IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior defensive back Cooper DeJean and senior punter Tory Taylor have both been named to the first team Associated Press Preseason All-America team. The announcement was made Monday by The Associated Press.

DeJean (6-foot-1, 209 pounds) was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and second team by the coaches in 2022 after finishing with 75 tackles, five interceptions and eight pass breakups. He set Iowa’s single season record with three pick 6’s in 2022. He also averaged a team-best 16.5 yards on 10 punt returns a year ago.

Earlier this month, DeJean was named to the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year), Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back) and Paul Hornung Award (versatility) watch lists. He has been recognized as a first-team All-American by The Athletic and a second-team All-American by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, as well as being voted to the Big Ten Conference Preseason Honors List and first-team All-Big Ten accolades by Phil Steele, Athlon and Pro Football Focus.

The Odebolt, Iowa, native was voted the 2022 Music City Bowl Most Valuable Player after notching seven tackles (six solo), including one for loss, and notching a 14-yard pick-6 against Kentucky. DeJean was named the Rose Bowl Defensive Player of the Week versus Wisconsin (Nov. 12, 2022) after totaling 10 tackles (seven solo), including one for loss, and returning an interception 32 yards for a score. He was the recipient of Iowa’s Reggie Roby Special Teams Award (overall) and Team Hustle Award (defense) last season.

Taylor (6-foot-4, 232 pounds) averaged 45.4 yards on 82 punts a season ago. He set the Iowa single season record for punting yards with 3,688 yards (80 punts, 46.1 average) in 2021 and increased that record to 3,725 yards in 2022. Taylor placed 39 and 38 punts inside the 20 in 2021 and 2022, respectively. He averaged a career-best 51.8 yards on eight punts at Purdue in 2022.

Taylor is a candidate for the 2023 Ray Guy Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate punter. Taylor has been named a preseason first-team All-American by CBS, The Athletic, Athlon and Phil Steele. The Australia native garnered first-team All-America honors by FWAA, Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus and was a second-team selection by the Associated Press in 2022.

Iowa’s first six home games of 2023 are sold out. A limited number of tickets are available for sale at hawkeyesports.com/tickets for the home finale against Illinois on Nov. 18.

The Hawkeyes open their season on Sept. 2 against Utah State. The sold-out game is set for an 11 a.m. (CT) kickoff.

Today, we continue our preview of the upcoming Big Ten football season with a 14-team preview over 14 weekdays. Tanner Hoops previews the 2023 Michigan Wolverines:

Tomorrow, we’ll preview the Ohio State.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa women’s soccer team improved to 2-0 on Sunday night with a, 2-0, victory over Kansas City at the University of Iowa Soccer Complex.

Sunday’s contest was pushed back to a 7:30 p.m. (CT) start due to extreme heat, making for Iowa’s second consecutive victory following severe weather delays.

Faced with nothing but time, what has given the Hawkeyes the edge?

“The dance parties in the locker room” says junior Elle Otto. “We lift each other up by being positive. We just try to come out there on the front foot.”

Otto kept the energy flowing into the first half. The Hawkeyes started hot, converting twice in the opening period. The first goal came in the 20^th minute of play, when Otto found seventh-year player Josie Durr in the box. Durr fired a liner off the left post that bounced back through the net for the score.

Otto was back in the mix four minutes later, flying a transition pass from junior Kenzie Roling up and over the Kansas City goalkeeper for the second Hawkeye goal of the evening.

“Kenzie Roling dribbled the ball down the line, trusted me, and I busted my butt all the way to get the ball,” says Otto.

A smothering defensive effort carried Iowa the rest of the way. The Hawkeyes allowed just three Kansas City shot attempts while creating 17 shots and 11 shots on goal of their own. Goalkeeper Macy Enneking answered when called upon, hauling in a pair of saves on Sunday.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH DAVE DIIANNI

“We got two scrappy goals, which was great, and didn’t give up a goal, which is nice. But I don’t think many of us are proud walking off the field in terms of thinking we got much better. If this is the one game of the year that you have something like that and you still get a victory, we will take that…

Elle Otto is always going to grind you. She is going to work. She is going to grind. I thought some of the quality was lacking with her, but she is always going to give you a workmanlike shift and put everything out there. It was nice to see her get a goal. She is not usually much of a goal scorer; she is more of a passer.

Josie Durr is good. Those are actually two players that don’t score often who were rewarded for some effort.”

HAWKEYE NOTABLES

• Iowa has registered 42 shots and 21 shots on goal through two contests. The Hawkeye defense has allowed just four shots on goal on seven total shot attempts en route to a pair of clean sheets.
• 90 Tracker: Samantha Cary was the only Hawkeye position player to log 90 minutes of game action on Sunday. Cary also logged 90 minutes against FGCU, along with senior Rielee Fetty, senior Maggie Johnston and freshman Millie Greer.

UP NEXT

Iowa (2-0) will host in-state rival Iowa State (2-0) in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series on Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Iowa Soccer Complex at 7 p.m.

A heathy Diante Vines would be a boost to Iowa’s receiving corps this season. The junior from Connecticut missed the first half of 2022 after a preseason injury and after his return had 10 catches in the final seven games. Vines has battled injuries early in his career and has made adjustments in the hopes of staying on the field.

Vines feels he can make an impact in several ways.

Vines on dealing with injuries early in his career.

The Hawkeyes open September second at home against Utah State.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa track and field alumni Brittany Brown and Laulauga Tausaga are set to compete at the 2023 World Athletics Championships August 19-27, in Budapest, Hungary.

