After yet another kicker got injured, Iowa State had to get creative — really creative.
The No. 22-ranked Cyclones turned to redshirt freshman Carson Rhodes, a 6-foot-8, 310-pound offensive lineman, to serve as an emergency kicker in the third quarter of Saturday’s 24-17 loss to Colorado in Boulder.
Rhodes is listed as the team’s fourth-string kicker and stepped in for backup Chase Smith, who limped off the field after the opening kickoff of the second half.
The kick, which carried just beyond the opposing 20-yard line, marked Rhodes’ college debut.
And he nearly had a chance to secure a tackle on the return.
Rhodes committed to Iowa State as a three-star tight end recruit — and the No. 16 player in Iowa — out of Nevada High School before shifting to the offensive line.
He punted 28 times at Nevada while also playing soccer at the “pretty good soccer school,” as described by Cyclone Fanatic’s Jake Bend.
Iowa State’s kickers are hitting the sidelines left and right.
Starter Kyle Konrardy has been out of action since Sept. 13, and while Smith returned in Saturday’s contest for a PAT, he didn’t attempt another kickoff for the rest of the game.
Smith’s status moving forward is unclear, according to the Des Moines Register.
Following the loss to Colorado, the once undefeated Cyclones have dropped back-to-back games and sit at eighth place in the Big 12 (5-2).
Iowa State will look to regroup during a bye week before welcoming No. 18 ranked BYU to Jack Trice Stadium on Oct. 25.