Hawk Item – – Selected to 2016 Senior Bowl . . . started the final 45 games and had 49 career starts in 50 games played . . . moved from guard to center during 2013 spring practice . . . one of 13 seniors named to 2015 Leadership Group . . . one of three juniors named to 2014 Leadership Group . . . one of four sophomores named to 2013 Leadership Group . . . one of three redshirt freshmen named to 2012 Leadership Group.
2015 Honors – – Permanent Team Captain, offense . . . Iron Hawk Award . . . “Extra Heartbeat” Award, offense . . . one of three finalists for the Rimington Trophy . . . third team All-America by Associated Press and Athlon Sports . . . fourth team All-America by Phil Steele . . . honorable mention All-America by SI.com . . . second team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media, Associated Press and Phil Steele . . . 2015 Preseason Honors – – named to Outland Trophy and Rimington Trophy preseason watch lists . . . preseason second team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele . . . preseason third team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports . . . 2015 – – Started at center in 31-14 win over Illinois State as offense gained 431 yards total offense and allowed no sacks . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 31-17 win at Iowa State as offense gained 260 net rushing yards and 475 yards total offense . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 27-24 win over Pitt, as offense gained 363 yards total offense . . . started at center in 62-16 win over North Texas as offense gained 488 yards total offense . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 10-6 win at Wisconsin . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 29-20 win over Illinois as offense rushed for 278 yards and gained 488 yards total offense . . . started at center in 40-10 win at Northwestern as offense rushed for 294 yards and gained 492 yards total offense . . .started at center and played every offensive down in 31-15 win over Maryland . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 35-27 win at Indiana as offense rushed for 234 yards and gained 467 yards total offense . . . started at center and played every offensive down as offense rushed for 272 yards and gained 506 yards total offense . . . started at center in 40-20 win over Purdue . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 28-20 win at Nebraska . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 16-13 loss to Michigan State . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 45-16 Rose Bowl loss to Stanford.
2014 Honors – – Second team All-Big Ten by league coaches and honorable mention by media . . . second team All-Big Ten by College Sports Madness . . . mid-season first team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele . . . 2014 Preseason Honors – – Named to Rotary Lombardi and Rimington Award preseason watch lists . . . preseason third team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and College Sports Madness . . . 2014 – – Started all 13 games, including six games at center, one gane at right guard and fial six games at left guard . . . started at center in 31-23 win over Northern Iowa as offense gained 401 yards total offense . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 17-13 win over Ball State as offense gained 455 yards total offense . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 20-17 loss to Iowa State . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 24-20 win at Pittsburgh . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 24-10 win at Purdue as offense gained 420 yards total offense . . . started at center in 45-29 win over Indiana as offense gained 426 yards total offense . . . moved to right guard during first offensive series and played that position the remainder of the contest . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 38-31 loss at Maryland, as offense gained 433 yards total offense . . . started at left guard and played every offensive down in 48-7 win over Northwestern as offense gained 483 yards total offense . . . started at left guard in 51-14 loss at Minnesota . . . started at left guard in 30-14 win at Illinois as offensse rushed for 304 yards and gained 587 yards total offense . . . started at left guard and played every offensive down in 26-24 loss to No. 14 Wisconsin, as offense gained 412 yards vs. the top-ranked defense in the nation . . . started at left guard and played every offensive down in 37-34 overtime loss to Nebraska . . . started at left guard and played every offensive down in 45-28 TaxSlayer Bowl loss to Tennessee . . . recorded one solo tackle vs. Tennessee.
2013 Honors – – Honorable mention all-Big Ten by league coaches and media . . . 2013 Preseason Honors – – Named preseason second team all-Big Ten by College Sports Madness and fourth team by Phil Steele . . . 2013 – – Started all 13 games at center . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 30-27 loss to Northern Illinois, as offense gained 458 yards total offense . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 28-14 win over Missouri State as offense gained 491 yards total offense . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 27-21 win at Iowa State as offense gained 378 yards total offense and rushed for over 200 yards for third straight game. . . started at center in 59-3 win over Western Michigan as offense gained 446 yards total offense and rushed for over 200 yards in fourth straight game . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 23-7 win at Minnesota as offense gained 464 yards total offense and rushed for over 200 yards in fifth straight outing . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 26-14 loss to Michigan State . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 34-24 loss at Ohio State . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 17-10 OT win over Northwestern . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 28-9 loss to Wisconsin . . . started at center in 38-14 win at Purdue as offense rushed for 318 yards and gained 509 yards total offense . . . started at center and player every offensive down in 24-21 win over Michigan as offense gained 407 yards total offense . . . started at center in 38-17 win at Nebraska . . . started at center and played every offensive down in 21-14 Outback Bowl loss to LSU.
2012 Honors – – First team Freshman All-America by Scout.com . . . 2012 – – Played in 10 games, with nine starts at right guard . . . missed two full games and one partial game due to injury . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 18-17 win over Northern Illinois . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 9-6 loss to Iowa State . . . started at right guard in 27-16 win over Northern Iowa as offense gained 429 yards total offense . . . started at right guard in 32-31 loss to Central Michigan as offense gained 430 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 31-13 win over Minnesota due to injury . . . did not see action in 19-16 win at Michigan State due to injury . . . returned to action in 38-14 loss to Penn State . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 28-17 loss at Northwestern . . . started at right guard in 24-21 loss at Indiana . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 27-24 loss to Purdue . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 42-17 loss at Michigan . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 13-7 loss to Nebraska.
2011 – – Redshirted.
High school honors – – Named honorable mention on Parade all-America team . . . two-time first team all-state honoree . . . three-time first team all-district selection . . . Ed Thomas Award nominee . . . named High School Wrestler of the Year as a senior by Iowa City Press-Citizen . . . Career – – Helped prep squad to state playoff appearances in 2008, 2009 and 2010, compiling 28-5 overall record . . . team captain as a senior . . . completed career with 123 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 14 QB sacks and three fumble recoveries . . . had 20 tackles, five tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries as a sophomore . . . collected 40 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and five QB sacks as a junior . . . had 63 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and nine QB sacks as a senior . . . earned three straight state heavyweight wrestling titles after placing second at state meet as a freshman . . . compiled 187-11 prep wrestling record and holds state record with 143 career pins . . . posted 50-1 record as a senior, becoming 72nd wrestler in state history to win three straight state titles and 43rd wrestler to reach state finals four straight years . . . earned varsity letters in football (3), wrestling (4) and track (4).
Personal – – Born 6/16/92 . . . communication studies major . . . member of prep Honor Roll and National Honor Society . . . parents are Mary and Curt Blythe . . . high school coach was Curt Ritchie.