Daily briefing: On Mike Rose, Ryan Day's beard and punter stats

Ivan Maisel’s “Daily Briefing” for On3:

Mike Rose a stat-sheet stuffer

Iowa State linebacker Mike Rose, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and a preseason All-America this season, is 6-foot-4, 250 pounds of go-find-the-ball. There’s a reason Rose led the conference not only with 96 tackles but with five interceptions, too. Rose didn’t play linebacker exclusively until his senior year at Broadview Heights (Ohio) Brecksville-Broadview Heights. He started out as a safety. “Man, you went back to his sophomore-year videotape,” Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said, “he’s the first guy to the ball at the third level. They put him on the second level. It was pretty impressive. It’s a great quality that we talk about a lot in our program.”

Don’t fear the beard

At his news conference Monday, Ohio State coach Ryan Day confirmed the full beard he’s been sporting for some time will not be on the sideline Thursday night when the Buckeyes open at Minnesota. “It has to go, probably in the next 24 hours,” Day said. “I’m not going to coach with a beard. I’m too superstitious. I’d like to. I’ve thought long and hard about it. My wife and I have had a conversation about it. I’m not taking that chance, especially with a conference game.” Raise your hand if you would blame an Ohio State loss on Day’s beard.

Crazy punting numbers

Colorado State punter Ryan Stonehouse is starting for a fifth season (thanks, COVID) and he begins 2021 with some crazy numbers. Stonehouse averages 46.8 yards per punt. He has three times as many punts inside the 20 in his career (63) as he has touchbacks (21). But Boise State blocked two of Stonehouse’s punts in the first half of their game last season and returned both for touchdowns. In the Rams’ next game, San Diego State returned one of his punts 90 yards for a score. That’s three touchdowns in two games. I’m not pinning those on Stonehouse. But those really good/really bad numbers have made me curious.