A pair of Iowa State linebackers - Josh Jahlas and Jack Spreen - will be on scholarship for their senior year. Jahlas is from Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Spreen is from Bedford, Indiana.
ISU Athletics Communications
Two valuable members of Iowa State's special teams group were rewarded for their contributions to Cyclone Football this week when head coach Matt Campbell placed seniors Josh Jahlas and Jack Spreen on scholarship for the 2016-17 season.
Campbell left little doubt of their impact on the team.
"They are both so deserving of a scholarship," Campbell said. "The sacrifices and hard work they put into our program hasn't gone unnoticed."
Jahlas, a linebacker from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has earned the Jim Doran Award for the team's outstanding special teams player the last two seasons, racking up 21 tackles along the way.
He was thrilled when Campbell told him the news.
"We had practice on Sunday and I had left the football offices and went home," Jahlas said. "I then got a text to come back in and I didn't know what it was going to be about. I walked into Coach's office and he asked me if I wanted to be on scholarship. I said absolutely."
A native of Bedford, Ind., Spreen has also been a huge success on ISU's special teams units. He tallied three tackles a year ago and was named the team's best walk-on player in 2014.
"This is an amazing feeling and something that I set out as a goal when I was a freshman," Spreen said. "It was really unexpected when he pulled me into his office. At first I thought I was in trouble, but then he thanked me for everything I have done here at Iowa State and told me I was put on scholarship. I am forever indebted to Coach Campbell."
Jahlas and Spreen are close friends and they gained national notoriety in March when they came to the rescue of an individual who was trapped in a car which was on the verge of sinking in a canal.
The quick reaction of Jahlas and Spreen, and other Cyclone teammates, helped save the person's life.
ISU Athletics Communications
Two valuable members of Iowa State's special teams group were rewarded for their contributions to Cyclone Football this week when head coach Matt Campbell placed seniors Josh Jahlas and Jack Spreen on scholarship for the 2016-17 season.
Campbell left little doubt of their impact on the team.
"They are both so deserving of a scholarship," Campbell said. "The sacrifices and hard work they put into our program hasn't gone unnoticed."
Jahlas, a linebacker from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has earned the Jim Doran Award for the team's outstanding special teams player the last two seasons, racking up 21 tackles along the way.
He was thrilled when Campbell told him the news.
"We had practice on Sunday and I had left the football offices and went home," Jahlas said. "I then got a text to come back in and I didn't know what it was going to be about. I walked into Coach's office and he asked me if I wanted to be on scholarship. I said absolutely."
A native of Bedford, Ind., Spreen has also been a huge success on ISU's special teams units. He tallied three tackles a year ago and was named the team's best walk-on player in 2014.
"This is an amazing feeling and something that I set out as a goal when I was a freshman," Spreen said. "It was really unexpected when he pulled me into his office. At first I thought I was in trouble, but then he thanked me for everything I have done here at Iowa State and told me I was put on scholarship. I am forever indebted to Coach Campbell."
Jahlas and Spreen are close friends and they gained national notoriety in March when they came to the rescue of an individual who was trapped in a car which was on the verge of sinking in a canal.
The quick reaction of Jahlas and Spreen, and other Cyclone teammates, helped save the person's life.
