KO nearly KO'd by news of first team all-America honor

AMES -- The congratulatory text lit up his phone and Iowa State offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele wondered why.

Former Cyclone quarterback Bret Meyer messaged Osemele yesterday with kudos for being selected to Sports Illustrated's all-America first team.

It was news to the 6-6, 347-pound senior.

“I didn't believe it but then (teammate) Zach Spears told me it was true,” Osemele said. "It's pretty cool. My mom will be happy.”

Osemele played through an ankle injury for at least the first half of the season.

He's the only player on the first team offense from a program with fewer than nine wins and will join teammate Leonard Johnson (cornerback) at the Senior Bowl next month in Mobile, Ala.

Osemele has made 43 straight starts and will help lead the Cyclones into the Dec. 30 Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers at Yankee Stadium in New York City.

"It's going to be awesome," Osemele said of his second bowl trip. "I've never been to New York before and there's a lot of things I want to see when I'm there. It's going to be intense to see the big Apple.”

Below, see a video of Osemele (No. 72) clearing defenders for Jeff Woody's historic game-winning touchdown run against Oklahoma State.