Iowa Football: Three Hawkeyes selected to 247Sports/CBS All-American Teams.

…..247SPORT/CBS: Guest Who Was Selected To All….

Iowa has three of the Big Ten’s 10 selections on the 247Sports/CBS All-American Teams
Sean Bock

On Wednesday, 247Sports/CBS released its All-American teams for the 2023 college football season.

Iowa punter Tory Taylor was one of the three unanimous decisions for the first team along with Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II and Notre Dame offensive lineman Joe Alt.

Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean was one of the two cornerbacks and five defensive backs selected for the first team. Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins was selected to the second-team.

You can check out the whole list here.

Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Texas, and Iowa all had two players on the first team. The Crimson Tide led with five All-America selections overall. The Bulldogs, Longhorns, and Missouri slotted next with four each, while the Hawkeyes had three total.

It was a fantastic season for Taylor.

Taylor ranked third nationally in yards per punt this season at 47.9. Prior to the Big Ten Championship, here are a couple of statistics on Taylor, via HawkeyeSports.

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Taylor leads the Big Ten and ranks third nationally with a 47.7-yard punting average on 79 punts – the most in FBS – in 2023. The Australian has boomed 31 punts 50 or more yards (five punts of 60+), 26 have been fair caught and 29 have been downed inside the 20, 11 inside the 10 and six inside the 5. Taylor, who set the Iowa single-season punt yardage mark for a third straight season and both the career punts and career yardage records, only has five touchbacks in 2023.

While DeJean’s season was cut short due to a foot injury he suffered in practice, he left his mark on both defense and special teams.

DeJean was one of top defensive players in the nation before going down with a season-ending injury in Week 12. The Odebolt, Iowa, native had 41 tackles, two TFL, two interceptions and five pass breakups in 10 games. He didn’t allow a touchdown pass in nearly 400 snaps in coverage in 2023.

As a punt returner, DeJean was one of the nation’s best. He had a 70-yard punt return for a game-winning touchdown against Michigan State and he had a second touchdown return for the game-winning score negated because of an “illegal fair catch” penalty against Minnesota. DeJean leads the Big Ten and ranks 14th nationally, averaging 11.5 yards per return.

DeJean is considered to be a first-round pick entering the 2024 NFL Draft, but he has the option to return to Iowa City for another year if he chooses to do so.

Higgins had big shoes to fill this fall as he had to replace last year’s Butkus Award winner in Jack Campbell at the linebacker position. Higgins delivered as he finished the first 13 games with 155 total tackles, just 16 away from tying Andre Jackson’s single-season record at Iowa of 171.

Higgins is second in the country in tackles, trailing Old Dominion’s Jason Henderson. Higgins also has the option of returning to Iowa for another season.

Iowa’s Phil Parker was also named the 247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year on Wednesday.

TRANSFER PORTAL PALOOZA: You can get an annual membership for 60% off. Take advantage now and be among the first people to know everything going on regarding Iowa football, basketball, recruiting and much, much, more!

Sources Say: Transfer Portal Palooza continues to heat up
. The transfer portal is in full-swing and it’s hectic all around the country. There are only a handful of teams that haven’t lost anyone to the portal. I’d advise Iowa fans to not panic and not to be surprised by whatever happens over the next month. Things are continuing to move at full speed.

DES MOINES, Iowa– The transfer portal is in full-swing and it’s hectic all around the country. There are only a handful of teams that haven’t lost anyone to the portal. I’d advise Iowa fans to not panic and not to be surprised by whatever happens over the next month. Things are continuing to move at full speed, so let’s dive into the latest with the Hawkeyes with everyone’s favorite segment ‘Sources Say.’

— SOURCES SAY: As I reported on Tuesday, Iowa is expected to hold onto its top three running backs Kaleb Johnson, Jaziun Patterson and Leshon Williams. In today’s day, it can be tough to convince three capable running backs to return to their team in a similar role. But Iowa has managed to do that. All three of those guys have had an opportunity to be the starting running back this season, so it’d be easy for them to leave and find a place to be the starter.

To read this full article and more, subscribe now —

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College football’s 10 season-defining games during 2023, ranked
These games defined the 2023 season.

The 2023 college football season has been an eventful one and there are still several games to be played, including two potential instant classics in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Bowl season is nearing arrival, which calls for a flashback to the regular season, conference championship weekend and the 10 games that defined the season up to this point.

