Hawk-Item – – Started final 34 games of career and had 37 career starts . . . ranks fifth in career interceptions with 13 . . . holds Iowa career record and ranks fourth all-time in the Big Ten Conference with 392 interception return yards . . . 86-yard touchdown return vs. Indiana in 2009 ranks as fifth longest interception return in school history . . . tied Iowa single-game record with three pass interceptions in 35-3 win at Iowa State in 2009. . . set Iowa bowl records for longest interception return (48 yards) and interception return yards in a game (74) in 2009 Outback Bowl win over South Carolina, along with tying Iowa bowl record with two interceptions . . . ranks 51st in career tackles with 217 . . . one of four juniors named to 2010 Leadership Group . . . one of four sophomores named to 2009 Leadership Group.
2010 Honors – – Third team all-America by Phil Steele’s College Football . . . first team all-Big Ten by league coaches and media . . . first team all-Big Ten by Phil Steele’s College Football . . . one of 10 semifinal candidates for 2010 Jim Thorpe Award . . . Hustle Team Award, Defense . . . 2010 Preseason Honors – – Named to preseason Watch Lists for Jim Thorpe Award, Lott Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy . . . first team all-America by Lindy’s Football Preview and National Champs.net . . . second team all-America by Sporting News and The Kickoff . . . third team preseason all-America by College Football Insiders . . . first team all-Big Ten by Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and Blue Ribbon Yearbook . . . 2010 – – started all 13 games at strong safety . . . recorded third on team with 79 tackles, including 40 solo tackles and 39 assists . . . collected 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two pass break-ups . . . started at strong safety in 37-7 opening win over Eastern Illinois as defense allowed just 157 yards total offense . . . recorded four assisted tackles in opening win . . . started at strong safety in 35-7 win over Iowa State . . . recorded one solo tackle, five assists and a pass break-up in win over ISU . . . started at strong safety in 34-27 loss at Arizona, recording four solo tackles and three assists . . . started at strong safety in 45-0 win over Ball State, recording two tackles and a pass break-up as defense allowed just 112 yards total offense . . . started at strong safety in 24-3 win over Penn State as defense allowed just 54 net rushing yards and 301 yards total offense . . . recorded two solo stops and four assists vs. Penn State, including a shared tackle for loss . . . started at strong safety in 38-28 win at Michigan . . . recorded seven tackles at Michigan, along with 36-yard interception that led to Iowa touchdown . . . also had 37-yard return of blocked field goal, that also led to Iowa touchdown . . . started at strong safety in 31-30 loss to Wisconsin . . . recorded career-high 13 tackles vs. Badgers, including five solo stops, eight assists and one tackle for loss . . . started at strong safety in 37-6 win over fifth-ranked Michigan State as defense allowed just 31 net rushing yards and 258 yards total offense . . . recorded three solo tackles vs. MSU . . . also had interception in first period, then pitched to teammate Micah Hyde, who raced 66 yards for touchdowns . . . started at strong safety in 18-13 win at Indiana as defense allowed just 91 net rushing yards . . . recorded three solo stops and three assists in win over Hoosiers . . . started at strong safety in 21-17 loss at Northwestern . . . recorded four solo tackles vs. Wildcats, including one tackle for loss . . . started at strong safety in 20-17 loss to Ohio State . . . recorded eight tackles vs. OSU, including six solo stops and two assists, to surpass 200 career tackles . . . started at strong safety in 27-24 loss at Minnesota . . . recorded four solo tackles and three assists at Minnesota . . . started at strong safety in 27-24 Insight Bowl win over 12th-ranked Missouri . . . recorded five solo tackles and one assist vs. Missouri, including one tackle for loss for minus nine yards.
