Latest news with #All-BigTen
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football trio named to preseason USA TODAY Sports All-Big Ten team
With Big Ten media days just around the corner for Iowa on Thursday in Las Vegas, USA TODAY Sports released its preseason All-Big Ten team. And the Hawkeyes had some good representation. The team was created by writers who cover every single team in the conference and features five unanimous selections, one of which was a Hawkeye. It may be a surprise to note that Iowa doesn't have a single defensive player on the team, a sign that people are taking a wait-and-see approach to a Hawkeyes defense that lost Jay Higgins, Nick Jackson, and Sebastian Castro, among others. Regardless, it's a nice nod for the three Hawkeyes named to this team and should have Iowa fans feeling more confident about the offense and special teams units on this year's team. Without any further ado, let's take a look at which Hawkeyes made USA TODAY Sports' preseason All-Big Ten team. Which Hawkeyes made the USA TODAY Sports preseason All-Big Ten team? Logan Jones, Gennings Dunker, and Kaden Wetjen were the three Hawkeyes named to the team. Jones was one of five unanimous selections to the team, joining Jeremiah Smith and Sonny Styles of Ohio State, Olaivavega Ioane of Penn State, and Dominic Zvada of Michigan. The 6-foot-3, 302-pound graduate student center has anchored the Iowa offensive line for three years and was named first-team All-Big Ten by the media last season. Jones has also been named a preseason first-team All-Big Ten player by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele this offseason. Jones is joined on the USA TODAY Sports All-Big Ten team by another offensive lineman in Gennings Dunker. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound senior right tackle was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and third-team All-Big Ten by the media last season. Dunker started at right tackle the last two seasons and has been a big stabilizing force on the offensive line alongside Jones. Dunker's role will be imperative this season with a new quarterback under center. The final Hawkeye to make the team was Kaden Wetjen, named as the All-Purpose player. The 5-foot-9, 196-pound senior return specialist started his collegiate career at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to Iowa. He was named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media last season, in addition to taking home the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year award. Wetjen was named a preseason first-team All-Big Ten player by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele as well. This trio of Hawkeyes will be hugely important to the success of Iowa football in 2025. Assuming they play up to the standards that everyone believes they can, Iowa's offensive line should be really good and the special teams will set them up with short fields. The Hawkeyes return to the field in just over a month for the season opener on Aug. 30 against Albany. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
Summer is here, and it is everyone's favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Vikings fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Minnesota. Are we going to write about quarterbacks? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Vikings, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Vikings fans can be the most informed fans. So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall. Player Information Player: Olaivavega Ioane School: Penn State Height/Weight: 6-4/348 lbs. Player Background - 3-Star Recruit - Second-Team High School All-American - Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 2024 Career Stats Heading into the 2025 Season - 33 Career Games - 21 Career Starts Notable PFF Numbers Heading into the 2025 Season - 69.6 PFF Run Blocking Grade - 69.2 PFF Pass Blocking Grade - 839 Run Blocking Snaps - 854 Pass Blocking Snaps Player Traits - NFL-size to handle any defender he lines up against - Good punch, generates tons of power - Quick reflexes to handle speed on the inside - Gets and maintains leverage with his vise grip - Good base, doesn't get knocked off balance Player Summary Olaivavega Ioane could be in the NFL now, and I say that knowing he has just one full year as a starter under his belt. What he showed during Penn State's College Football Playoff run was that he can be a bulldozer in the run game, and a nimble deer in the pass game when needed. He is versatile in that aspect, but he adds to it even more when you look at his ability to maintain his balance, handle power when it is presented, and to be able to get out ahead of defenders and create running lanes for the dynamic Penn State running game.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
Summer is here, and it is everyone's favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Bucs fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Tampa Bay. Are we going to write about quarterbacks? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Bucs, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Bucs fans can be the most informed fans. So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall. Player Information Player: Olaivavega Ioane School: Penn State Height/Weight: 6-4/348 lbs. Player Background - 3-Star Recruit - Second-Team High School All-American - Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 2024 Career Stats Heading into the 2025 Season - 33 Career Games - 21 Career Starts Notable PFF Numbers Heading into the 2025 Season - 69.6 PFF Run Blocking Grade - 69.2 PFF Pass Blocking Grade - 839 Run Blocking Snaps - 854 Pass Blocking Snaps Player Traits - NFL-size to handle any defender he lines up against - Good punch, generates tons of power - Quick reflexes to handle speed on the inside - Gets and maintains leverage with his vise grip - Good base, doesn't get knocked off balance Player Summary Olaivavega Ioane could be in the NFL now, and I say that knowing he has just one full year as a starter under his belt. What he showed during Penn State's College Football Playoff run was that he can be a bulldozer in the run game, and a nimble deer in the pass game when needed. He is versatile in that aspect, but he adds to it even more when you look at his ability to maintain his balance, handle power when it is presented, and to be able to get out ahead of defenders and create running lanes for the dynamic Penn State running game.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Big Ten football 2025 preseason poll, All-Conference teams, award selections
