Six Cyclones Earn All-Big 12 Honors; Eight More Named Honorable Mention
The Iowa State football team earned significant recognition Thursday as the Big 12 Conference announced its all-league selections, with six Cyclones named to the second or third teams and eight more receiving honorable mention.
All-Big 12 Second Team
Carson Hansen, RB, Jr., Lakeville, Minn.
Hansen rushed for 952 yards despite missing one game and ranked second in the Big 12 with 96.4 rushing yards per game in league play. He posted six 100-yard games, including five straight entering the bowl game. His season high came against BYU, when he ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns. He has six rushing scores this season.
Benjamin Brahmer, TE, Jr., Pierce, Neb.
Brahmer led Iowa State with 37 receptions and six touchdown catches and is second on the team with 446 receiving yards. His six touchdown receptions lead all Big 12 tight ends and rank fifth nationally. He has at least one catch in all 12 games and had five receptions for 75 yards against BYU.
Aiden Flora, Specialist, R-Fr., Adel, Iowa
Flora has emerged as one of the league’s top returners, averaging 26.1 yards on eight punt returns, including a 75-yard touchdown at TCU. His punt return average leads all qualified Big 12 players by more than 12 yards. He also had returns of 51 and 66 yards against South Dakota and has averaged 21.4 yards on eight kickoff returns. Flora missed two games due to injury and added 58 rushing yards and a touchdown on four carries.
All-Big 12 Third Team
Tyler Miller, OL, R-Sr., Scranton, Iowa
Miller has anchored an Iowa State offensive line that helped the Cyclones rush for at least 150 yards in the final seven games, one of only seven active streaks of that length nationally. ISU averaged 191.3 rushing yards during that stretch. Miller has started 50 career games, including a Big 12-best 39 straight.
Marcus Neal, DB, So., Kansas City, Mo.
Neal tied for the team lead with 77 tackles and leads all Big 12 defensive backs with 11 tackles for loss. He also has two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Neal recorded at least seven tackles in six games.
Domonique Orange, DL, Sr., Kansas City, Mo.
Orange anchors the middle of Iowa State’s 3-3-5 defense and finished the regular season with 18 tackles. His six-tackle performance against Iowa earned him Bednarik National Player of the Week honors. He also recorded four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention:
Abu Sama III (RB), Brett Eskildsen (WR), Chase Sowell (WR/Offensive Newcomer of the Year), Jim Bonifas (OL), Trevor Buhr (OL), Caleb Bacon (LB), Kyle Konrardy (Specialist/Special Teams Player of the Year), Tyler Perkins (P).
