For the next two weeks, we'll be examining the strongest and weakest positions for each team in the Big 12 going into the fall.

We continue with the Iowa State Cyclones:

Strongest position: Receiver

Mark Mangino has some weapons at his disposal if he wants to expand the Cyclones offense during his second season as the offensive coordinator in Ames, Iowa. ISU is looking to improve its running game in the fall and a quality group of receivers will make that a lot easier.

Allen Lazard, D'Vario Montgomery and Quenton Bundrage could be among the Big 12’s top receiving trios in 2015.

Lazard was one of the best freshman in the Big 12 in 2014, finishing with 45 receptions for 593 yards and three touchdowns. He joins TCU’s Josh Doctson as the Big 12’s leading returning reception leader on third down with 17 third-down catches as a true freshman.

Montgomery had a slow start to his sophomore season as a transfer from South Florida but became one of the Big 12’s most productive receivers in the second half of the year. Baylor’s Corey Coleman (6.14 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD) is the lone returning receiver who averaged better numbers per game than Montgomery (5.33 receptions, 79.17 yards, 0.33 TD) after the first six games of their respective seasons.

Bundrage returns from an ACL injury to provide the big play threat that was missing in 2014. His nine touchdown receptions in 2013 were the most by a Cyclones’ receiver since 2005. And he should see even more opportunities with Lazard and Montgomery on the field.

Behind their star trio, ISU has some intriguing pass-catchers including Jauan Wesley, who could cause havoc in the middle after being one of four true freshman to see the field for the Cyclones a year ago.

Weakest position: Defensive tackle

Even though the Cyclones took some steps forward and should be improved over last season, the defensive line remains a question mark heading into the summer.

The spring emergence of Demond Tucker shows the Cyclones did a stellar job in evaluating and recruiting the ESPN JC50 signee. He’s living up to the hype and should play a key role in the defense.

Bobby Leath is set to arrive in June to provide additional depth along the defensive line as the second junior college defensive line signee that Paul Rhoads inked in February. Leath is a three-star signee with good size at 6-foot-3, 290 pounds.

Other returnees should help along the interior. Vernell Trent should be much improved as a sophomore after being thrown into the fire and starting three games as a redshirt freshman. Robby Garcia, Pierre Aka and Devlyn Cousin are set to battle for time in the interior with Terry Ayeni as another option.

Unlike the beginning of 2014, the Cyclones could have more competition and options in the middle of the defensive line but the unit still needs to take several steps forward before becoming a unit ISU’s defense can build around.