Iowa football: Tristan Wirfs not being an Outland finalist is ridiculous

The finalists for the Outland Trophy were announced today, and the Iowa football team’s right tackle Tristan Wirfs didn’t make the cut, which is ridiculous.

At the beginning of the season, I wrote about how I thought Tristan Wirfs had a good chance of becoming the Iowa football team’s fifth Outland Trophy Award winner, and when Wirfs was named a semifinalist last week, I was all but certain.

The junior tackle has played outstanding football for the Iowa football team, and he has had to do it with a revolving door of the interior offensive line and while playing both left and right tackle.

And his play isn’t missing a beat. He’s made five Pro Football Focus Big Ten Teams of the Week this year and from this weekend, he was named to the Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week.

Moreover, he has allowed just seven sacks, QB hits, or QB hurries in 735 snaps this season. Given the state of the Iowa football team’s offensive line this season and the amount opposing teams are blitzing against the Hawks, these are impressive numbers.

So excuse me if I am a bit shocked that Wirfs was not named a finalist today for the Outland Trophy Award. 

Taking the three finalist spots are Derrick Brown (who I fully expected), Penei Sewell from Oregon who has been a beast all season, and Tyler Biadasz, the center from Wisconsin.

Now, this is not a slight at Wisconsin, but Biadasz looked better last year, and he graded out much better last year as well. Don’t get me wrong, he is having a good season, but I feel like the national recognition he has received the past two years has played a big factor in his inclusion as a finalist on this year’s Outland Trophy Award list over the Iowa football team’s Tristan Wirfs.

At this point, there is nothing we can do about it, but if Wirfs shockingly decides to return, he could be considered a frontrunner for next year’s Outland Trophy Award.