Iowa football: 30 greatest players in Hawkeyes history
By Andrew Wade
Josey Jewell, otherwise known as the sheriff, was the epitome of Iowa football. He joined the Hawkeyes as a two-star, 200-pound outside linebacker recruit from Decorah, Iowa who would work his way into being one of the greatest middle linebackers this century.
Jewell was named Second-Team All-Big Ten twice and First-Team All-Big Ten once, while leading the team in tackles for three straight seasons. He was a key cog in the wheel of the 2015 Hawkeyes team that made it to the Rose Bowl.
His senior season, though, was one for the history books as he won the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Jack Lambert Award, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. He was also named a unanimous First-Team All-American.
He finished his career with 433 (fourth all time in Iowa football history) tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, six interceptions and 26 passes defended. Jewell was also named a permanent team captain as a sophomore, the first player to ever receive the nomination so early in his college career.
After his Hawkeyes career, Jewell was drafted in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos where is now starting as an inside linebacker for defensive guru head coach Vic Fangio.