Announcement: Iowa State Cyclones traded CB TJ Tampa for $78.5 million..

Iowa State started spring football with a pep in its step.

Coming off a 7-6 season, the Cyclones return 18 starters – nine on each side of the ball – with 15 practices leading into the spring game April 20 at Jack Trice Stadium.

“Coming back in January there was such an energy in this building,” said head coach Matt Campbell, who is four wins short of the school’s all-time record of 56 by Dan McCarney. “Having great practices, and great competition, to be able to have depth across the board is so important.

How they develop over the next 15 practices will be critical to our success.”

The Cyclones return 16 players with 13 starts or more, including six with more than 20 – offensive lineman Jarrod Hufford (33), defensive backs Myles Purchase (25) and Beau Freyler (24), offensive lineman Tyler Miller (24) and star receiver Jaylin Noel (22).