Iowa State nose guard Nick Leaders, a first-team all-Big 12
Conference selection by the league's coaches, was named the school's third
recipient of the Pete Taylor MVP Award at the team's banquet Sunday at the
Gateway Hotel. The award is named for the former 33-year radio voice of the
Cyclones. The honor was bestowed on Leaders by a vote of his
teammates.
Leaders, a
senior, has made 259 career tackles and blocked five kicks over the past two
seasons for the Houston Bowl-bound Cyclones. The Omaha, Neb. native also earned
a share of the Al and Dean Knudsen Award as the team's outstanding defensive
player. Leaders was co-winner with all-Big 12 defensive tackle Brent Curvey of
the Arthur Floyd Scott Award, which is presented to the top Iowa State linemen
on both sides of the ball. Aaron Brant was the offensive lineman honored.
Leaders was a co-recipient of the Winners Performance Award, given to players
who excel in techniques, consistency, production, effectiveness and
discipline.
Leaders and
11 teammates were the co-winners of the Al and Dean Knudson Award as every
starter on the record-setting Iowa State defense earned the honor. Iowa
State's defense allowed only 99.7 rushing yards per game, nearly 40 yards under
the school record set in 2004. The Cyclones allowed just 18.2 points per game
this season, the lowest total since 1980. Also recognized were defensive tackle
Jason Berryman, linebacker Jamarr Buchanan, Curvey, linebacker Tim Dobbins,
cornerback LaMarcus Hicks, cornerback DeAndre Jackson, defensive end Cephus Johnson, defensive end Shawn Moorehead of Mason City, strong safety Nik Leaders
of Fort Dodge, free safety Steve Paris and linebacker Matt Robertson.
ISU
quarterback Bret Meyer of Atlantic and wide receiver Todd Blythe of Indianola,
both sophomores, shared the Ray Scott Award as the team's outstanding offensive
players. Meyer ranks fourth in career yards, fifth in career completions,
third in career TD passes, third in single-season yards and second in
single-season total offense in the Iowa State record books. Blythe, the school
record-holder with 16 career TD receptions, was a first-team all-Big 12 wide
receiver on the coaches team and The Kansas City Star all-league unit.
Blythe ranks second nationally among wide receivers with at least 4.1 receptions
per game this season, averaging 19.46 yards per catch. His 1,728 career
receiving yards ranks fifth all-time. Meyer and Blythe have accomplished
these feats despite playing in just 23 career games.
The Durwood
"Dury" Moss award, honoring the Cyclones' top newcomer, went to center Scott Stephenson. He was a first-team all-Big 12 selection on the conference's AP
unit. Stephenson, who moved from the defensive line to the offensive line, had
never played center before 2005 fall drills and ended up as the AP all-Big 12
first-team center.
Punter Troy Blankenship of Cedar Rapids, placekicker Bret Culbertson of Des Moines and deep
snapper Landon Schrage of Parkersburg were co-winners of the Jim Doran Award,
given annually to the outstanding performers on special teams.
Junior wide
receiver Austin Flynn and Paris. the free safety, won the Ennis Haywood Award
from the team's coaches for effort in games, practice and off the field on
behalf of ISU football. LaMarcus Hicks and Buchanan were presented the Bill
Dailey Award as players who made a great contribution to the team with little
public recognition.
Defensive
back Broc Bebout of Thurman and offensive lineman Seth Zehr of Fort Dodge were
recognized for having the team's top two cumulative grade-point averages after
finishing at least four semesters of academic study. Bebout earned the honor for
the second straight season. Moser and offensive lineman Kory Pence of Story City
were given the Reuben J. Miller Award as Cyclone student-athletes whose conduct
on and off the field has brought honor and distinction to the
University.
Middle
linebacker Tim Dobbins, who was voted first-team academic all-Big 12 on the AP
poll, won the Don Holder Award for the second straight season. The honor is
bestowed on a team member who handles life's challenges and adversities while
competing for Iowa State.
Freshman
wide receiver Euseph Messiah of Bettendorf was honored as the offensive scout
team player of the year. Sophomore linebacker Tyrone McKenzie was named the
defensive scout team player of the year. Junior wide receiver Nick Campbell of Marion earned gold team scout team recognition.
Dobbins,
Leaders, Meyer and Pence were recognized for receiving the Ralph Aulmann
Memorial Awards as team captains. LaMarcus Hicks was presented the Consideration
Award as voted by the program's student trainers and managers for being most
considerate of both groups on and off the field.
ACADEMIC
ACHIEVERS
Eleven Cyclones were named Academic All-Big 12 in 2005 ...
eight of them were first-team selections:
First-Team Honorees
Broc
Bebout Sr. Accounting/Finance
Caleb Berg So. Health
and Fitness Management
Brett Jarvis
Sr. Finance
Shawn Moorehead
Jr. Mechanical Engineering
David Rahe Sr. Construction
Engineering
Matt Robertson Jr. Sociology
Tony Yelk Sr.
Exercise and Sport Science
Seth Zehr
Jr. Finance
Second-Team Honorees
Korey Smith Sr. Sport
Management
Kyle Smith
Sr. Sport Management
Scott
Stephenson Jr.
Biology
WITH HONORS
Several Cyclones have earned all-Big 12 mention from the league’s coaches,
media, and other services:
All-Big 12 (Coaches)
First Team
Todd
Blythe So. Wide Receiver
Nick Leaders Sr. Nose Guard
LaMarcus Hicks Sr. Cornerback
Second
Team
Brent Curvey Jr.
Defensive Tackle
Tim Dobbins
Sr. Linebacker
Steve Paris
Sr. Safety
Honorable Mention
Jason
Berryman So. Defensive End
Aaron
Brant Jr. Offensive Line
Ryan Kock Jr.
Fullback
Bret Meyer
So. Quarterback
Nik Moser Sr. Safety
Troy Blankenship
Sr. Punter
Scott
Stephenson Jr.
Offensive Line
All-Big 12 (Associated Press)
First Team
Tim Dobbins Sr. Linebacker
Scott Stephenson
Jr. Offensive Line
Second Team
Todd
Blythe So. Wide Receiver
Brent Curvey Jr. Defensive Tackle
Nick Leaders Sr. Nose Guard
LaMarcus Hicks Sr. Cornerback
Honorable
Mention
Aaron Brant Jr.
Offensive Line
Stevie Hicks Jr.
I-Back
Jason Berryman So. Defensive End
DeAndre Jackson Jr. Cornerback
All-Big 12 (Kansas City Star)
First Team
Todd Blythe So. Wide
Receiver
Brent Curvey Jr.
Defensive Tackle
Scott Stephenson
Jr. Offensive Line
Second Team
Nick
Leaders Sr. Nose Guard
All-Big 12 (Dallas Morning News)
Second
Team
Todd Blythe So.
Wide Receiver
Scott Stephenson
Jr. Offensive Line
LaMarcus Hicks
Sr. Cornerback
All-Big 12 (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram)
Second
Team
Todd Blythe So.
Wide Receiver
Scott Stephenson
Jr. Offensive Line
LaMarcus Hicks
Sr. Cornerback
DeAndre Jackson
Jr. Cornerback