Kyle Kempt talks with reporters during media day.

Iowa State senior quarterback Kyle Kempt was named to the 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list, announced today by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.

Named after one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, the prestigious award has been presented annually since 1987 to the nation’s top college quarterback.

Candidates must be a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class.

Kempt, a former walk-on, emerged as ISU’s starter in the fifth game of the 2017 season and directed the Cyclones to a victory in the Liberty Bowl, their fourth bowl in school history.

Kempt was 5-3 as a starter, including two wins over top-five opponents (Oklahoma, TCU).

Kyle Kempt

In just eight games played, the Massillon, Ohio native broke ISU’s single-season completion mark (66.3) and tossed 15 TDs to just three interceptions, tying for fifth on ISU’s season TD pass chart.

Kempt threw a TD pass in all eight games and posted a pair of 300-yard outings, including 343-yard effort in the OU win to earn Davey O’Brien National QB of the Week honors.

Kempt enters his senior season as ISU’s career leader in completion percentage (66.5) and with a streak of 130 consecutive passes without an interception, the sixth-best string in school history.

Kempt was also named to the Davey O’Brien Award watch list earlier this season.

University of Iowa senior volleyball player Taylor Louis has been named a 2018 preseason All-Big Ten honoree, the conference announced Tuesday.

Louis, a native of Evanston, Illinois, is the nation’s top returning kills leader with 1,534. She finished the 2017 season with 23 double-digit kills matches over Iowa’s 33 contests. Louis led the Hawkeyes with 386 kills and amassed 88 digs and 45 blocks.

“This is well earned recognition for Lou and now she’ll have to step up and respond,” UI head coach Bond Shymansky said. “She has been on a mission all year and will surely be a great leader for our team”

Louis is Iowa’s first preseason All-Big Ten selection since 2001 when Sara Meyermann earned the nod.

The Hawkeyes head into the 2018 season with high expectations after the team’s second straight winning season. Iowa’s 18 wins in 2017 are the second most wins since 1994.

The Hawkeyes debut their 2018 squad with the Black & Gold Scrimmage on Saturday at 11 a.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa State junior wide receiver Hakeem Butler was named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list for the second season in a row, announced today by the selection committee comprised of journalists from the state of Texas.

The award is named after the 1977 Heisman Trophy winner, who is also a member of the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

The award is presented annually to the nation’s outstanding Division I offensive player who meets one or more of the following criteria: 1. Born in Texas 2. Graduated from a Texas high school 3. Played at a Texas-based junior college or four-year college.

Butler is a native of Baltimore, Md., but graduated from Travis High School in Ft. Bend, Texas.

The 6-6, 225-pound wideout had a breakout season in 2017, ranking second on the team in receiving yards (697) and third in receptions (41). He also had seven TD receptions, tying for ninth on Iowa State’s single-season record list en route to Honorable Mention All-Big 12 accolades.

Butler, who ranked 47th nationally in yards per reception (17.0) in 2017, tallied four of ISU’s six 50-yard plays from scrimmage last year. He had two 100-yard receiving games, including an 111-yard effort in the Liberty Bowl victory vs. Memphis.

He enters the 2018 season with a streak of three-straight games with a TD reception, tying for the seventh-longest string in school history.

Anthony Nelson

University of Iowa junior Anthony Nelson and Iowa State junior JaQuan Bailey have been named to the 2018 Ted Hendricks Award Watch List.

Announced by Ted Hendricks and the Ted Hendricks Foundation, the award honors the top defensive end in college football. On-field performance, exceptional winning attitude, leadership abilities, school and community contributions, and academic preparedness are some qualities the award’s recipient must display. 

Last season, Nelson (6-foot-7, 271 pounds) started all 13 games and recorded a team leading and career-high 7.5 sacks to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors. The Urbandale, Iowa, native tallied 41 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, while also recording four pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and a blocked field goal. His fourth-quarter sack against Boston College quarterback ultimately led to Iowa’s game-winning touchdown in the Pinstripe Bowl. 

Nelson has been named to three other preseason award watch lists, including the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Bednarik Award, and the Bronko Nagurski award. Nelson, who selected to Iowa’s 2018 Leadership Group, is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, a first-team Academic All-American, and was most recently recognized as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. 

