on . . . and also know that you’re going to have some turnover.”

There was turnover before the NCAA granted immediate eligibility for first-time transfers. There were transfers even before name, image and likeness.

“It’s a new world,” Campbell said when asked if the NIL conversation comes up in the recruiting process. “You’re about to have official visits, and those questions are going to happen. Those are things every university in the country are going to have to be prepared to answer, and that’s OK. It’s a growth opportunity for everybody involved.

“It’s forcing us to continue to grow as a football program and as a department. 'How are we going to answer this, and what are we going to do in the best interest of our kids?'

“It’s a work in progress, with Jamie (Pollard), myself and T.J. (Otzelberger) continuing to sit down and trying to navigate the landscape,” Campbell went on. “What you want to do, is continue to do what’s best for student-athletes, and certainly our kids.

“I think there are great (branding) opportunities out there for our kids, but we have to continue to navigate the waters for our kids, and do that the right way.”

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson embarked on his 50th year of writing sports for the Des Moines Register in December 2021. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, 515-284-8132, and on Twitter at @RandyPete.