Iowa State’s Warren, Tucker take home Big 12 individual awards

AMES — Iowa State running back Mike Warren was catching a quick nap when his phone started going berserk.

Texts and twitter messages were flooding his device and it took him a brief moment to realize what was going on. Once it set in that he was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, the excitement rose and it felt like a validation of his season individually.

Teammate Demond Tucker also was recognized with Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors by league coaches.

'Just going out there and playing and having my first season out there, I think I just showed a lot of people what can be happening and what can be possible the next couple years,' Warren said.

Warren led all NCAA freshman rushers with 1,339 yards and set the ISU freshman single-game rushing record with 245 yards against Texas Tech. He got his first start at Toledo, where he gained 126 rushing yards to help him become the first 1,000-yard rusher for the Cyclones since Alexander Robinson in 2009.

The next step in Warren's progression has to be a lofty goal, right? It doesn't get much loftier than what the Lawton, Okla., native envisions for himself: 2,000 yards. Warren said adding weight in the off-season will hopefully help him stack up better in the conference.

'(I'll) definitely try to put a little more weight on and run through a few more tackles,' Warren said. 'Just get stronger in my lower body, as well as my upper body. Definitely just trying to get stronger throughout the season and be a bigger guy and be more of a threat to people.'

Tucker sees Warren every day in practice and likened his running style to that of someone who has something to prove. Speed has been Warren's signature in his young career, but if he added another 10 to 12 pounds, Tucker could see that going a long way.

'Well I'll put it like this, if he can gain a little more weight on him and the speed that he has, he's going to be unstoppable,' Tucker said. 'I feel like he'll be the best back in the Big 12. As of right now, to me, he's the best back, but I feel like if he gains a little more pounds and keeps his speed it's going to be amazing.'

Tucker wrapped up his first season in Ames at nose guard with 28 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks. His highlight came against Oklahoma State when he recorded eight tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks with a forced fumble.

The Hazelhurst, Miss., native came to Iowa State with a goal of earning overall Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. Although he fell short of that goal, Tucker said the biggest area he can improve on to help him reach that level is continuing to develop his motor.

'I've just got to get myself to the point where, I've got a pretty good motor, but to have a motor that just won't stop,' Tucker said. 'Once I get myself back to that point, I'm going to be how I was back then and run and play a whole game without really getting tired or taking off a play or anything.'

Seniors Jamison Lalk (center) and Dale Pierson (defensive end) were named second-team All-Big 12 while Warren, Tucker, senior defensive back Qujuan Floyd, sophomore receiver Allen Lazard and red-shirt freshman cornerback Brian Peavy were all honorable mentions.