The 2018 AP All-American teams were released today, and three Iowa football players find themselves on the teams. Here’s who.
The awards continue to pile on for an 8-4 Iowa football team that failed to live up to high expectations from the Hawkeye fan base this season. First we had thirteen players named to All-Big Ten teams by the coaches and media, and three individuals even took home position-specific awards. Then, we had four Hawks make Pro Football Focus’ First Team All-Big Ten team. We wrapped up by watching TJ Hockenson claim the 2018 John Mackey Award given to the nation’s best tight end.
Today, three of those players were named 2018 AP All-Americans. TJ Hockenson continued to rake in the honors capping off one of the best seasons in Iowa football history for a tight end. He received second team All-American, and he was joined by safety Amani Hooker. Finding his way on the third team All-American team was Hockenson’s tight end counterpart, Noah Fant.
While I don’t have the supporting numbers in front of me, I can only imagine this is the first time in the history of college football that two tight ends from the same school were named to the All-American team in the same year.
Moreover, what’s more impressive is that the three All-Americans was tied for the most by any team in the Big Ten. Only Wisconsin and Michigan also claimed three All-Americans while Ohio State had two. In total, there were 13 total players from the Big Ten that were named AP All-Americans, which means nearly 25% of those players came from the Iowa football program.
While Fant has already declared for the NFL Draft and will not be participating in the Outback Bowl, we still have one more chance to watch Hockenson and Hooker suit up in the black and gold. Although neither has declared for the NFL Draft, it’s very possible they could after the incredible seasons they both had this year.