The former Hawkeyes qualified at last month’s USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and will each be appearing in their second World Championships. Brown will participate in the 100-meter dash on August 20 and the women’s 4×100 relay on August 25. Tausaga will compete in the women’s discus on August 20.

“We are very excited for Brittany and Lagi competing in their second World Championships,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “Both have had tremendous seasons this year with big personal records to set themselves up to compete for medals! We are very proud and wish them both the best as they represent the United States and Hawkeye track and field.”

Women’s Discus
Laulauga Tausaga (Aug. 20 – 3:30am CT)

Women’s 100-meter dash
Brittany Brown (Aug. 20 – 5:10am CT)

Women’s 4×100 relay
Brittany Brown (Aug. 25 – 1:00pm CT)

The World Championships will be televised on NBC Networks and digital streaming platforms. Updates will be provided on the official Iowa track and field Twitter account @iowaxc_tf.

GREELEY, Colo. – Mira Emma was the difference on Sunday afternoon, as the fifth-year senior buried a penalty kick in the 50th minute to give Iowa State the edge, as it defeated Northern Colorado, 1-0, to begin the season 2-0 for the first time since 2015.

Iowa State was the aggressor in the first half, as the Cyclones outshot the Bears 8-2. Six of ISU’s eight shots were on target. However, Northern Colorado goalkeeper Kaya Lindberg stood out, making six saves. Three of Lindberg’s saves came on diving attempts as the Cyclones tested both the right and left side of the net.

It wasn’t ten minutes into the second half when Emma was fouled on the edge of the box, resulting in a penalty kick for the Cyclones. Emma took the kick and smashed a line drive into the right side of the net past a diving Lindberg to give the Cyclones an early 1-0 lead in the second half.

The Bears responded with an aggressiveness that wasn’t present in the first stanza of play. Northern Colorado outshot the Cyclones by three in the second period, sending seven shots the way of Avery Gillahan. Gillahan tallied one save on the afternoon, notching her first-ever career clean sheet.

Emma and fellow senior Salomé Prat each had three shots on the day as the senior duo was constantly pressuring the Bears. Six other Cyclones recorded a shot on the afternoon as ISU finished with 12 shots (seven on goal). Iowa State also had more corner kicks than UNCO, leading in that department 9-4.

Ella Ciardullo and Isabella Agrusso each made their Cyclone debut on Sunday afternoon, while Femke Pietersma made her first appearance of the 2023 campaign.

Fannon’s Thoughts 

“We put ourselves in a place in the second half where we had to battle because we weren’t ruthless enough in the first. But our ability to get the job done and win the game is what matters, and we were fully deserving.”

Goals 

Iowa State:Mira Emma (50’)

Northern Colorado: N/A

Assists 

Iowa State:N/A

Northern Colorado: N/A

Up Next 

Iowa State will return to action on Thursday, August 24, when it heads east to face off with the Iowa Hawkeyes as part of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk series. Thursday’s match is the second part of a three-game road stretch for the Cyclones. Thursday’s action is set to begin at 7 p.m. and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.

Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley admits the Panthers have a lot of potential. UNI has several key players returning that finished 6-5 and missed out on the FCS playoffs.

Between returning players and transfers Farley says it is an experienced team.

The Panthers face a challenging schedule and are picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley race.

The opener at Iowa State is September second.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State gymnastics coach Ashley Miles Greig announced today the addition of Danielle Press. This is the first official transfer of the Miles Greig era.

Press, a redshirt sophomore from Conroe, Texas, comes to Ames after spending a season at the University of Nebraska. The coaching staff expects Press to immediately contribute to both vault and floor.

“Iowa State is excited to welcome to welcome Danielle to the Cyclone Family!” says Miles Greig. “She comes with a strong, competitive spirit and a true passion for gymnastics. She’ll bring valuable competition experience on both vault and floor, and as a staff we look forward to seeing her shine.”

With the Huskers, Press earned a career-high of 9.875 on both vault (at Michigan, 2/15/21) and floor (at Minnesota, 3/5/21). In the classroom, Press earned a spot on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the spring of 2021.

Press has been training under Coach Mauro Martinez at Cypress Academy of Gymnastics in Houston, Texas.

(Atlantic, Iowa) — When it comes to basketball careers, very few have had the success and adventure that Ryan Hawkins has experienced. The Atlantic native was a Division II All-American at Northwest Missouri State University, helping the Bearcats win three national championships.  After transferring to Division I Creighton, Hawkins led the Blue Jays in scoring and rebounding.  He was named second team All-Big East and helped Creighton to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they nearly knocked out eventual champion Kansas.

Hawkins finished his lone season at Creighton with 482 points, 272 rebounds, 53 assists, 32 steals, and 13 blocks.  Hawkins finished his college basketball career with 2,580 points, 1,220 rebounds, 257 steals, 229 assists, and 82 blocks. He then signed with the Toronto Raptors and played on the G-League squad this past season. For most the dream of playing basketball would end there.

However, Hawkins recently signed a deal with AS Pistoia Basket 2000 and will play in the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) for 10 months.

Even with little knowledge of the Italian language. Hawkins knows that basketball itself is a universal dialect needing no translator.

The basketball in Europe is some of the most competitive in the world and Hawkins is excited to compete in the league.

The G-League was a positive experience for Hawkins, but he sees the potential in the team focused Euro League. He sees the opportunity to double down on his strengths as a player in Italy and wants to make the most out of his time there.

The future for Ryan Hawkins will definitely be focused on basketball. In what realm of the game specifically remains unknown, but he knows he will always be a part of the game.

He leaves to join his team this month.

For the full interview click below:

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