Hawk Item – – Interception return for 71-yard touchdown at Penn State ranks as 14th longest return for a score in school history . . . led the Big Ten and ranked 13th in nation in tackles for loss (13) fourth in the Big Ten in sacks (5.5) . . . also ranks first in total tackles (45) among defensive linemen . . . played one season at Iowa Western Junior College before joining Iowa program for 2018 spring semester.
2020 Honors – – Unanimous Consensus All-American . . . one of three finalists for Outland Trophy . . . one of five finalists for Bronko Nagurski Award . . . one of 20 players named to Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List . . . semifinalist for Bednarik Award . . .first-team All-America by Associated Press, Sporting News, FWAA, AFCA, Walter Camp, ESPN, The Athletic and Phil Steele . . . Nagurski-Woodson Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year . . . Smith-Brown Big Ten Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year . . . Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year by Associated Press . . . first-team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media . . . first-team All-Big Ten by Associated Press and Phil Steele . . . preseason fourth-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports . . . 2020 – – Started all eight games at defensive tackle . . . recorded 45 tackles, with 22 solo stops and 23 assists . . . totals included 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, with one forced fumble and one pass break-up . . . one interception, with 71-yard touchdown return at Penn State . . . started at left defensive tackle in 24-20 loss at Purdue . . . seven tackles at Purdue to match career best, including four solo stops and three assists . . . also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and a shared QB sack . . . started at defensive tackle in 21-20 loss to Northwestern . . . career-best 11 tackles vs. Northwestern, including six solo stops and five assists . . . also totaled three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and the first forced fumble of his career . . . started at defensive tackle in 49-7 win over Michigan State as defense allowed 59 rushing yards and 286 yards total offense . . . three assisted tackles vs. MSU, including a shared tackle for loss . . . started at defensive tackle in 35-7 win at Minnesota . . . two solo tackles at Minnesota, including one sack and tackle for loss . . . started at defensive tackle in 41-21 win at Penn State as defense allowed just 62 net rushing yards . . . five tackles at PSU, including one solo stop and four assists . . . returned first career interception 71 yards for a touchdown for the final score of the game, the 14th longest interception return touchdown in school history . . . also had 1.5 tackles for loss, a QB pressure and a pass break-up that was deflected to teammate for another interception . . . started at defensive tackle in 26-20 win over Nebraska . . . eight tackles vs. Nebraska, including five solo stops and three assists . . . totals included three tackles for loss and a QB sack . . . started at defensive tackle in 35-21 win at Illinois . . . five tackles at Illinois, including three solo stops and two assists . . . 1.5 tackles for loss at Illinois, with a shared sack . . . started at defensive tackle in 28-7 win over #25 Wisconsin . . . four tackles vs. the Badgers, including one solo stop and three assists, with a shared tackle for loss.
2019 Honors – – Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week by CollegeSportsMadness.com for his play in 20-0 win at Northwestern . . . 2019 – – Saw action in all 13 games, with one start . . . recorded 29 tackles, including 19 solo stops and 10 assists, with 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, along with five pressures and one pass break-up . . . saw first action of career in 38-14 win over Miami, recording one assisted tackle as defense allowed just 59 net rushing yards . . . saw action in 30-0 win over Rutgers as defense allowed just 125 yards total offense . . . two solo tackles and one QB pressure vs. Rutgers . . . started at defensive tackle for first career start at Iowa State, recording one assisted tackle and one QB pressure . . . saw action in 48-3 win over Middle Tennessee as defense allowed just 216 yards total offense . . . career-best seven tackles vs. MTSU, including five solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and first career sack . . . saw action in 10-3 loss at #18 Michigan, recording two solo tackles and one QB pressure . . . saw action in 17-12 loss to #9 Penn State, recording one assisted tackle and one QB pressure . . . saw action in 26-20 win over Purdue as defense allowed just 33 net rushing yards . . . one solo tackle and one assist vs. Purdue, including one tackle for loss, and a QB pressure . . . saw action in 20-0 win at Northwestern as defense allowed just 64 net rushing yards and 202 yards total offense . . . five tackles at Northwestern, including three solo tackles and two assists . . . two QB sacks and a pass break-up at Northwestern . . . saw action in 24-22 loss at #16 Wisconsin, recording two solo tackles . . . saw action in 23-19 win over #7 Minnesota, recording two solo tackles as defense allowed just 63 net rushing yards . . . saw action in 19-10 win over Illinois, recording one assisted tackle . . . saw action in 27-24 win at Nebraska, recording one assisted tackle . . . saw action in 49-24 Holiday Bowl win over #22 USC, recording two solo tackles as defense allowed just 22 net rushing yards.
2018 – – Redshirted.
Junior college – – Second-team all-conference in only season at Iowa Western . . . recorded 44 tackles, with nine tackles for loss and five sacks in helping team post 11-1 record and earn invitation to Graphic Edge Bowl . . . junior college coach was Scott Stromeyer.
High school honors – – Earned first-team all-state and all-conference honors as a senior . . . named Most Improved as a junior and senior . . . earned Coaches Hustle Award as a junior and senior . . . second-team all-conference as a junior . . . Career – – Four-year football letterman as tackle and end . . . helped prep team advance to state playoffs for three straight years . . . recorded 45 tackles in eight games as a senior, with eight tackles for loss, six sacks, four forced fumbles, and seven pass break-ups . . . collected 56 tackles in nine games as a junior, with 10 tackles for loss, nine sacks, five forced fumbles, and six pass break-ups . . . team captain as a junior and senior . . . also four-year letterman in basketball.
Personal – – Born 12/13/98 . . . criminal justice major . . . parents are Danielle and Rodney Nixon and Chwanda and Kacey Frierson-Nixon . . . high school coach was Mike McKay.