Jan. 7, 2013
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IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa offensive lineman Austin Blythe has been named Freshman All-America by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). The 30-man team was announced Monday. Blythe, who was named earlier to the Scout.com Freshman All-America team, is one of four Big Ten rookies named to the FWAA team, along with Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer.
Blythe (6-foot-3, 275 pounds) is a redshirt freshman from Williamsburg, Iowa. He played in 10 games, while starting nine at right guard. Blythe missed two games in the middle of the season due to injury before returning to the starting line-up for the final five contests.
Blythe used 2011 as a redshirt season. He joined the Hawkeye program after earning first team all-state honors as a junior and senior at Williamsburg HS. He was honorable mention on the Parade All-America football team as a senior and was a three-time state wrestling champion.
The FWAA team includes Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) as the quarterback of its offensive unit. Tight end Devin Funchess of Michigan and offensive lineman Jack Allen of Michigan State also represent the Big Ten Conference in the offensive unit, while Penn State defensive lineman Deion Barnes is the only Big Ten player named to the defensive unit.
The 12th annual FWAA Freshman All-America team is selected by a panel of 11 nationally-prominent writers. The team includes both first-year freshmen and redshirt freshmen.