AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State defensive end Mitchell Meyers has had a lot more on his mind than just football over the last 18 months.Finally cancer-free, Meyers is hoping to be much more than just an inspiration to the Cyclones in 2016.Meyers, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma in February of 2015, wasnt cleared to fully rejoin his teammates until fall camp. But Meyers fight to beat cancer was such a stirring tale that his fellow Cyclones recently named him a captain.Iowa State (3-9 in 2015) is also expecting big things on the field from Meyers, a senior who on Monday officially regained his starting status for Saturdays opener against Northern Iowa.Ive actually been thinking about this...if you were to tell me Id get cancer two years ago, I would have never believed you. And if you were to tell me that Im in the position Im in now six months ago, I definitely wouldnt have believed you, Meyers said. Right now Im in a really good position to succeed.Meyers first broke out for Iowa State as a freshman in 2013, playing in all 12 games. Meyers moved into the starting lineup as an interior lineman as a sophomore, and he was expected to be one of the key defenders for the Cyclones in 2015.But during winter workouts that season, Meyers noticed that his neck was unusually sore. Doctors diagnosed him with cancer, and Meyers was forced to put football on hold.Though Meyers couldnt practice with his teammates, he never missed a workout while battling his disease in both Iowa and his home state of Texas for most of 2015. During that time, the coach who recruited him, Paul Rhoads, was fired. Meyers wasnt even able to meet new coach Matt Campbell until the middle of spring practice, which he sat out as part of his recovery.Meyers earned the immediate respect of Campbell, who first got to know Meyers on the phone as he went through treatment.This young man that had this upbeat spirit about himself going through this, and it can put you in your place really fast. Tough days come, and are they really that tough? Heres what this guy is going through, Campbell said. Mitchells last words to me (on the phone) were, `Im coming back to play. Im not coming back to be just a story.Meyers said Monday that, despite having to learn a new system and build his body back to where it was before he got sick, the muscle memory he built up playing football has helped.Meyers didnt start fall camp atop the depth chart. But as Campbell and his coaches watched Meyers go through workouts, they realized that they not only had a starter on their hands, but one that had the toughness and character the new staff wants for its program.One of the best stories in college football, Campbell said.Meyers acknowledges that he might never be the player that he was before he got sick, though he also said that he feels as good as hes ever felt heading into a season.Meyers will also play his final season wearing No. 58, which Iowa State hands to the lineman who best embodies the spirit of beloved former line coach Curtis Bray. Bray was 43 when he died in 2014 of a pulmonary embolism.Battling cancer is a lot like playing football. Obviously the implications are a lot bigger battling cancer. But you learn a lot about mental toughness playing football, Meyers said. It helped me a lot to get through what I went through, and vice versa.---Follow Luke Meredith on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LukeMeredithAPAir Max Ingrosso . 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Hawthorns thirst to be tested ahead of the AFL finals series will see the premiers head north with enthusiasm to play Sydney on Thursday night.Just dont expect another public rev-up from coach Alastair Clarkson ahead of the table-topping clash.The four-time premiership coach took a step outside of the ordinary last week, publicly baiting opponents Port Adelaide to ensure a strong showing from his side.Wingman Isaac Smith said while Clarksons spray got the desired result - a 22-point win at Adelaide Oval - he didnt think it would be necessary ahead of their SCG date.We wanted to make sure when we rocked up last Thursday we rocked up to play, he told reporters on Monday.Behind closed doors he was ... not chilled out but he was just the normal Clarko.He gave us the facts and made sure that we were ready.Hopefully he doesnt need to do that every week.Smith says the high-stakes of preserving top spot on the ladder should be all the motivaation any team should need to perform.ddddddddddddIts one `v two on the ladder and it should be a cracking match, he said.Games like this are the ones you want to play.Its great to be playing footy against the best teams at their home ground because its a genuine challenge.Id tune in on Thursday night.Sydney were the last team to claim the points against Hawthorn, six matches ago at the MCG.Smith was close to Hawthorns best in their round nine meeting, with 26 touches.He acknowledged the importance of claiming a regular-season win given the sides have met in four of the last five finals series.If you win youve probably got the psychological edge the next time you go in, he said.But I dont think its the be all and end all.Hopefully we meet again in September because they always seem to be great challenges. 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