Iowa Football: Hawkeyes Getting Honored By Big Ten
By Joe Favia
The regular season has come to an end. While the Hawkeyes didn’t accomplish the aim of the season which was to get a shot at the conference title in Indianapolis, a bowl game is in their future. Before they head to Nashville or New York, awards for the Big Ten are being given out.
While some defensive Hawkeyes could be getting position awards very soon for their efforts, some of the All-Big Ten teams are being announced and the Hawkeyes are well-represented for a 7-5 football team.
Josey Jewell who this week won the Jack Lambert Award for best linebacker in the country was named to the Big Ten 1st team by both the media and the coaches. Jewell is one of the best players ever to wear the black and gold, and has exemplifies what it means to be a Hawkeye.
Somehow Jewell was left off the list of finalists for the Dick Butkus Award. Dear Old Gold started a petition to get the Decorah native on the list which garnered over 4400 signatures in a week. The Butkus-Fitzgerald and potentially the Nagurski-Woodson awards could be in Jewell’s future.
Another player who could win the conferences Defensive Player of the Year is Josh Jackson. Jackson dominated in his first year as a full time starter at cornerback. He came home with first team honors from both the coaches and media. His 7 interceptions tied for the countries best, and he finished second to Wisconsin’s Nick Nelson in pass deflections in all of college football. Many top NFL pundits already have Jackson as the top cornerback available in the 2018 draft, if he announces to forego his senior season.
The only other 1st team designation for Iowa came for senior guard Sean Welsh. Welsh was chosen by the media, while the coaches put him on the 2nd team. For a line with two freshmen tackles, Welsh was needed senior leadership, and like Jewell and Jackson has NFL prospects. He will be attending the Senior Bowl with Akrum Wadley.
Speaking of Wadley, he was on the 3rd team for both outlets. The senior from New Jersey finished in the top five in Iowa running back history in several categories, but was behind Heisman contenders Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley in his own conference.
Other defenders that were given recognition were sophomore defensive end Anthony Nelson (3rd team media, honorable mention coaches), senior defensive tackle Nathan Bazata (both honorable mentions) and senior linebacker Ben Niemann (both honorable mentions).
True sophomore Noah Fant received 3rd team recognition on both lists at tight end. Fant had one of the best seasons ever for an Iowa tight end, and could easily have been on one of the higher teams.
Junior center James Daniels was listed as an honorable mention on both lists, and the media made Nate Stanley an honorable mention in his first season as the starting quarterback.
Senior safety Miles Taylor also was chosen on the sportmanship team. The Hawkeyes also had two players make the All-Freshmen team from the BTN, one on each side of the ball.
Offensively, redshirt freshman Alaric Jackson was chosen for his play at left tackle when Ike Boettger went down early in the season. Blue chip defensive end AJ Epenesa was also recognized. Honorable mentions were redshirt freshmen tight end TJ Hockenson, WR Ihmir Smith Marsette, and tackle Tristan Wirfs.