Hawk-Item – – Set Outback Bowl records for longest KO Return (96 yards) and best KO Return Average (42.7) . . . 96-yard KO return in Outback is longest non-scoring KO return in school history . . . ranked fourth in the Big Ten and 26th nationally in KO return average (25.2) in 2013 . . . led the Big Ten and ranked 14th nationally with 28.2-yard average on 19 KO returns in 2012 . . . 92-yard KO return for a touchdown vs. Penn State ties as 10th longest return in school history.
2013 Preseason Honors – – Named to CFPA Kickoff Returner Trophy preseason Watch List . . . named preseason first team all-Big Ten kick return specialist by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and College Sports Madness. . . 2013 – – led team in KO returns with 25.2 average on 29 returns, with a long of 96 yards . . . had two receptions for 53 yards while playing in all 13 games . . . saw action in 30-27 opening loss to Northern Illinois . . . two pass receptions for 58 yards vs. NIU, along with three KO returns for 48 yards . . . saw action in 28-14 win over Missouri State as offense gained 491 yards total offense . . . one KO return for 35 yards vs. Missouri State . . . saw action at wide receiver in 27-21 win at Iowa State as offense gained 378 yards total offense . . . one rushing attempt for three yards and one KO return for 28 yards at ISU . . . saw action in 59-3 win over Western Michigan as offense gained 446 yards total offense and rushed for over 200 yards in fourth straight game . . . one KO return for 29 yards and one solo tackle on special teams in win over WMU . . . saw action in 23-7 win at Minnesota, recording two KO returns for 40 yards as offense gained 464 yards total offense and rushed for over 200 yards in fifth straight outing . . . saw action in 26-14 loss to Michigan State, with one KO return for 16 yards and one rushing attempt for minus two yards . . . started at wide receiver in 34-24 loss at Ohio State, recording six KO returns for 118 yards, with a long of 31 yards . . . saw action in 17-10 OT win over Northwestern, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 28-9 loss to Wisconsin, recording four KO returns for 88 yards . . . saw action in 38-14 win at Purdue as offense rushed for 318 yards and gained 509 yards total offense . . . one KO return for 26 yards in win at Purdue . . . saw action in 24-21 win over Michigan as offense gained 407 yards total offense . . . four KO returns for 110 yards vs. Michigan, including a season-long of 60 yards . . . saw action in 38-17 win at Nebraska . . . two KO returns for 65 yards at Nebraska, with a long of 40 yards . . . saw action in 21-14 Outback Bowl loss to LSU . . . set bowl records for longest KO Return (96 yards) and KO return average (42.7) with three returns for 128 yards . . . 96-yard return led to final touchdown in closing minutes.
2012 Honors – – First team All-Big Ten kick returner by CollegeSportsMadness.com . . . Reggie Roby Special Teams Award, overall . . . named national Kick Returner of the Week by College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) vs. Penn State . . . 2012 – – saw action in all 12 games, with one start as third wide receiver . . . collected 12 receptions for 172 yards and one touchdown . . . 19 KO returns for 536 yards and one score . . . saw action in 18-17 win over Northern Illinois, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 9-6 loss to Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 27-16 win over Northern Iowa, recording one reception for eight yards to convert a third down . . . saw action in 32-31 loss to Central Michigan . . . two receptions for 49 yards and a 25-yard KO return vs. CMU . . . saw action in 31-13 win over Minnesota as offense gained 374 yards total offense . . . two receptions for 44 yards vs. Minnesota, including first career touchdown reception . . . saw action in 19-16 win at Michigan State . . . had one KO return for 45 yards that led to Iowa[apos]s first field goal of the game . . . KO return is longest of the season and would have been 82-yard TD return but for a penalty . . . saw action in 38-14 loss to Penn State . . . 92-yard KO return provided Iowa[apos]s first touchdown . . . recorded four KO returns for 152 yards and one touchdowns vs. PSU . . . also had one pass reception for 13 yards, one rushing attempt for two yards and recorded two solo tackles . . . started at third wide receiver in 28-17 loss at Northwestern . . . recorded two pass receptions for 23 yards and two KO returns for 33 yards at Northwestern . . . saw action in 24-21 loss at Indiana . . . two receptions for 10 yards at Indiana and four KO returns for 81 yards , , , saw action in 27-24 loss to Purdue . . . two receptions for 25 yards and three KO returns for 83 yards vs. Purdue, along with two solo tackles and one assist on punt coverage team . . . saw action in 42-17 loss at Michigan, averaging 29.3 yards on four KO returns, with a long of 36 yards . . . recorded one solo tackle on special teams . . . saw action in 13-7 loss to Nebraska, but had no statistics.
2011 – – Saw action in two games, recording one reception for four yards . . . did not see action on opening win over Tennessee Tech . . . did not see action in triple-overtime loss at Iowa State . . . did not see action in 31-27 win over Pittsburgh . . . did not see action in 45-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe . . . did not see action in 13-3 loss at Penn State . . . did not see action in 41-31 win over Northwestern . . . did not see action in 45-24 win over Indiana . . . saw first action of career in 22-21 loss at Minnesota, recording one reception for four yards . . . did not see action in 24-16 win over 13th-ranked Michigan . . . saw action in 37-21 loss to Michigan State, but had no statistics . . . did not see action in 31-21 win at Purdue . . . did not see action in 20-7 loss at Nebraska . . . did not see action in Insight Bowl.
2010 – – Not listed on depth chart following spring practice . . . did not see any game action.
2009 – – Redshirted.
High school honors – – First team all-state as a junior and senior…two-time first team all-district selection. Career – – Made 54 catches for 664 yards and six touchdowns… also carried the ball 341 times for 3,043 yards with 42 touchdowns… amassed 925 return yards with three touchdowns… team captain as a senior… also lettered in basketball, track and baseball.
Personal – – Born 7/25/90. . . interdepartmental studies major . . . parents are Cindy and Marshall Cotton . . . father played football at Iowa from 1984-87 and was a two-year letterman . . . attended same high school as TE Henry Krieger-Coble . . . high school coach was Bob Jensen.