The Iowa football team continues to rack up preseason honors.

Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg was named the No. 2 QB in the Big Ten by ESPN.com, after Michigan’s Denard Robinson.

Vandenberg started every Hawkeye game in 2011, completing 237-of-404 passes for 3,022 yards and 25 touchdowns. The native of Keokuk, Iowa, was ranked third in the Big Ten in passing yards per game with 232.5, fourth in total offense (237.2), and fifth in pass efficiency (138.5) last season. Vandenberg was also previously named to the 2012 preseason Maxwell Award and the College Football Performance Award watch lists for quarterback trophies.

Senior wide receiver Keenan Davis has been named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list, an honor given to an outstanding receiver in college football. Davis tallied 50 receptions for 713 yards in 2011, including four touchdowns. The Cedar Rapids native was also named to the Blue Ribbon Preseason All-Conference team and College Football Performance Awards watch list for the wide-receiver trophy earlier this summer.

Junior linebacker James Morris was named to the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list, which is awarded to the nation’s best linebacker or lineman. Morris recorded 52 solo tackles and 58 assists to share the team lead. Morris ranked fifth in the Big Ten and tied for 37th in the nation in tackles per game (9.2). Morris has also been named to the Bednarik and Butkus Award watch lists.

— by Molly Irene Olmstead