Through the regular season, several teams looked the part of a national championship contender. Slowly, those teams began to fall from the unbeaten ranks. Florida State notably never did, but it had games or performances that would eventually keep it out of the College Football Playoff. Michigan and Washington were the only other undefeated Power Five teams and both had clutch performances in season-defining games en route to becoming conference champions. Texas and Alabama both suffered a loss, but won when it mattered most to earn a spot in the CFP. Those four teams and a handful of other teams are featured in the 10 season-defining games.

Other teams also defined the season due to the attention it garnered to begin the year. It was dubbed “The Deion Sanders effect,” and viewership flourished in September.

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Below are the 10 games that defined the 2023 campaign with bowl season on the horizon.

10. COLORADO AT TCU (SEPT. 2)

For an entire month, Colorado was the talk of the sports world. That was made possible when it beat TCU in the season-opener, a game that will be rewatched for years due to the fireworks that were repeatedly on display from both the Buffaloes and Horned Frogs. That game didn’t have championship implications, but you can’t discuss the 2023 season without mentioning Colorado’s impact in September. The hype continued to soar as Colorado beat Nebraska and Colorado State in its ensuing games. Then Oregon head coach Dan Lanning gave his infamous speech. His team battered the Buffaloes, and hype began to ease. The decline was sharp, but September was transcendent. Just ask five-star offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, who committed to Colorado Thursday over the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, Tennessee and several others.

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9. OHIO STATE AT NOTRE DAME (SEPT. 23)

Ohio State’s victory over Notre Dame on the road was highly impressive at the time due to its physicality and ability to run the ball. The victory bolstered Ohio State’s case as the best team in the country for several weeks, which is important because beating an undefeated, battle-tested Buckeyes squad is what helped Michigan earn the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. In the end, Ohio State beating Notre Dame benefited Michigan more than the Buckeyes, but it did strengthen OSU’s case to reach a New Year’s Six bowl and it will face Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.

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8. MICHIGAN @ PENN STATE (NOV. 11)

How would Michigan respond to Jim Harbaugh’s second suspension? The answer was delivered against Penn State as the Wolverines marched into enemy territory and left victorious. The win took Penn State out of the race for the Big Ten East and showcased Michigan’s poise. Michigan’s momentum soared after the victory and it has yet to lose a game as it would go on to beat Maryland, Ohio State and Iowa. Meanwhile, the loss left a call to action as Penn State head coach James Franklin fired offensive coordinator Mike Yurich. Penn State has since hired former Kansas offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.

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7. OKLAHOMA AT OKLAHOMA STATE

Conference realignment has had a heavy impact on rivalry games in college football and if 2023 was the final Bedlam, Oklahoma State will hold bragging rights for eternity unless the programs meet in a bowl. Oklahoma State took control of its own destiny from Oklahoma with a 27-24 victory. It made it increasingly unlikely that Oklahoma and Texas would meet in a rematch in the Big 12 Championship Game, which would hold true. Instead, Oklahoma State met Texas for a shot at a conference title, but the Longhorns won in blowout fashion. Would Oklahoma have secured a second victory over Texas? Tough to tell. Oklahoma State took that scenario and threw it out the window.

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history between Washington and Oregon happened on Oct. 14. The Huskies and Ducks collided in an instant classic. Washington led 29-18 at one point then Oregon stormed back and took control. It was a couple of first downs away from securing the win, but Bo Nix threw an incompletion on fourth down, giving Washington life. Michael Penix Jr. delivered two clutch dimes, one of which was a go-ahead touchdown to take a 36-33 lead. Oregon kicker Camden Lewis missed a potential game-tying field goal as time expired. While Washington won, many left feeling like Oregon was the better team. It felt all but certain the two would meet again in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

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NORTH ALABAMA AT FLORIDA STATE (NOV.18) / FSU AT FLORIDA (NOV. 25)

Results: Florida State beat North Florida 58-13, Florida State beat Florida 24-15

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a leg injury against North Alabama that would keep the Seminoles out of the College Football Playoff. FSU didn’t lose that game, but the College Football Playoff committee deemed it a non-national title contender without its starting quarterback. That narrative likely was formed the following weekend against Florida when Seminoles backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker struggled in a 24-15 win. Rodemaker was injured late in that game after being hit while sliding. He went into concussion protocol leading up to the ACC Championship Game against Louisville and was unavailable, leaving Brock Glenn as QB1, who threw for just 55 yards in a 16-6 victory.

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OHIO STATE AT MICHIGAN (NOV. 25)

Michigan and Ohio State have grown accustomed to playing in the biggest regular season game and the most recent meeting was another season-defining clash. Michigan beat Ohio State for the third straight season en route to a third straight Big Ten championship. The Buckeyes survived last season’s defeat with help from Utah, which beat USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game. It wasn’t as lucky this time around and will be on the outside looking in for the second time in three seasons. The win over Ohio State helped Michigan claim the No. 1 seed and its reward is facing Alabama in the Rose Bowl. While it isn’t an easy task, it’s better to be in the CFP rather than outside of it.

