Three Iowa O-linemen earn Big Ten honors

IOWA CITY - You can make an argument that the Hawkeyes offensive line has been its best overall position group this season. Tuesday night's all-Big Ten offensive reveal would support your position.

Senior guard Jordan Walsh was named first-team all-Big Ten by conference coaches. Center Austin Blythe, the senior driver on Iowa's O-line, earned second-team honors from coaches and league media, while Walsh was named to the second team on the media ballot.

Sophomore guard Sean Welsh also received honorable mention on both ballots.

Junior quarterback C.J. Beathard was named to the second team on coaches and media ballots. Senior running back Jordan Canzeri earned third team recognition from both coaches and media. Junior wide receiver Matt VandeBerg also was named honorable mention on both ballots.

Iowa's rush offense is set to post its first season of more than 200 rushing yards per game since 2002 (214.2). The Hawkeyes average 203.6 rushing yards a game going into Saturday's Big Ten title game against Michigan State.

'Fortunately, we've had some really good stories at all positions but especially more so with linemen,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferenz said. 'Part of that ties into the strength-and-conditioning program, but it still takes the right kind of guy. You've got to get a guy just like those fullbacks that really have a lot of pride and they're really hard workers and they're really determined, and those are commonalities with all those guys.”

Michigan State center Jack Allen edged out Blythe for first-team center. Allen was one of two repeat first-teamers, joining Ohio State guard Pat Elflein, on the offensive line.

Ferentz was asked Tuesday if Blythe, who has 47 career starts with 43 in a row, was the epitome of an Iowa football player.

'I don't know how you can do much better,” Ferentz said. 'The guy is a great citizen, excellent student, married on top of it, and we haven't had many married players recently, so that's kind of interesting. But what a football player. He played well four years ago when he started playing. He is playing at such a high level right now, and Michigan State's center is, too. Both those guys are as good as you're going to find. Austin is on our team, so I'm a little biased that way. Everything about him is just stellar.”

Walsh, of Glendale Heights, Ill., has started all 12 games at right guard this season and has 35 career starts.

Beathard, of Franklin, Tennessee (Battle Ground Academy), is 13-0 as Iowa's starting quarterback. He's completed 184 of 303 attempts for 2,354 yards, 14 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He has also rushed for 285 yards and six touchdowns.

Canzeri, from Troy, New York (Troy HS), leads Iowa in rushing and ranks fifth in the league with 964 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has totaled 2,053 career rushing yards, becoming just the 14th Hawkeye to rush for over 2,000 yards. He has surpassed 100 rushing yards in five games this season, including a career-best 256 yards on a school-record 43 carries in a win over Illinois.

VandeBerg, from Brandon, S.D., had a break-out season with 59 receptions for 625 yards and three touchdowns. His 59 catches rank seventh best in the Big Ten this year. He has 940 career receiving yards in three seasons.

Welsh, of Springboro, Ohio, earned freshman all-Big Ten recognition a year ago. He's started all 12 games in 2015 and has 21 starts in his two seasons. Welsh moved from his normal left guard position to start at right tackle in Iowa's 40-10 win at Northwestern.

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