Iowa State’s football team also got a big lift on Thursday, when linebacker O’Rien Vance announced he was returning to the program for his 6th and final year of eligibility. The Cedar Rapids native made the announcement on Instagram on Thursday afternoon.
***FOOTBALL*** Iowa State gets some good news, as starting MIKE LB O’Rien Vance announces on Instagram he will return for the 2022 season. pic.twitter.com/nUsQwShOnX
— Bill Seals (@williamseals) January 6, 2022
Vance did not play the max number of games this season, as he missed 3 games during the regular season due to a soft tissue injury suffered during the UNI game. Vance still managed to collect 36 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack on the season.
Vance was named the Defensive MVP of the 2020 Fiesta Bowl where Iowa State defeated Oregon 34-17.