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3. OREGON VS. WASHINGTON IN PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (DEC. 1)

Washington entered the Pac-12 Championship Game as a two-score underdog. The clash was for a spot in the College Football Playoff and Oregon had been playing at a much higher level than its rival leading up to the rematch. But Friday was about the Huskies, which won 34-31 after leading 20-3 in the first half. The Huskies controlled the line of scrimmage and found success in the passing game as wide receivers Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze both logged over 100 yards on the evening. Penix threw for 319 yards with a touchdown and interception. The win helped Washington land the No. 2 seed in the CFP. It battles No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl, a rematch of 2022’s Alamo Bowl.

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2. TEXAS AT ALABAMA (SEPT. 9)

Last season was a case of “what could’ve been” after Texas fell to Alabama at home in a game that Quinn Ewers couldn’t finish. 2023 was different. Texas walked into Tuscaloosa, Ewers stayed healthy and the Longhorns secured the most impressive victory of the season. Texas later fell to Oklahoma, but it played well enough to win and perhaps should’ve, so the perception of the Longhorns didn’t change much. After Alabama beat Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, Texas fans celebrated because it felt unlikely that the committee would put Alabama in the playoff and not the team that beat it. That would turn out to be true, with Texas landing the No. 3 seed and Alabama No. 4. If both win on New Year’s Day, a rematch in the national championship game will become official.

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1. ALABAMA VS. GEORGIA IN SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (DEC. 2)

Entering the SEC Championship Game, Alabama hadn’t lost to Georgia under Kirby Smart on that stage. Georgia had won consecutive national titles with a third potentially brewing. Something had to give and Alabama came away victorious. The victory was among the most impressive that a team notched in 2023 and it helped the Crimson Tide hurdle Florida State in the College Football Playoff selection show the following day. Georgia will face Florida State in the Orange Bowl rather than compete for a third straight championship, while Alabama has a date with Michigan in the Rose Bowl for a spot in the national title game.

Phil Parker is the 247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year
All Phil Parker does is develop top-tier defenses at Iowa, and in 2023 he may have coached his best yet. For his efforts this season, the longtime Hawkeyes assistant coach is 247Sports’ Defensive Coordinator of the Year.
Brandon Marcello

All Phil Parker does is develop top-tier defenses at Iowa, and in 2023 he may have coached his best yet. The Hawkeyes’ top-five defense was the program’s best since 2008. And it bucked win-total analytics, pulling along one of the nation’s worst offenses to transform Iowa into a 10-win team despite ranking 130th nationally in scoring. For his efforts, the longtime Hawkeyes assistant coach is 247Sports’ Defensive Coordinator of the Year.

Iowa’s defense allowed only 15 touchdowns in 13 games while holding opponents to 13.2 points per game (No. 4 nationally). Despite the Hawkeyes’ offense struggling to score points and stay on the field, Parker’s defense allowed only 18 plays of 20-plus yards on 896 snaps, the best mark in the country. Parker, in his 25th season overall at Iowa, won the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach Tuesday.

“This is one of the greatest years we’ve had, of all the different challenges you have,” Parker said at the Broyles Award ceremony. “Losing players, struggling a little bit on offense — but just the way everybody stayed together as a team and didn’t divide, which a lot of times outside the building that’s what happens when things aren’t going well. I really appreciate the way they went about their business.”

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Iowa replaced seven defensive starters, including All-American linebacker Jack Campbell, but didn’t miss a beat and actually improved statistically while remaining in the top five nationally in several major categories. Cornerback Cooper DeJean developed into one of the nation’s best players and is a finalist for both the Nagurski Award and Thorpe Award.

Parker, 60, is arguably the best year-to-year coordinator in the profession. He has coordinated the Hawkeyes’ defense the past 12 seasons, leading them to top-20 scoring defenses in 10 years. Five times, Iowa finished in the top 10 — including four of the past five seasons.

The Hawkeyes also allowed one touchdown or less in 10 games for a sixth-straight season. Iowa has allowed 400 yards or fewer in 27 straight games dating back to 2021, the longest streak in the country. The Hawkeyes rank fifth in pass efficiency defense (100.5), 12th in red zone defense (75%), 13th in rushing defense (102.5), 16th in first downs defense (205) and 19th in third-down conversion defense (31.6%).

247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year

 

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