Dec. 4, 2008
- Greene and the Iowa Hawkeyes
- Game Day Central
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- gohawks.com
- Iowa Football wallpaper
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa running back Shonn Greene has been named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) first all-America team. It could be the first of many all-America honors for the talented Hawkeye junior.
Greene, a 5-11, 235-pounder from Sicklerville, NJ, could become Iowa’s first consensus all-America running back since Nile Kinnick in 1939. Hawkeye running backs Ronnie Harmon (1985), Dennis Mosley (1979) and Larry Ferguson (1960) were named to at least one first team all-America squad, but were not consensus picks.
Greene rushed for 1,729 yards in 2008 to establish an Iowa record for yards in a season. He was the only player in the nation to rush for over 100 yards in every game. His 217 rushing yards against Wisconsin ties for the sixth most ever, at Iowa. He also rushed for 211 against Purdue. His 17 rushing touchdowns tie the Hawkeye record for most in a single season.
Greene has already been named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and was a first-team all-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media. He is expected to be a top candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year honors, which could be announced tomorrow (Friday).
Greene is a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, which goes annually to the nation’s top running back. As a result, he has been invited to Orlando, FL for the Home Deport Awards show next Thursday. It’s also possible he could get an invitation to the Heisman Trophy Awards show next Saturday evening.
The Iowa running back is one of only three Big Ten players selected to the AFCA first unit. Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis (LB) and Malcolm Jenkins (DB) were the others.