Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers said those five words on Tuesday when asked about running back Aiden Flora, who has emerged as one of the most explosive offensive weapons in the nation.
Nobody outside the Cyclones fan base knew Flora’s name when national lists were assembled, Cyclone Fanatic reported. Now, he sits as the No. 2 Power Four rusher in the country with 1,119 yards heading into Saturday’s game against Cincinnati at Jack Trice Stadium.
That production puts him in historic company at Iowa State. At his 124.3-yards-per-game pace, Flora is tracking toward the fifth-best rushing season in program history, behind Troy Davis, Breece Hall, and Blaise Bryant. His 7.1 yards per carry would be the Cyclones’ best if the season ended today.
The sudden stardom carries a complicated modern reality. With a transfer portal cycle approaching and lucrative name, image, and likeness opportunities guaranteed to come his way, retaining a breakout star has become college football’s most delicate high-stakes chess match. Rogers acknowledged the financial pressures facing the program while expressing confidence in his captain’s commitment.
“He’s not talking about leaving; he’s not that type of person,” Rogers told reporters Tuesday. “It’s just the landscape of college football. He’d be crazy to ignore the thought that that could happen, right?”
Flora previously demonstrated his loyalty last Christmas, posting a message on his X account announcing he was staying home while other roster departures shook the program. Opponents have certainly taken notice of his rapid ascension through the Big 12 statistics.
“When he gets to the edge of the defense, he’s going to go,” Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield told reporters Tuesday. “This kid is one of the fastest running backs in the country. He’s one of the top running backs in the country.”
With at least three games remaining on the schedule, Rogers made it clear that the offense will continue to lean heavily on its breakout playmaker. “He’s going to touch the ball as much as possible,” Rogers said.
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