Big Ten football media days are set to begin on Tuesday, July 22, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio State and Rutgers will appear during Tuesday's session. Minnesota, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State, Washington and Wisconsin will then follow on Wednesday, before Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, UCLA and USC close the event on Thursday. Unlike at this time last year, the expanded 18-team conference has a sense of normalcy and permanence. Media days for the 2024 season were our first look at Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA as conference members, which added an extra challenge to season preview and preparation work. That picture is much clearer entering 2025. Oregon solidified its position as a conference and national title contender in its first season as a Big Ten member, while Washington, USC and UCLA all fell a few tiers below that standing. A big question entering 2025 is which of those final three programs breaks out and returns to the top of the sport. Big Ten Position Previews: Defense -- Offense -- Quarterbacks -- Running Backs -- Wide Receivers -- Tight Ends -- Offensive Line -- Defensive Line -- Pass-Rushers With media days set to begin on Tuesday, there is no better time to unveil our 2025 Big Ten football season predictions, complete with our preseason poll, projected All-Conference teams and selections for the major individual awards Badgers Wire's Big Ten Football 2025 Preseason Poll Big Ten Championship: Penn State over Ohio State All-Big Ten First Team Offense Defense All-Big Ten Second Team Offense Defense All-Big Ten Third Team Offense Defense Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Pick: WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State While he isn't a quarterback, Smith is an easy pick for this award. The all-world wide receiver turned 76 receptions into 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2024. He should have little trouble replicating those tallies as the clear No. 1 option on Ohio State's offense in 2025. Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Pick: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State While Penn State may have the better overall team than Ohio State in 2025, the Buckeyes boast the clear top two players in the conference, if not in the entire sport. Downs transferred to Ohio State after a fantastic true freshman season at Alabama in 2023 (107 tackles, four for loss, two interceptions, four pass deflections, one forced fumble). He then met sky-high expectations with an All-American season leading the Buckeyes defense in 2024, finishing with 82 tackles, eight for loss, two interceptions and six pass deflections. Expect another fantastic season from the All-American safety. Big Ten Freshman of the Year Pick: WR Dakorien Moore, Oregon If any player has the potential to follow in Smith's footsteps as a true freshman wide receiver, it's Moore. The five-star recruit joins the Ducks as 247Sports' No. 4 overall player in the class of 2025 and No. 1 wideout. With Evan Stewart out for the year with a torn patellar tendon, Moore should have a path to lead the Ducks in targets. Big Ten Coach of the Year Pick: Bret Bielema, Illinois Bielama and Illinois' breakthrough 2024 season was overshadowed by an out-of-nowhere resurgence from Curt Cignetti's Indiana Hoosiers. 2025 will be Bielema's year to steal the headlines, as Illinois returns significant production and faces one of the conference's easiest schedules. College Football Playoff Participants Picks: Penn State, Ohio State, Illinois, Washington Penn State and Ohio State feel like annual write-ins to the CFP now that it includes 12 teams. Oregon is close to that standing, although the team may be set for a step backward after an offseason of significant roster turnover. While some would put Michigan next, I can't buy in until we know the team's situation at quarterback. That leaves Illinois, which, as mentioned, faces one of the lightest schedules in the conference. A path to 10-2 should be there if the team can replicate its form from last season. My breakout pick for 2025 is the Washington Huskies. The team was up-and-down last season as Jedd Fisch installed his culture and worked to turn over the roster. Remember, he took the job late in the cycle after Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama. The program is in a much better place entering 2025 after a full offseason of roster movement. Sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. could be the Big Ten breakout player of the year, leading an offensive unit that is sneaky-talented. The major questions come on defense, where the team is set to start six transfers. The Huskies face a tough schedule, but they could sneak in at the bottom of the CFP field with a 9-3 record. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Chiefs HC Andy Reid comments on the training camp competition for starting left tackle
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid officially kicked off training camp on Sunday in front of reporters at the Missouri Western State University dormitory in St. Joseph. He addressed several topics, including the likelihood of Josh Simmons earning the starting left tackle spot. 'You're going to look for the best guy, to start with, that can fill that spot, and that we can have a little consistency there. We didn't have that last year,' said Reid, 'So let's work at it and see what we come up with. We've got some good candidates for it, and we'll just see where it goes.' The Chiefs are ideally holding a competition at left tackle between Simmons, Jaylon Moore, and potentially Wanya Morris. Reid generously praised the first-round pick out of Ohio State for his work ethic during rehab. 'He stayed up here this whole break, he's been here, working his tail off,' said Reid, 'But it looks like he's ready to go, and we'll keep an eye on him and see where he's at. But his condition was good when he was out there, and he seems to be a worker, so we'll just have to see. He's never been through one of these, so we gotta see how it goes.' Simmons earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors for the 2024 National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes.
