Nixon Added to Bednarik Award Watch List/Taylor Named to FWAA Freshman All-American Watch List 

Nixon Added to Bednarik Award Watch List

Credit Source: University of Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior defensive lineman Daviyon Nixon has been added to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, which is presented to the most outstanding defensive player in college football by the Maxwell Football Club.

Semifinalists for the award will be announced Monday, Dec. 6.

Nixon, a Kenosha, Wisconsin, native, leads the Big Ten with five sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. His 36 total tackles (18 solo, 18 assists) are the most among Iowa’s defensive linemen. Nixon has registered a sack in three straight games and has posted two games (Northwestern & Nebraska) with three tackles for loss.

Nixon’s highlight of the season came in Iowa’s 41-21 win at Penn State when the 305-pound lineman returned an interception 71 yards for his first career touchdown.

Nixon has help lead an Iowa defense that ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring defense (16.7), rush defense (109.3), and total defense (322.8), and fourth in pass defense.

Iowa takes its four-game winning streak on the road Saturday to face Illinois at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:35 p.m. (CT) and the contest will be televised on FS1.

Taylor Named to FWAA Freshman All-American Watch List 

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa freshman punter Tory Taylor has been named to the freshman All-American Watch List by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

He is one of three punters and three players from the Big Ten to be named to the watch list. The FWAA will announce its 20^th Freshman All-America team in January.

Taylor, a Melbourne, Australia, native, has averaged 45.1 yards on 27 punts this season, which is the second best in the Big Ten and 16th best in the country. Taylor has downed 15 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, along with zero punt blocks and zero touchbacks. Iowa opponents are averaging just 5.4 yard on five returns and have lost two fumbles on returns.

Taylor has eight punts of 50 yards or more, including a season-best 61-yard punt against Michigan State.

The Hawkeyes are back in action Saturday, facing Illinois at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. The game will kickoff at 2:30 p.m. (CT) and be televised on FS1.