AMES, Iowa – Iowa State safeties Jeremiah Cooper and Beau Freyler have been named to the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, presented annually to the nation’s defensive player of the year.

Cooper and Freyler are two of 16 safeties on the list and the only safety teammates featured. In total, 75 defensive players from 56 schools are represented on the list.

Cooper, a junior from El Paso, Texas, is a preseason All-Big 12 selection after earning first-team honors in 2023. He played and started 11 games last season and finished second in the Big 12 Conference and sixth nationally with five interceptions. Cooper tallied 45 tackles and ranked fourth nationally in passes defended per game (1.4).

Freyler, a Colorado Springs, Colorado native, enters his senior season following an All-Big 12 performance as a junior in 2023. He compiled 107 tackles, becoming the first Cyclone to reach 100 tackles in a season since 2017. Freyler tied for fourth among Big 12 players for tackles and also had three interceptions and five pass breakups.

Tickets for the 2024 football season are on sale now with a slate that features Kansas State and a Homecoming showdown with Texas Tech as well as others. Fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $299, while mini-packs, single-game tickets and parking are also on sale.

The Cyclones open the season August 31 against 2023 FCS Playoff qualifier North Dakota.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Four University of Iowa football players were named to preseason watch lists, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced on Tuesday.

Seniors Sebastian Castro, Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson were named to the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List for the national defensive player of the year. Higgins was previously tabbed as the 2024 preseason national defensive player of the year by Phil Steele.

Senior offensive lineman Logan Jones was recognized on the 2024 Outland Trophy Watch List, presented to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman on offense or defense.

Iowa and Georgia have the second-most Nagurski preseason honorees. Former Hawkeye cornerback Cooper DeJean (2023) and linebackers Josey Jewell (2017) and Pat Angerer (2009) were finalists for the prestigious award.

Higgins (6-foot-2, 232-pounds) recorded 171 tackles (79 solo, 92 assists) last season, which led the Big Ten and ranked third in the nation. Those total ties the program record for tackles in a single season. The Indianapolis native was named to the FWAA All-American First Team in 2023.

Jackson (6-foot-2, 235-pounds) contributed 110 tackles (51 solo, 59 assists) at linebacker, good for second on the team and fourth in the conference. The Atlanta, Georgia, native was a third-team All-Big Ten honoree by league media and honorable mention all-conference by league coaches in 2023.

Castro (5-foot-11, 205-pounds) led the team in 2023 with eight pass break-ups and three interceptions in the defensive backfield. Those totals ranked fourth and ninth in the Big Ten, respectively, last season.

Castro was a Football Focus first-team All-America, an Associated Press third-team All-American and a Phil Steele honorable mention All-American a year ago. The native of Oak Lawn, Illinois, was voted second-team All-Big Ten by conference media and honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches.

The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from the five finalists named in November. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.

Jones (6-foot-3, 293-pounds) is Iowa’s first Outland Trophy preseason honoree since Tyler Linderbaum (2021). Jones started at center in 13 games, missing the Nebraska game due to injury.

The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native was voted third team All-Big Ten by conference media and honorable mention All-Big ten by league coaches.

Established in 1946, the Outland Trophy is named after Dr. John H. Outland, who is one of only a few players in college football history to be named an All-American at two positions.

The recipient of the 2024 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN on Dec. 12, 2024. Four Hawkeyes (Brandon Scherff, 2014; Robert Gallery, 2003; Alex Karras, 1957; Cal Jones, 1955) have won the award. Only three programs in the nation (Nebraska, Alabama, Oklahoma) have had more than four Outland Trophy recipients.

The Hawkeyes open their season on Aug. 31 against Illinois State. The sold-out game is set for an 11 a.m. (CT) kickoff.

The CAM cross country coaches will host a distance running camp August 5th – 8th at the CAM High School in Anita.  The camp will run from 9:00 am to 11:00 am each day and is open to all area 7th through 12th grade students.

The focus of the camp is to introduce distance running, building skills and have fun.  Everyone, regardless of the sport of interest is welcome to attend as this should be a great overall fitness-enhancing event.

A liability release form, signed by a parent or guardian, is required to participate in the camp.  Forms are available at the CAM High School or by contacting Coach Deb Brown at 402-657-3622.

Iowa sophomore corner DeShaun Lee credits defensive coordinator Phil Parker for his early success. Lee started six games last season as a red-shirt freshman and says Parker is preparing him for an even bigger role this season.

Lee says Parker does a lot of his teaching in the film room.

The Hawkeyes open the season on August 31st against Illinois State.

Iowa center Logan Jones says the new offense has been a focus during summer workouts. Offensive Coordinator Tim Lester is revamping a Hawkeye offense that was one of the nation’s worst in 2023.

