True freshman Ryan Ward has been named to the Iowa football’s 2012 leadership group, announced team officials on Tuesday.

The rookie offensive lineman is the 15th member of the committee that includes five seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and two redshirt freshmen. The leadership group works to make team and program decisions.

Ward joins revered Hawkeyes such as quarterback James Vandenberg, linebacker James Morris, and offensive lineman James Ferentz.

Ward, who stands 6-5 and 275 pounds, served as a team caption during his senior year of high school and earned Army All-American honors and first-team all-state honors at Providence Catholic High in New Lenox, Ill.