Dec. 1, 2014
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior left offensive tackle Brandon Scherff has been named the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in the Big Ten Conference. In addition, Scherff was named first-team All-Big Ten by vote of league coaches and media. The teams were announced by the Big Ten Conference Monday on the BTN’s annual show revealing the all-conference teams and individual award-winners.
Offensive lineman Austin Blythe, linebacker Quinton Alston and defensive tackles Carl Davis and Louis Trinca-Pasat earned second-team honors on the coach’s team. Big Ten media named defensive end Drew Ott to the second team. Iowa is the only team with three defensive linemen named to the first and second teams.
Hawkeye players earning honorable mention recognition are tight end Jake Duzey, safeties John Lowdermilk and Jordan Lomax, cornerback Desmond King, wide receiver Tevaun Smith, and offensive right tackle Andrew Donnal. Senior running back Mark Weisman is Iowa’s recipient of the Big Ten’s Sportsmanship Award.
Scherff, a native of Denison, Iowa, is the seventh Hawkeye to earn the Offensive Lineman of the Year award and the first since Bryan Bulaga in 2009. Along with earning first team All-Big Ten honors for the second straight season, Scherff is one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy and was a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award. He has started every game over the past two seasons.
Blythe, a junior from Williamsburg, Iowa, has started 30 consecutive games in the offensive line. After starting the first six games of the season at center, Blythe started at right guard at Maryland and has started at left guard in the last four games. Blythe earned honorable mention as a sophomore.
Alston, a senior from Sicklerville, New Jersey, moved into the starting lineup this season and started all 12 games. He is third on the team with 83 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Alston has recorded five pass break-ups and forced two fumbles.
Trinca-Pasat, a senior, leads Iowa with 37 consecutive starts at defensive tackle, which includes every game over the past three seasons. The native of Chicago is fourth on the team with 65 tackles and earned honorable mention as a junior. He ranks second on the team in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (11.5). He was credited with a safety in Iowa’s win at Illinois.
Davis, a Detroit native, has started 25 consecutive games next to Trinca-Pasat in the defensive line. Davis has recorded 34 tackles, including nine for loss. He had a blocked field goal against Nebraska and a recovered fumble against Ball State. Davis also earned second-team honors as a junior.
Ott, a junior from Trumbull, Nebraska, earned Big Ten postseason honors for the first time. Ott started all 12 games this season and has started 24 straight games at defensive end. He leads the team with eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss among his 55 total tackles. Ott scored his first career touchdown on a 12-yard punt return against Nebraska and he had his only interception at Maryland.
Smith, from Toronto, Ontario, and Duzey, a native of Troy, Michigan, are juniors who ranked among Iowa’s leaders in receptions and receiving yards. Smith leads the Hawkeyes with 559 yards on his 41 receptions, while Duzey is third in receptions (36) and yards (392). They share the team lead with three receiving touchdowns.
Lowdermilk is a senior strong safety who scored the first touchdown of his career against Nebraska in his final game in Kinnick Stadium. He leads the Hawkeyes in tackles (95) and interceptions (three) and shares the team lead with two forced fumbles. The native of Carrollton, Ohio, earned honorable mention as a junior.
Lomax is a junior from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, who played free safety for the first time in 2014, starting all 12 games. He ranks second with 84 tackles, and is the team leader with six pass break-ups. He recorded one interception.
King is the only Hawkeye sophomore to be recognized. The native of Detroit has started 23-of-24 games in his two seasons. King recorded 54 tackles this season and returned his first career interception 35 yards for a touchdown in Iowa’s win over Indiana.
Donnal, a native of Monclova, Ohio, moved to right tackle for his senior season and started all 12 games. He has 15 career starts in the offensive line despite missing a large portion of his sophomore season because of injury.
Weisman is a Chicago native who has rushed for 2,592 yards and 30 career touchdowns. He led Iowa in rushing for the third straight year after joining the team as a walk-on. Weisman is one of three finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, which goes to the top former walk-on in the nation. He also earned Capital One Academic All-District 6 honors and is a candidate for Academic All-America honors.
Iowa (7-5) is bowl eligible for the 13th time in 14 seasons. The Hawkeyes will learn their bowl destination Sunday.
