Iowa Football Awards Announced

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior linebacker Jack Campbell and senior tight end Sam LaPorta were named Roy J. Carver Most Valuable Players as the Iowa football program announced its 2022 team awards.

Campbell (Cedar Falls, Iowa) earns the honor for the second consecutive season. He has been named first-team All-America by Walter Camp and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). He was named Nagurski-Wooden Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for the second consecutive season. Campbell was also recognized with the Iron Hawk Award.

Campbell received the William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by the National Football Foundation, and was named the recipient of the Butkus Award, awarded annually to the top linebacker in the nation.

Campbell was the leader of Iowa’s defense throughout the season. He has totaled 118 tackles, which rank second in the Big Ten and tied for 13th nationally. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native also recorded two interceptions, one recovered fumble and one forced fumble, along with 3.5 tackles for loss. He has 295 career tackles to rank 19th in program history.

LaPorta (Highland, Ill.) was named the Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year and a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He was one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the top tight end in the nation.

LaPorta leads Iowa in both receptions and receiving yards, totaling 53 receptions for 601 yards and a touchdown. His career totals include 148 receptions for 1,730 yards to rank 15th in career receiving yards. Among tight ends, LaPorta ranks first in career receptions and second to Marv Cook in receiving yards.

The Reggie Roby Special Teams Award was shared by Taylor as specialist, and sophomore defensive back Cooper DeJean, who was recognized for his overall play. DeJean earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from league media and second-team recognition from coaches. He recorded 68 tackles and four interceptions. Taking over punt return duties late in the season, he averaged 17.6 yards on seven punt returns.

Eight Hawkeyes earned the Next Man In Award; redshirt freshmen wide receivers Brody Brecht and Alec Wick, sophomore center Logan Jones and freshman running back Kaleb Johnson on offense, junior defensive back Sebastian Castro, senior linebacker Logan Klemp and junior linebacker Jay Higgins on defense, and Johnson and freshman kicker Drew Stevens on special teams.

Stevens took over the field goal duties early in the season and led the Hawkeyes in scoring with 69 points. He connected on 16-of-18 field attempts to set an Iowa freshman record for made field goals. His career-long of 54 yards ranks seventh-best in program history. He made all 21 PAT attempts and handled all kickoff duties. Stevens was named second-team Freshman All-America by College Football News.

Johnson earned honorable mention recognition from both coaches and media. He set a freshman rushing record with 762 yards, leading the team with six touchdowns. He rushed for over 100 yards in three games while also averaging 25 yards on 13 kickoff returns. He was honorable mention Freshman All-America by College Football News.

Coaches Appreciation Award recipients were sophomore tight end Luke Lachey, sophomore tackle Mason Richman, and sophomore running back Leshon Williams on offense, Merriweather, sophomore ends Deontae Craig and Ethan Hurkett, junior safety Quinn Schulte and junior tackle Louie Stec on defense, and Craig, Stec, Pottebaum, senior fullback Turner Pallisard and sophomore defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness on defense.

Team Hustle Awards went to Pottebaum, senior quarterback Spencer Petras, and senior receiver Nico Ragaini on offense, DeJean, Moss, Van Ness, junior tackle Logan Lee, and senior end John Waggoner on defense, and Benson, Campbell, Moss, and freshman safety Xavier Nwankpa on special teams.

Team Leader Awards were presented to junior offensive lineman Taylor Fox, redshirt freshman running back Deavin Hilson, redshirt freshman offensive lineman Griffin Little and redshirt freshman running back Max White on offense, freshman defensive back Koen Entringer, freshman lineman Luke Gaffney, junior defensive back Thomas Hartlieb on defense, and freshman defensive back Kael Kolarik, freshman wide receiver Reese Osgood, sophomore linebacker Josef Smith and redshirt freshman linebacker Kelby Telander on special teams.

Sophomore wide receiver Diante Vines was presented the Comeback Player of the Year Award. A native of Danbury, Conn., Vines suffered an injury in preseason training camp that forced him to miss the first six games of the season. He returned to play in the final six games, recording eight receptions for 71 yards.

The Bump Elliott Appreciation Award was presented to staff members Greg Morris, Kevin Foor and Kelly Koch. The trio are long-time members of the athletics equipment staff, working with the Iowa football program in all phases of equipment and uniform management.

The 2022 Distinguished Service Award was presented to Barbara Burke. Burke, who joined the Iowa administrative staff in 2016, serves as deputy director of athletics, chief operating officer, and senior women’s administrator. Burke has announced her retirement following the 2022-23 academic year.

The Player Appreciation Award was presented to Brad Heinrichs, a four-year letterman with the Iowa men’s golf program. Heinrich serves as CEO of The Swarm Collective, a non-profit organized to exclusively enable and empower Iowa student-athletes in amplifying their NIL opportunities by contributing their time and diversity of talents through charitable work with non-profits, being active while giving back to Iowa communities, and providing mentorship to the future generation of leaders.

Iowa (7-5, 5-4) will face Kentucky in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Dec. 31 in Nashville, Tennessee (11 a.m. CT, ESPN). The Hawkeyes earned their 20th bowl invite over the past 24 seasons under Moon Family head football coach Kirk Ferentz.