2009 Honors – – Second team all-America by CollegeFootballNews.com and Phil Steele’s College Football . . . third team all-America by the Associated Press . . . first team all-Big Ten by league coaches and media . . . first team all-Big Ten by Sporting News and Phil Steele’s College Football . . . one of 12 semi-finalists for Jim Thorpe Award . . . Coaches Appreciation Award, Defense . . . named to cbssports.com Mid-Season all-America team . . . National Defensive Performer of the Week by College Football Performance Award committee vs. Iowa State and Indiana . . . Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week vs. Indiana . . . 2009 Pre-season Honors – – Named pre-season second team all-Big Ten by Phil Steele’s College Football . . . 2009 – – Started all 13 games and has 21 consecutive starts among his 24 career starts . . . ranked third on team with 85 tackles, including 41 solo stops . . . led team with six interceptions for 203 yards and one touchdown . . . also had six pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and 5.5 tackles for loss . . . started at strong safety in 17-16 win over Northern Iowa . . . recorded 10 tackles vs. UNI, including three solo stops and seven assists . . . also shared a tackle for loss and had one pass break-up . . . started at strong safety in 35-3 win at Iowa State as defense collected six turnovers . . . tied Iowa school record with three pass interceptions at Iowa State, collecting 63 returns yards . . . also had 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss, and forced an ISU fumble . . . started at strong safety in saw action in 27-17 win over Arizona, but had no statistics as defense allowed 105 passing yards and 253 yards total offense . . . started at strong safety in 27-17 win over Arizona as defense allowed just 105 passing yards and 253 yards total offense . . . recorded five tackles (three solo, two assists) vs. Arizona, along with interception and 41-yard return that led to Iowa field goal . . . has collected seven interceptions in last five games . . . started at strong safety in 21-10 win at Penn State . . . recorded two solo tackles and three assists at PSU . . . started at strong safety in 24-21 win over Arkansas State as defense allowed just 80 net rushing yards . . . had eight tackles vs. ASU, including five solo stops . . . also had 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass interception and return of 13 yards that led to an Iowa touchdown . . . started at strong safety in 30-28 win over Michigan . . . recorded nine tackles vs. Wolverines, including four solo stops and five assisted tackles, along with two pass break-ups . . . started at strong safety in 20-10 win at Wisconsin at defense allowed just 87 rushing yards and 243 yards total offense . . . recorded five solo tackles vs. Badgers, including one tackle for loss . . . started at strong safety in 15-13 win at Michigan State as defense allowed just 85 net rushing yards . . . recorded five tackles vs. MSU, including two solo stops and three assists and a forced fumble . . . started at strong safety in 42-24 win over Indiana as defense allowed just 79 net rushing yards overall and just three points in the second half . . . recorded two solo tackles and five assists vs. Hoosiers, including a shared tackle for loss . . . had defensive play of the game with an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third period after a pass was deflected and tipped his direction . . . return ranks as fifth longest in school history . . . started at strong safety in 17-10 loss to Northwestern as defense allowed just 10 points and 239 yards total offense . . . recorded two solo tackles and four assists vs. Wildcats . . . also had four punt returns for 16 yards, the first of his career . . . started at strong safety in 27-24 overtime loss at Ohio State . . . recorded three solo tackles and three assists at OSU . . . started at strong safety in 12-0 win over Minnesota as defense allowed just 48 rushing yards and 201 yards total offense . . . recorded two solo tackles, six assists and one pass break-up vs. Gophers . . . started at strong safety in 24-14 Orange Bowl win over Georgia Tech, recording one solo tackle as defense allowed just 12 passing yards and 155 yards total offense.
2008 Honors – – Named Big Ten Top Defensive Freshman by Rivals.com… second team Freshman all-American by Rivals.com . . . third team Freshman all-American by Phil Steele[apos]s College Football . . . Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week vs. Penn State . . . 