Jaquan Bailey

Bailey had phenomenal sophomore campaign in 2017 when he led the team in sacks (7.0), ranking fifth in the Big 12 and fourth all-time on ISU’s single-season list. He also had 34 tackles, 11.0 TFL and two forced fumbles.

The Jacksonville, Fla., native enters his junior season with 20 consecutive starts dating back to his freshman campaign. His 10.5 career sacks currently ranks 11th all-time in the Cyclone record book.

The preseason All-Big 12 team member was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2017 and an honorable mention freshman All-American in 2016.

The award is named in honor of Ted Hendricks, who was college football’s first three-time first-team All-American. Bradley Chubb of N.C. State won last year’s award.

The winner of the 2018 Ted Hendricks Award will be announced on Dec. 12.

Tristan Wirfs (U-I photo)

University of Iowa football player Tristan Wirfs was cited for Operating While Under the Influence in Iowa City early Sunday morning.

“While we are currently gathering additional facts, I am disappointed in Tristan’s decision making based on the information that’s already been confirmed,” said Gary Barta, the Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. “He is subject to the rules and regulations of the UI Student-Athlete Code of Conduct, and the rules and regulations of coach Kirk Ferentz and his program.”

Wirfs is a sophomore offensive tackle from Mount Vernon, Iowa.

Steve Wheatcroft went bogey free, reeling off six straight birdies to finish his opening-round 62, which was good enough for the early lead at the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run.

Michael Kim stands in second at 8 under after the first round.

Broc Everett, the former West Des Moines Valley golfer and NCAA individual champion shot a 4-under 67 Thursday with two birdies and an eagle.

Drake alum and Cedar Rapids native Zach Johnson shot 2 under in his first round.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau withdrew from the John Deere Classic with a right shoulder injury late Thursday afternoon.

The University of Iowa football team will host its annual “Kids Day at Kinnick” presented by University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital on Saturday, Aug. 11. Gates to Kinnick Stadium open at 11 a.m. (CT), with practice scheduled to begin at noon.

Team members will sign autographs for kids at approximately 11:30 a.m. along the front of the west and south stands. Free schedule posters, cards, magnets, and rosters will be available inside all open gates and in Krause Family Plaza. Fans are discouraged from bringing additional items to be autographed.

Free parking is available on hard surface lots, while normal ramp fees apply. Concession stands are open, with items being sold at discounted prices.

Fans attending Kids Day should enter Kinnick Stadium at Gates A (south end zone) and E (west side). Regular season game-day search procedures will be in place and fans will be allowed to sit in the south and west stands.

Fans should note that there will be no access to the playing surface of Kinnick. Fans are also reminded that the annual “Kids Day at Kinnick” activity is designed primarily for the enjoyment of younger fans. Therefore, possession of an open container of beer or wine, or consumption of hard liquor on University property, including parking lots, is prohibited by law.

Oklahoma was chosen to finish at the top of the standings for the third consecutive year in the Big 12 football preseason poll, voted on by media representatives.

This year marks the sixth since 2011 in which the Sooners led the preseason rankings. They have captured a Big 12-record 11 league titles, including the last three.

OU garnered 46 of the 52 first-place votes. West Virginia was chosen second with TCU, Texas and Oklahoma State rounding out the top five. The Mountaineers received two first-place nods while TCU and UT had one each. Kansas State was predicted to finish sixth, claiming two first-place votes followed by Iowa State, Texas Tech, Baylor and Kansas.

The top two finishers in the league standings will compete in the Big 12 Football Championship Game on Saturday, December 1 to determine the Conference title.

Class 4A
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 4 Denison-Schleswig 3
Des Moines Hoover 3 Lewis Central 2
Adel ADM 8 Norwalk 1
Dallas Center-Grimes 6 Pella 5
Newton 4 Fairfield 1
Cedar Rapids Xavier 8 Keokuk 0
Independence 7 Marion 5
Charles City 6 Center Point-Urbana 1

Class 5A
Fort Dodge 5  Urbandale 2
West Des Moines Valley 4 Ankeny 0
Johnston 1 Des Moines East 0
Indianola 3, Ottumwa 2 (8)
Cedar Rapids Jefferson 8 West Des Moines Dowling 0
Iowa City High 4 Linn-Mar 2
Dubuque Hempstead 4 Davenport West 0
Pleasant Valley 4 Burlington 2