Iowa State’s Matt Campbell earns another Big 12 honor

AMES - Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell was named Big 12 Coach of the Year by the Associated Press on Friday.

Campbell also was named Big 12 Coach of the Year by the league's coaches last week.

The second-year coach led Iowa State to a 7-5 overall record and 5-4 conference record in 2017, after winning just three games last season. The Cyclones also are going to a bowl game for the first time since 2012.

To go along with Campbell's Big 12 Coach of the Year, Iowa State had three players named to the all-Big 12 first team and three players named to the second team by the Associated Press.

Running back David Montgomery, linebacker Joel Lanning and safety Kamari Cotton-Moya were first-team selections. Offensive lineman Jake Campos, receiver Allen Lazard and cornerback Brian Peavy were second-team picks.

Montgomery was second in the conference in rushing, averaging 91.2 yards. Lanning was second in the league in tackles with 110 and also recorded 10 tackles for a loss and five sacks. Cotton-Moya led the Cyclones with interceptions with three and recorded 60 tackles.

Lazard made himself one of the conferences most reliable targets, breaking nearly every Iowa State receiving record. Teams were reluctant to throw Peavy's way because of his ball skills, even still, he recorded two interceptions and had seven pass break ups. He also led the Cyclones with four forced turnovers.

Campos was the key piece on the offensive line. He seeled defensive ends for Montgomery to bounce the ball outside, and he also kept Iowa State's quarterback clean. The Cyclones as a whole were second in the Big 12 in fewest sacks allowed.