AMES, Iowa – Iowa State freshman linebacker Cael Brezina has been named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award preseason watch list. The list includes 37 freshmen nationally and Brezina is one of three linebackers on the initial list.

A Downers Grove, Illinois, native, Brezina joined the Cyclones in the spring after a stellar high school career.

Brezina was a consensus three-star linebacker recruit and the No. 15 recruit in the state of Illinois according to ESPN.