Jones says most of the changes involve the skill players.

Jones says summer workouts are also about conditioning for the upcoming season.

The Hawkeyes open the season at home on August 31st against Illinois State.

Iowa State basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger says senior guard Curtis Jones is becoming more of a leader in summer drills. Jones was a key in the second half of the season for ISU by averaging 11 points per game. He appeared in all 37 games but started only one.

Otzelberger expects Jones to make even more progress heading into next season.

Otzelberger says it is possible Jones could be a starter next season.

For much of the second half of last season Jones led the Cyclones in minutes played despite coming off the bench.

It has been a long road for Jones. The native of Minnesota began his college career at Indian Hills. He spent two years at Buffalo before transferring to Iowa State.

First Team
Garrett Luett (Underwood)
Jack Vanfossan (Underwood)
Kalab Kuhl (Loma)
Grady Jeppesen (Riverside)
Mason Boothby (Underwood)
Carter Kunze (Tri -Center)
Cael Witt (Tri – Center)
Jace Starman (IKM -Manning)
Nick Denning (AHSTW)
Charlie Schrage (Treynor)
Mason McIntosh (Missouri Valley)
Brody Schultes (Audubon)
Drake Geith (Loma)

Second Team
Isaac Wohlhuter (Tri -Center)
Holden Minahan (Treynor)
Macklin Loftus (Loma)
Lincoln Thomas (Tri – Center)
Ryker Adair (Undewood)
Brody Larsen (Treynor)
Rex Meeker (Loma)
Gavin Kiger (Loma)
Bryc Summerfield (IKM – Manning)
Aiden Akers (AHSTW)
Aaron Olsen (Audubon)
Mason McCready (Riverside)
Tristin Gunderson (Tri – Center)

Honorable Mention
Ross Kusel (IKM – Manning)
Andrew Keller (Treynor)
Aaron Smith (Riverside)
Luke Seidler (Underwood)
Nelson Clark (Missouri Valley)
Ethan Hill (Treynor)
Kaeden Pleas (Riverside)
Caleb Hatch (AHSTW)
Loeck Helvie (Treynor)
Owen Becerra (Missouri Valley)
Evan Roden (Loma)
Carson Wessel (Audubon)
AJ Harder (Tri – Center

First Team
Riley Miller (Audubon)
Jadyn Huisman (Treynor)
Audrie Kohl (Missouri Valley)
Jordan Porsch (Audubon)
Delaney Matthews (Treynor)
Brooklyn Lange (Missouri Valley)
Mattie Nielsen (Audubon)
Elly Henderson (Riverside)
Campbell Chase (Loma)
Graycen Partlow (AHSTW)
Mary Stephens (Underwood)
Dilynn Meade (Missouri Valley)
Emerson Anderson (Missouri Valley)
Etta Partlow (AHSTW)
Addie Minahan (Treynor)

Second Team
Claire Cook (Underwood)
Madeline Maguire (Loma)
Taryn Petersen (Audubon)
Ruby Potomson (Underwood)
Kayden Schnack (Riverside)
Malie McKern (Treynor)
Hayden Thomas (Tri – Center)
Sophia Fenner (Riverside)
Bella Lamp (AHSTW)
Anna Stangl (IKM – Manning)
Kaitlyn Evans (Loma)
Madison Kelly (Riverside)

Honorable Mention
Clara Pace (AHSTW)
Teagan Carritt (Loma)
Marki Bertelsen (Loma)
Loralei Wahling (AHSTW)
Joenellie Hernandez-Goldapp (TC)
Peyton Schafer (Riverside)
Caitlin Greiner (Tri – Center)
Alikxa McGinn (IKM – Manning)
Kennedy Wyman (AHSTW)
Hailey Ferris (Missouri Valley)
Addesyn Hocker (Audubon)
Allissa Fischer (Underwood)
Claire Schrage (Tryenor)

Class 1A-2A (Carroll, IA)

1A State Title Game: 

Lynnville Sully 7, Remsen St. Mary’s 1

2A State Title Game:

Underwood 5, New Hampton 1

Class 3A-4A (Cedar Rapids, IA)

3A State Title Game: 

North Polk 5, Bishop Heelan 4

4A State Title Game: 

Cedar Rapids Kennedy 7, Dowling Catholic 3

3A State Championship Game:

Williamsburg 12, Davenport Assumption 9

3A State Consolation:

Dubuque Wahlert 7, Benton 1

2A State Championship Game: 

Van Meter 5, Audubon 3

2A State Consolation: 

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 14, East Marshall 2

1A State Championship Game: 

Sigourney 3, Martensdale St. Mary’s 2

1A State Consolation: 

SE Warren 12, St. Edmond 8