Nov. 8, 2012
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three members of the University of Iowa football program have been named to the Capital One Academic All-District Six first team. Those players include senior QB James Vandenberg, senior DL Steve Bigach and junior LB James Morris. The announcement was made Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Each of the three Hawkeye players will now have their name placed on the national ballot for Capital One Academic All-America honors. The district honor is the second for Bigach and Vandenberg, who were also honored in 2011.
Vandenberg is a native of Keokuk who has started all nine games in 2012 and 22 consecutive games over the past two seasons. He carries a 3.36 GPA and has earned his degree in health and human physiology. Vandenberg earned academic All-Big Ten honors in each of the last three years.
Vandenberg has completed 174-303 pass attempts for 1,786 yards and four touchdowns in 2012, while also rushing for three scores. He is tied for fifth in career pass attempts (802), ranks sixth in career completions (458) and seventh in passing yards (5,323) and touchdown passes (32).
Bigach is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He is majoring in environmental science and has a 3.68 GPA. He earned academic All-Big Ten honors in 2010 and 2011.
Bigach has started all nine games while playing both defensive end and tackle. He has recorded 10 solo tackles and 14 assists, including 1.5 tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
Morris, a native of Solon, holds a 3.80 GPA and is majoring in political science. He earned academic All-Big Ten recognition in 2011.
Morris has started 16 consecutive games over the last two seasons and has 27 career starts. He has recorded 85 tackles in 2012, including seven for loss and 1.5 sacks. He has four pass break-ups and has one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Morris ranks 22nd in career tackles (265).
In the last 14 seasons, under Coach Kirk Ferentz, 20 Iowa football student-athletes have combined to earn academic All-District and All-America recognition on 38 occasions.