IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa student-athletes Drew Stevens (football) and Olivia Swalley (women’s swimming) were named November’s Student-Athletes of the Month, the Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee announced.

Stevens, a junior from North Augusta, South Carolina, most recently led Iowa to a 13-10 victory over Nebraska with a 53-yard game winning field goal. In the month of November, he made all three 50+ field goals, increasing his career total to a school-record, eight. Stevens contributed the second-most points on the team with 35, just one point behind running back Kaleb Johnson. He tied the school record and SECU Stadium record (Maryland) for field goals in a game with a 5-5 finish in Iowa’s win over Maryland. Stevens was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week in consecutive weeks, as he led the team to a 3-1 record in the month of November, and another eight win season for the football program. Concluding November, Stevens made all 11 PAT attempts and was 8-9 in field goals in the Hawkeyes’ final stretch of the season.

Swalley, a sophomore from Johnston, Iowa, has led the women’s swimming and diving team, breaking records and excelling in numerous events. At the Hawkeye Invitational, Swalley set Iowa’s program record, winning the 400 individual medley in 4:10.54. She also improved Iowa’s second-fastest 200 individual medley time, racing 1:57.89 and finishing first. Swalley collected NCAA B-cut times in the 200 and 400 IM, as well as the 200 Breast. In Iowa’s trip to No. 23 Minnesota, Swalley won three individual events in the 100 Breast, 200 Breast, and the 400 IM.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell announced the addition of 19 early signees from the high school ranks during the early signing period on Wednesday.

The class features 10 offensive players and nine defensive players who will join Iowa State from nine different states.

For the third-straight year, Iowa State signed the top quarterback in the state of Iowa, adding Algona High School’s Alex Manske to the roster.

A priority for Campbell and his staff has always been recruiting players from winning programs and this year was no different.

“We’re really excited about the class coming in,” Campbell said. “The staples, and what we’ve always believed in, we didn’t waiver from those. This class has guys that are winners, that come from great high school football programs and our coaches did a great job recruiting within a six hour radius of our doorstep. We wanted to continue to find guys that fit what Iowa State is about and I think we did that.”

The Cyclones signed six of the top-10 players in Iowa, led by Will Hawthorne, a four-star linebacker from Gilbert, Iowa. Manske is a four-star recruit by On3 and is ranked No. 42 nationally, the highest-ranked Big 12 recruit by that outlet.

Other recruits from the state of Iowa include Spirit Lake’s athlete Ethan Stecker, Cedar Falls’ offensive lineman Will Tompkins, Des Moines’ wide receiver Zay Robinson, Manske’s Algona teammate Jack Limbaugh, a defensive lineman and three-time state champion wide receiver Sam Zelenovich from Southeast Polk.

The class is well balanced with four wide receivers and four defensive backs, in addition to four players on both the offensive and defensive line.

AMES, Iowa – Jaylin Noel was named Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year to highlight the Big 12 Conference postseason awards for the Cyclones, announced Thursday by the conference office after a vote by the coaches.

In addition to his Co-Special Teams Player of the Year honor, Noel was also an All-Big 12 First Team selection as a kick returner/punt returner.

Four Cyclones – Stevo Klotz (FB), Jayden Higgins (WR), Jontez Williams (DB) and Malik Verdon (DB) – were named to the All-Big 12 Second Team.

In total, 15 Cyclones were recognized by the Big 12 coaches.

Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year/All-Big 12 First Team

Jaylin Noel, KR/PR, Sr., Kansas City, Mo.
Capable of flipping the field for the Cyclones, Noel was one of the top punt returners in the Big 12 during the regular season. He averaged 15.3 yards per return, the second-best mark in the league. On 13 attempts, Noel totaled 199 punt return yards with his longest being a 36-yarder. The senior also handled kick return duties early in the season and averaged 17.7 yards per return.

All-Big 12 Second Team
Stevo Klotz, FB, RSr., Chaska, Minnesota
The senior tight end spent much of his time in the backfield as a fullback and was rewarded for his efforts by earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors. It marks the fourth-straight season a Cyclone tight end has earned All-Big 12 honors as a fullback, and his second consecutive honor. In addition to paving the way for the Cyclone running backs, Klotz had seven receptions, including a 26-yard touchdown reception against Cincinnati.

