Big season coming up for Ben Niemann as a first-year starter at OLB.
Ben Niemann
6-3, 225
Sophomore
Sycamore, IL
Bio: http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ben_niemann_919015.html
Hawk-Item - - Tied for sixth in the Big Ten with one blocked punt in 2014 . . . one of three true freshmen to see action in 2014.
2014 - - Played in all 13 games, recording five solo tackles and two assists, along with a blocked punt and return for a touchdown . . . saw first action of action of career in 31-23 win over Northern Iowa, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in 17-13 win over Ball State, but had no statistics as defense allowed just two field goals and 219 yards total offense . . . saw action in 20-17 loss to Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 24-20 win at Pittsburgh, but had no statistics as defense allowed just three points in the second half . . . saw action in 24-10 win at Purdue, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 156 yards total offense . . . saw action in 45-29 win over Indiana, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 38-31 loss at Maryland, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in 48-7 win over Northwestern . . . recorded one assisted tackle vs. Northwestern, while also recording a blocked punt and returning the ball for first career touchdown . . . saw action in 51-14 loss at Minnesota, recording one solo tackle for two-yard loss . . . saw action in 30-14 win at Illinois, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 88 net rushing yards and 235 yards total offense . . . saw action in 26-24 loss to No. 14 Wisconsin, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 37-34 overtime loss to Nebraska, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 45-28 TaxSlayer Bowl loss to Tennessee . . . recorded career-best three tackles vs. Tennessee, including two solo tackles and one assist, including a shared tackle for loss.
High school honors - - Earned first team all-state, all-conference and all-area honors as a senior . . . named team and conference Most Valuable Player and MVP of all-area team . . . first team all-state, all-conference and all-area as a junior . . . first team all-conference and all-area as a sophomore . . . Career - - earned three letters as wide receiver and strong safety . . . helped prep team reach second round of playoffs as a sophomore and junior . . . team won conference title and advanced to state semi-finals as a senior with a 12-1 record . . . recorded 78 tackles as a senior . . . also had 45 receptions for 1,050 yards 15 touchdowns, along with two punt return touchdowns . . . 60 tackles and three interceptions as a junior, with 53 receptions for 884 yards and 13 touchdowns . . . as a sophomore recorded 51 receptions for 734 yards and seven touchdowns . . . team captain as a junior and senior . . . also two-year letterman in basketball, earning all-conference honors.
Personal - - Born 7/27/95 in Des Moines, Iowa . . . education major . . . parents are Lou Ann and Jay Niemann . . . member of prep Honor Roll . . . high school coach was Joe Ryan.
Ben Niemann
6-3, 225
Sophomore
Sycamore, IL
Bio: http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ben_niemann_919015.html
Hawk-Item - - Tied for sixth in the Big Ten with one blocked punt in 2014 . . . one of three true freshmen to see action in 2014.
2014 - - Played in all 13 games, recording five solo tackles and two assists, along with a blocked punt and return for a touchdown . . . saw first action of action of career in 31-23 win over Northern Iowa, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in 17-13 win over Ball State, but had no statistics as defense allowed just two field goals and 219 yards total offense . . . saw action in 20-17 loss to Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 24-20 win at Pittsburgh, but had no statistics as defense allowed just three points in the second half . . . saw action in 24-10 win at Purdue, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 156 yards total offense . . . saw action in 45-29 win over Indiana, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 38-31 loss at Maryland, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in 48-7 win over Northwestern . . . recorded one assisted tackle vs. Northwestern, while also recording a blocked punt and returning the ball for first career touchdown . . . saw action in 51-14 loss at Minnesota, recording one solo tackle for two-yard loss . . . saw action in 30-14 win at Illinois, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 88 net rushing yards and 235 yards total offense . . . saw action in 26-24 loss to No. 14 Wisconsin, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 37-34 overtime loss to Nebraska, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 45-28 TaxSlayer Bowl loss to Tennessee . . . recorded career-best three tackles vs. Tennessee, including two solo tackles and one assist, including a shared tackle for loss.
High school honors - - Earned first team all-state, all-conference and all-area honors as a senior . . . named team and conference Most Valuable Player and MVP of all-area team . . . first team all-state, all-conference and all-area as a junior . . . first team all-conference and all-area as a sophomore . . . Career - - earned three letters as wide receiver and strong safety . . . helped prep team reach second round of playoffs as a sophomore and junior . . . team won conference title and advanced to state semi-finals as a senior with a 12-1 record . . . recorded 78 tackles as a senior . . . also had 45 receptions for 1,050 yards 15 touchdowns, along with two punt return touchdowns . . . 60 tackles and three interceptions as a junior, with 53 receptions for 884 yards and 13 touchdowns . . . as a sophomore recorded 51 receptions for 734 yards and seven touchdowns . . . team captain as a junior and senior . . . also two-year letterman in basketball, earning all-conference honors.
Personal - - Born 7/27/95 in Des Moines, Iowa . . . education major . . . parents are Lou Ann and Jay Niemann . . . member of prep Honor Roll . . . high school coach was Joe Ryan.