2008 – – Recorded 53 tackles during the season, including 28 solo stops and 25 assists . . . tied for team lead with five interceptions and had six pass break-ups . . . ranked first in the Big Ten and tied for 19th in the nation in interceptions per game (.42) . . . listed as third team strong safety following spring practice . . . saw limited action in 46-3 opening win over Maine as defense allowed just 83 passing yards and 220 yards total offense . . . recorded one pass break-up vs. Maine . . . started at strong safety in 42-0 win over Florida International as defense allowed just 56 rushing yards and 218 yards total offense . . . recorded one solo tackle and three assists vs. FIU in first career start . . . started at strong safety in 17-5 win over Iowa State as defense allowed just 73 rushing yards . . . recorded career-high 10 tackles vs. ISU, including two solo tackles and eight assists . . . also had first career interception in the endzone to stop ISU scoring threat and recorded first career QB sack . . . started at strong safety in 21-20 loss at Pittsburgh, recording five solo tackles and a forced fumble . . . forced fumble came on Pitt’s first offensive play and led to Iowa field goal in the first period . . . did not see action in 22-17 loss to Northwestern due to injury . . . started at strong safety in 16-13 loss at Michigan State as defense held second leading rusher in the nation to 91 net rushing yards . . . recorded five tackles vs. MSU, including four solo stops and one assist . . . added 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass break-ups vs. Spartans . . . started at strong safety in 45-9 win at Indiana as defense allowed just 95 rushing yards and 286 yards total offense . . . recorded three tackles vs. the Hoosiers, including two solo stops and one assist, along with two pass break-ups . . . started at strong safety in 38-16 win over Wisconsin . . . recorded one solo tackle and two assists vs. the Badgers . . . started at strong safety in 27-24 loss at Illinois as defense allowed just 60 net rushing yards . . . recorded seven tackles at Illinois, including three solo stops and three assists . . . also recovered fumble in the fourth quarter that led to game-tying touchdown . . . started at strong safety in 24-23 win over third-ranked Penn State, earning Big Ten Conference defensive Player of the Week honors . . . recorded eight tackles vs. Penn State, including four solo stops and four assists . . . had pass interception and 14 yard return in the fourth period to set up Iowa’s final, game-winning scoring drive, his second straight game with a fourth quarter turnover that led to key Iowa points . . . started at strong safety in 22-17 win over Purdue as defense allowed just 86 net rushing yards . . . recorded one assisted tackle and one pass break-up vs. Purdue . . . started at strong safety in 55-0 win at Minnesota as defense allowed just seven rushing yards and 134 yards total offense . . . recorded three tackles, including two solo stops and one assist, at Minnesota, along with third pass interception of the season and 58-yard return . . . the interception return of 58 yards ranks as the 11th longest in school history . . . started at strong safety in 31-10 Outback Bowl win over South Carolina . . . recorded four solo tackles vs. South Carolina, along with two pass interceptions and 74 yards in interception returns . . . first interception and 26-yard return led to Iowa’s second touchdown and a 14-0 first quarter advantage . . . also had 48-yard interception return in second quarter.
2007 – – Redshirted.
High school honors – – Two-time first team all-state, including Elite all-state selection as a senior . . . three-time first team all-district selection . . . third team all-state as a sophomore . . . team captain . . . three-time academic all-district . . . Career – – recorded 137 career tackles, with eight interceptions . . . also played wide receiver in high school . . . holds or is tied for 28 school records, including rushing yards in a game (324), longest touchdown reception (98 yards), most receptions in a career (100), season (49) and game (nine), most touchdowns in a career (63), season (28) and game (seven), receiving yards in a career (2,141), season (1,008) and game (267), touchdown receptions in a career (22), season (12) and game (three) and total career yards (4,310) . . . career rushing totals include 240 attempts for 2,090 yards and 34 touchdowns.
Personal – – Born 5/27/88 . . . Interdepartmental Studies major . . . four-year member of prep Honor Roll… parents are Barney and Mike Sash . . . high school coach was Darrell Schumacher.
Career Bests – Defense
Tackles: 13, vs. Wisconsin, 10/23/10
Solos: 8, at Iowa State, 9/12/09
Assists: 8, twice, last vs. Wisconsin, 10/23/10
Interceptions: 3, at Iowa State, 9/12/09
Touchdowns: 1, vs. Indiana, 10/31/09
PBU: 2, three times, last vs. Michigan, 10/10/09
TFL: 2, at Iowa State, 9/23/09
FF: 1, three times, last at Mich. State, 9/24/09
Rec. Fumble: 1, at Illinois, 11/01/08
QB Sacks: 1, vs. Iowa State, 9/13/08
Career Bests – Punt Returns
Returns: 4, vs. Northwestern, 11/07/09
Yards: 16, vs. Northwestern, 11/07/09
Long: 11, vs. Northwestern, 11/07/09
Career Statistics
| Defense | Solo | Ast. | Total | T/Loss | Sacks | In-Yd. | PBU | FF | RC |
| Freshman | 28 | 25 | 53 | 2.5/5 | 1/3 | 5-147 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Sophomore | 41 | 44 | 85 | 5.5/12 | 0/0 | 6-203 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Junior | 40 | 39 | 79 | 3.5/20 | 0/0 | 2-42 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 109 | 108 | 217 | 11.5/37 | 1/3 | 13-392 | 14 | 3 | 1 |
| Punt Returns | No. | Yds. | Avg. | TD | Lng |
| Freshman | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | – – – |
| Sophomore | 4 | 16 | 4.0 | 0 | 11 |
| Junior | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | – – – |
| Career | 4 | 16 | 4.0 | 0 | 11 |