Jayden Higgins, WR, Sr., South Miami, Fla.
Higgins has made more of an impact than perhaps any two-year transfer in Cyclone football history. An All-Big 12 honorable mention last year, Higgins raised his game and was rewarded with second-team honors this season. The Miami, Florida native hauled in 80 receptions for 1,068 yards and nine touchdowns – all top-five marks in the league. Higgins scored a touchdown in nine of 12 games and he is just the fourth Cyclone in program history with 80 receptions in a season.

Jontez Williams, DB, RSo., Starke, Fla
Williams turned in noteworthy season as part of a stout Cyclone secondary. He became the first Cyclone since 1982 (Ronnie Osborne) to have an interception in four consecutive games. His four picks were tied for the third-most in the Big 12 this season. Williams was a key piece on a defensive unit that was first in the Big 12 in scoring defense (19.6) and yielded just 156.9 passing yards per game in the regular season, the nation’s third-best mark.

Malik Verdon, DB, RJr., Cincinnati, Ohio
Verdon followed his 2023 All-Big 12 honorable mention honors with second-team recognition in 2024, starting 11-of-12 games as a vital part of Iowa State’s aforementioned secondary. Verdon was Iowa State’s leading tackler with 75 tackles, including 3.5 for loss. The Cincinnati, Ohio native tallied five PBU, an interception and forced two fumbles.

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Rocco Becht (QB), Jaylin Noel (WR), Benjamin Brahmer (TE), Jarrod Hufford (OL, OLOY), Jalen Travis (OL), Kyle Konrardy (K), Domonique Orange (DL), J.R. Singleton (DL), Jeremiah Cooper (DB), Beau Freyler (DB), Darien Porter (DB)

It’s a new month and a new challenge for the 17th ranked Iowa Hawkeye women who play Tennessee on Saturday night in the Women’s Champions Classic in Brooklyn. The Hawkeyes won both games at the Cancun Challenge despite playing without top scorer Lucy Olsen after she lacerated her knee in a freak accident. The Hawkeyes finished November with a record of 8-0. Iowa coach Jan Jensen.

With Olsen out of the lineup Rhode Island and BYU went after the Hawkeyes with full court pressure and Jensen says Tennessee will take it to another level.

Tennessee is 6-0 and has ten players averaging double figure minutes.

The 11th ranked Wartburg football team hosts 21st ranked Bethel of Minnesota on Saturday in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III football playoffs on Saturday. The Knights opened the playoffs last week with a victory over Wisconsin-Platteville.

That’s Wartburg coach Chris Winter. The Knight’s defense will take on a balanced Bethel offense that is averaging more than 48 points and 464 yards per game.

The Wartburg defense created three turnovers a week ago and has 26 on the season. Winter says that will be a key against Bethel.

Winter on what could be a key to the outcome.

Tenth ranked Northwestern visits number-two Grand View in Saturday’s quarterfinal round of the NAIA football playoffs. Northwestern is 9-2 while the Vikings enter with a record of 11-0.

That’s Northwestern coach Matt McCarty. Grand View’s defense is one of the best in the country. The Vikings allow just over 63 yards of rushing and less than 200 yards of total offense per game.

McCarty says the game could come down to big plays and turnovers.

Grand View coach Joe Woodley on taking on a team with championship game experience.

Woodley says these programs are very similar.

Woodley says many times mistakes and turnovers will be the difference in big games.

Also in the NAIA quarterfinals sixth ranked Morningside vsits number-four Montana Western.

Iowa State’s defense is preparing for a balanced Arizona State offense that averages more than 32 points per game. The 16th ranked Cyclones at 12th rated Sun Devils collide Saturday in Dallas for the Big 12 championship. Cyclone junior defensive end Tyler Onyedim.

Onyedim says the Cyclones have reahed the title game because of the leadership of the senior class.

Cyclone defensive back Jontez Williams says the Sun Devils have a lot of weapons on offense.

Arizona State will be without injured star receiver Jordyn Tyson but Williams says that won’t change their approach.

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt has passed for 21 touchdowns and isa also the Sun Devils second leading rusher.