Peterson: No spring game, but hey, here's an Iowa State football depth chart

• A former Ames High School player could start at center
• Keep an eye in impactful transfer Greg Eisworth
• Looking ahead to the 2019 NFL draft

AMES, Ia. — We second-guess mock drafts — before treating them as gospel. We spend way too much time over-thinking football depth charts — and in my continued pursuit to inform, analyze and spark topical conversation, here’s all that and more.

Since you won’t see an official Iowa State football depth chart for a few more months —and since you can’t take notes for a list of your own, because Saturday’s spring game is cancelled — let this be your unofficial guide between now and late July.

We know Kyle Kempt and David Montgomery will start at quarterback and running back in the Sept. 1 opener against South Dakota State at Jack Trice Stadium. We know Hakeem Butler will be a starting receiver and that JaQuan Bailey will anchor a defensive line that could be among — among — the Big 12 Conference’s best.

But what’s the Big Move they’re considering in the offensive line? Where’s Kene Nwangwu play? Which transfer makes the most significant impact?

You’ve got questions?

I’ve got depth chart answers.

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Another entertaining offense?

Quarterback

Starter: Kyle Kempt — No brainer. You don’t successfully petition the NCAA for an additional season of eligibility so your guy can hold a clipboard on the sidelines. Furthermore, there’s always a head-of-the-table seat at Iowa State for a quarterback who beat Oklahoma in Norman.

Backup: Zeb Noland — Like I’ve said and written a few times, this could change if the Cyclones open the season with a 2-2 record after a very front-loaded schedule. Keep an eye on Re-al Mitchell, who we hear has lightning-quick shiftiness.

Just wondering: I would have liked to see for myself if Mitchell has the type of Seneca Wallace shake that we’ve heard so much about throughout our spring interviews. Oh well.

Offensive line

Starters: Bryce Meeker and Sean Foster at tackle, Colin Newell at center, and Julian Good-Jones and Josh Knipfel as the guards.

Backups (non-specific positions): Josh Mueller, Jacob Bolton, Rob Hudson, Oge Udeogu and Jeff Nogaj.

Say what? That’s right. I’ve got Colin Newell as the starting center, replacing Good-Jones, who started 13 games at the position last season. The redshirt freshman from Ames has been good during spring practice, so good that he’s allowed Good-Jones to continue as the team’s most versatile lineman. If what I’m hearing is accurate, Good-Jones will move to guard — and I’m just waiting for the game in which he plays all three line positions. Don’t bet against it. Trevor Downing has been mentioned a lot, but playing as a true freshman would be tough.

Receivers

Starters: Chase Allen (tight end), Hakeem Butler, Matthew Eaton, Deshaunte Jones.

Backups: Dylan Soehner and Charlie Kolar (tight ends), Tarique Milton, Josh Johnson, Jalen Martin, Carson Epps, Landen Akers.

Keep an eye on: “Jalen Martin’s got good size to him,” receivers coach Bryan Gasser said of the 6-3, 210-pound sophomore to be. “Talk about making contested catches — he can go up and make those plays. A year ago, we felt he was our best practice player, outside of the guys you saw playing on Saturday. We’re pretty excited about him.”

Running backs
Starter: David Montgomery (duh) — He could be all-Big 12, if the offensive line is as good as I think it’s going to be. After rushing for 1,146 yards last season, he’s got a great shot to be Iowa State’s first since Ennis Haywood in 2000 and 2001 to have 1,000 rushing yards two seasons in a row.

Backups: Nwangwu, Mike Warren, Sheldon Croney, Johnnie Lang.

This just in: “Croney has had two outstanding scrimmages,” Campbell said a few days before Saturday’s Scrimmage No. 3. And as for Nwangwu, still the fastest guy on the team after undergoing Achilles surgery — “when he gets out on an edge, there’s nobody that can catch him,” running backs coach Nate Scheelhaase said.

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Iowa State's best defensive line since?

Starters: JaQuan Bailey, Ray Lima, Jamahl Johnson, Matt Leo.

Backups: Kamilo Tongamoa, Spencer Benton, Carson Lensing, Eny Uwazurike.

Even or odd: Who cares, the Cyclones’ defensive front will be good, whether it’s a four-player front or three. Shocked? The Dallas Morning News ranks this position fourth in the Big 12 — behind only TCU, Texas and Oklahoma.

Linebackers

Starters: Marcel Spears, Reggan Northrup, Willie Harvey.

Backups: Tymar Sutton, O’Rien Vance, Jake Hummel.

The man in the middle: That’d be Northrup, playing the position vacated by senior Joel Lanning. “He’s worked extremely hard,” linebackers coach Tyson Veidt said. “Not just physically, but mentally, and he knows his assignments and responsibilities. If we were picking a guy right now, it would be him.”

Defensive backs

Starting corners: Brian Peavy, D’Andre Payne. Backups: DeMonte Ruth, Arnold Azunna, Richard Bowens.

Starting safeties: Lawrence White, Greg Eisworth. Backups: Keontae Jones, Braxton Lewis, Datrone Young.

The new guy: We know Peavy again will be one of the Big 12’s top corners, but keep an eye, too, on Eisworth. He’s a welcome addition, given the departure of Kamari Cotton-Moya, Reggie Wilkerson and Evrett Edwards. “He’s played very well,” Campbell said of the player with Ole Miss and Trinity Valley Community College on his resume. “He’s not been a surprise. We knew he’d be a really good player.”

Special Teams

Place-kicker: Brayden Narveson. Chris Francis.

Punter: Cory Dunn, Joe Rivera.

Kickoff returns: Nwangwu, Johnnie Lang.

Punt returns: Payne, Akers.

Brutal truth: Don’t get too fired up about kickers until the fall — when they’re kicking outdoors more consistently than they do in the spring.

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As for mock draft-able

For sure, you’ll see Butler and Montgomery on lists. They’ll both be juniors next season — and it wouldn’t be a shock to see both leave college early, assuming they have standout seasons.

Peavy toyed with that idea after last season, before wisely deciding another year would do him lots of good. He’s a senior in 2019. He’ll be drafted.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete.