9 Hawkeyes Named to Phil Steele's Preseason All-B1G Team

June 5, 2014

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Nine members of the University of Iowa football team have been named to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Big Ten team. The all-conference team is released as part of Phil Steele’s College Football Preview magazine, which hits newsstands June 24th.

Senior offensive tackle Brandon Scherff and senior wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley were named to the first team; junior guard Jordan Walsh and senior defensive tackle Carl Davis were chosen to the second unit; junior center Austin Blythe and senior safety John Lowdermilk earned third team honors; senior running back Mark Weisman, senior defensive tackle Louis-Trinca Pasat and sophomore cornerback Desmond King were named to the fourth team.

Scherff, a native of Denison, Iowa, started 13 games at left tackle in 2013. Following the season, Scherff was named second team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele, and College Sports Madness. He earned first team All-Big Ten honors from Sporting News, Phil Steele, and College Sports Madness.

Martin-Manley, whom Steele named first-team as a punt returner, became the first Big Ten Conference player to ever return back-to-back punts for touchdowns in Iowa’s 59-3 victory over Western Michigan in 2013. The Pontiac, Michigan, native was named first team All-Big Ten Specialist by Phil Steele following the 2013 campaign, garnering the same honors from Sporting News and College Sports Madness.

Walsh started all 13 games at right guard in 2013. The Glendale Heights, Illinois, native saw action in seven games in 2012 after redshirting in 2011.

Davis, a native of Detroit, Michigan, earned pre-season second team All-Big Ten honors by Phil Steele for the second consecutive season. Following Iowa’s 2013 campaign, Davis was named second team All-Big Ten by league coaches and earned honorable mention by league media. Athlon Sports named Davis second team All-Big Ten, while Phil Steele and College Sports Madness placed Davis on the third team.

Blythe makes his second consecutive appearance on Steele’s preseason All-Big Ten team after being chosen to the fourth team in 2013. The Williamsburg, Iowa, native was named honorable mention All-Big Ten last season. Prior to last year’s spring practice, Blythe moved from guard to center.

Lowdermilk, a native of Carrollton, Ohio, was named honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2013 and also earned the Coaches Appreciation Award. Lowdermilk started all 13 games at strong safety for the Hawkeyes.

Weisman earns preseason fourth team All-Big Ten honors for the second consecutive year, following a 2013 campaign in which he earned third team All-Big Ten honors after rushing for 975 yards and notching eight touchdowns. The Buffalo Grove, Illinois, native was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List last season and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.

King was one of four true freshmen to see action in 2013, seeing action at cornerback in all 13 games. The Detroit, Mich., native tied for seventh in the Big Ten with two fumble recoveries. King was named first team Freshman All-Big Ten by BTN.com and third team Freshman All-America by Athlon Sports. He was named the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week following Iowa’s game against Ohio State.

The Hawkeyes open the 2014 season August 30, hosting Northern Iowa in Kinnick Stadium.