As the football season nears, more Hawkeyes are finding their names on some of college football’s most prestigious award watch lists. Senior linebacker Josey Jewell was added to two more watch lists on Monday, and now his name appears on four.
By Jess Westendorf
On Monday, the Iowa football team announced that key linebacker Josey Jewell has been put on two more preseason watch lists: the Butkus Award Watch List, presented by the Butkus Foundation, as well as the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, presented by the All Sport Association.
The 6-2, Decorah, Iowa, native was one of five finalists for the Butkus Award in 2016, which is presented to the best linebacker in college football.
He joins former Hawkeye Larry Station, who was a finalist for the Butkus award in 1985, and Chad Greenway, who was a semifinalist in 2005.
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The Wuerffel Trophy is presented to the college football player who shows exemplary community service paired with academic achievement.
To say that Jewell has been a key component of Iowa’s defense would be an understatement.
In 2016, he started all 13 games at middle linebacker while racking up 124 tackles to lead the team and land second in the Big Ten.
He was also tabbed as Iowa’s Most Valuable Player on defense, with 30-consecutive games over the last three seasons.
Jewell has also been named to the 2017 Bednarik Watch List and the Bronko Nagurski Watch List.