2018 Honors – – Named second-team All-Big Ten by league coaches and third-team by media . . . second-team All-Big Ten by Associated Press and Phil Steele . . . Coaches Appreciation Award, offense . . . 2018 – – Started all 13 games at left guard . . . started at left guard in 33-7 win over Northern Illinois as offense gained 209 net rushing yards . . . started at left guard and played every offensive down in 13-3 win over Iowa State . . . started at left guard in 38-14 win over Northern Iowa as offense gained 545 yards total offense . . . started at left guard and played every offensive down in 28-17 loss to Wisconsin . . . started at left guard and played every offensive down in 48-31 win at Minnesota as offense gained 420 yards total offense . . . started at left guard and played every offensive down in 42-16 win at Indiana as offense gained 479 yards total offense . . . started at left guard in 23-0 win over Maryland as offense gained 224 net rushing yards . . . started at left guard and played every offensive down in 30-24 loss at #17 Penn State . . . started at left guard and played every offensive down in 38-36 loss at Purdue . . . started at left guard and played every offensive down in 14-10 loss to Northwestern . . . started at left guard in 63-0 win at Illinois as offense gained 400 yards total offense . . . started at left guard in 31-28 win over Nebraska as offense rushed for 226 yards and gained 419 yards total offense . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 27-22 Outback Bowl win over #18 Mississippi State.
2017 – – Started at left guard in 24-3 win over Wyoming for first career start . . . saw action at left guard in 44-41 OT win at Iowa State as offense gained 497 yards total offense . . . saw action in 31-14 win over North Texas as offense gained 435 yards total offense . . . saw action at left guard in 21-19 loss to #4 Penn State . . . saw action at left guard in 17-10 loss at Michigan State . . . saw action at left guard in 45-16 win over Illinois as offense gained 441 yards total offense . . . saw action in 17-10 OT loss at Northwestern . . . saw action in 17-10 win over Minnesota . . . saw action in 55-24 win over #3 Ohio State as offense gained 487 yards total offense . . . saw action at left guard in 38-14 loss at #6 Wisconsin . . . saw action at left guard in 24-15 loss to Purdue . . . saw action in 56-14 win at Nebraska as offense rushed for 313 yards and gained 505 yards total offense . . . saw action at left guard in 27-20 Pinstripe bowl win over Boston College.
2016 – – Saw action in four games . . . saw action in 45-21 win over Miami as offense gained 404 yards total offense . . . saw action in 42-3 win over Iowa State as offense gained 435 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 23-21 loss to North Dakota State . . . did not see action in 14-7 win at Rutgers . . . did not see action in 38-31 loss to Northwestern . . . did not see action in 14-7 win at Minnesota . . . did not see action in 49-35 win at Purdue . . . did not see action in 17-9 loss to #10 Wisconsin . . . did not see action in 41-14 loss at #12 Penn State . . . did not see action in 14-13 win over #2 Michigan . . . saw action in 28-0 win at Illinois as offense rushed for 262 yards and gained 342 yards total offense . . . saw action in 40-10 win over #15 Nebraska as offense rushed for 264 net yards and gained 408 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 30-3 Outback Bowl loss to #17 Florida.
2015 – – Did not see action in 31-14 win over Illinois State . . . did not see action in 31-17 win at Iowa State . . . did not see action in 27-24 win over Pitt . . . saw first action of career in 62-16 win over North Texas as offense gained 488 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 10-6 win at Wisconsin . . . did not see action in 29-20 win over Illinois . . . did not see action in 40-10 win at Northwestern . . . did not see action in 31-15 win over Maryland . . . did not see action in 35-27 win at Indiana . . . did not see action in 40-35 win over Minnesota . . . did not see action in 40-20 win over Purdue . . . did not see action in 28-20 win at Nebraska . . . did not see action in 16-13 loss to Michigan State . . . did not see action in 45-16 Rose Bowl loss to Stanford.
2014 – – Redshirted.
High school honors – – Named to elite all-state team as a senior and competed in Iowa Shrine Bowl following senior season . . . first team all-state by Iowa Preps and Sports Spotlight . . . first team all-district and All-Dallas County . . . earned first team all-district and All-Dallas County honors as a junior . . . Career – – Three-year varsity starter and letterman at left tackle . . . team captain as a senior . . . helped team post 25-7 record in three seasons . . . won district title and reached state quarterfinals as a senior after also reaching the playoffs as sophomore and junior . . . also lettered three years in track . . . named to Elite All-State track team . . . placed second in state in shot put as a senior as team won Class 4-A state track title . . . set school record in shot put by nearly three feet and holds third best throw in discus . . . district and conference shot put champion and district champion in discus as a senior . . . qualified for Drake Relays as a senior in both shot put and discus . . . named Waukee HS Thrower of the Year as sophomore and senior . . . as a junior placed sixth at state in discus after also qualifying for Drake Relays . . . district champion and state qualifier in discus as a sophomore.
Personal – – Born 9/14/95 . . . business major . . . parents are Leslie and John Brightwell . . . member of prep Honor Roll last three years . . . earned the Waukee Foundation Award . . . attended same high school as DE Anthony Nelson . . . high school coach was Scott Carlson.