Joel Lanning

Joel Lanning (born November 18, 1994) is an American former football linebacker. He played college football at Iowa State University.

Early life Lanning was a multi-sport star at Ankeny High School, earning all-state selections in football, baseball, and wrestling.

As a sophomore, he tallied 1,230 passing yards and 669 rushing yards, receiving second-team All-Conference honors.

As a junior, he passed for 1,723 yards and rushed for 636 yards, receiving All-Conference honors.

As a senior in 2012, he led the team to a 14-0 record and the state championship, while setting school records in total yards (3,384), passing yards (2,315), rushing yards (1,082) by a quarterback and had 39 total touchdowns (22 passing and 17 rushing). He received All-Conference, Elite All-State and the Des Moines Register Class 4-A Player of the Year. As a three-year starting quarterback at Ankeny, he recorded 7,642 all-purpose career yards.

In baseball, he was a two-time first-team All-State selection and contributed to the team winning the 2012 state championship. In wrestling, he received all-state honors as a senior.

Recruiting After high school Lanning was very lightly recruited for football. His only two offers were Nebraska and Iowa State; he ultimately picked the Cyclones.

College career

2014 season As a redshirt freshman, he only played one game on special teams.

His season highs included 162 passing yards on 11 of 22 attempts and 130 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns against Oklahoma State as well as throwing for three touchdowns and 210 yards against Kansas State.

2016 season His junior season, Lanning was a threat through the air as well as on the ground. In addition to throwing for 1,290 yards and nine touchdowns he ran for 518 yard and led the team with 11 rushing touchdowns, this was the 10th most by FBS quarterbacks. He was responsible for 20 of the Cyclone's 39 offensive touchdowns and ended the season with a streak of 121 consecutive passes without an interception. Lanning had a career day against Texas Tech tying the school record for five rushing touchdowns in a game in addition to breaking the school record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 171 yards on 17 carries.

2017 season At the end of the 2016 season Jacob Park took over as the full-time starting quarterback. In an unheralded move during the off-season, head coach Matt Campbell asked Lanning to switch positions from quarterback to middle linebacker. He was able to work up the depth chart and was the starting middle linebacker for the Cyclones opening game against UNI. Despite starting on defense, Lanning continued to play special teams as well as wildcat quarterback in short yardage and goal line situations. He finished the season leading the team in tackles, second in tackles for a loss, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns.

His highlights included eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, and an interception against Akron as well as 20 tackles against Texas. Lanning was named the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week after a standout performance against #3 Oklahoma that included eight tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, nine rushing attempts for 35 yards and two passes for 25 yards. In the match-up against Oklahoma State, Lanning had five tackles, half a sack, in addition to throwing a touchdown to Allen Lazard.

At the conclusion of the season he was selected as a first-team All-American and named to the first-team All-Big 12.

College statistics

Passing Rushing Defense Year Team GP Cmp Att Pct Yards TDs Int Att Yds Avg TD Tackles For Loss Sacks Int 2015 Iowa State 11 107 192 55.7 1,247 10 4 94 330 3.5 4 – – – – 2016 Iowa State 11 99 170 58.2 1,290 9 3 121 518 4.3 11 – – – – 2017 Iowa State 12 3 4 75.0 47 1 0 40 135 3.4 2 114 11.0 6.0 1 College totals 34 209 366 57.1 2,584 20 7 249 963 3.9 16 114 11.0 6.0 1Reference:

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys Lanning was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2018 NFL draft on April 30. He was waived on September 1, 2018.

San Antonio Commanders On October 12, 2018, Lanning signed with the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football. The league ceased operations in April 2019.

Personal life In 2019, Lanning was hired as a defensive quality control assistant for the football team at Iowa State University. In 2020, he was named a graduate assistant on defense.