James Daniels named to Rimington Trophy Watch List

[Blair Sanderson]

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa junior center James Daniels has been named to the 2017 Rimington Trophy Spring Watch List. The announcement was made Monday by the Rimington Trophy Committee. The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I college football.

Daniels (6-foot-4, 295-pounds) started at center in all 11 games in which he played in 2016, missing two games due to injury. He was named a first team Sophomore All-American by Campus Insiders, was second team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports, and third team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media.

Daniels, a native of Warren, Ohio (Harding HS), saw action in all 14 games as a true freshman in 2015, with two starts at left guard, as the Hawkeyes won the Big Ten West Division. He is one of seven Big Ten candidates on this year’s Rimington list.

Daniels has helped the Hawkeyes post 20 wins over the last two seasons. The Iowa offensive line earned the Joe Moore Award last season as the best offensive line in college football.

The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I College Football. Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy has raised over $2.9 million for the cystic fibrosis community. The award is overseen by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis and has raised over $130 million for the fight against cystic fibrosis.

Dave Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982. For more on the Rimington Trophy and a list of past recipients, visit rimingtontrophy.com.

Former Iowa center Austin Blythe was one of three finalists for the 2015 Rimington Award.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Good news.
I've been enamored of his athletic ability for a lineman from his first snaps on field.
If he stays healthy, he has a good shot at being another in the list of highly regarded U of I O-lineman and possible 1st rounder in the draft.

 

[percyland]

It's seems like if Iowa can get a 4-star OL they just flourish in this program. I know what Iowa can do with the underrated OL kids and turn them into pros.

But it almost seems easy when you get kids like Daniels, Bulaga etc. The kid who went to Alabama instead of Iowa would have been another for sure thing but can't blame the kid for going to Bama.

 

[KujawaFan]

I think he has a chance if we have a decent year as will be run based in arguably the best conference in the country. What main awards of Kirk are missing during his time? Obviously Heisman (although Banks was second), Rimington (although Blythe third), Billitnekoff for reliever and Guy for punter. But just under Ferentz we have the Maxwell (Banks), Unitas (Banks), Outland twice (Gallery and Sherff), Thorpe (King), Mackey (Clark), Doak Walker (Greene), Groza (Kaeding). I am sure there are others but that is a spectacular run under Kirk. Love to know schools with more winners and also with more diversity of winners by position.

 

[Hawkeyeinsoutherncalifornia]

NOW THAT IS SOME WONDERFUL NEWS! And only a sophomore! Watch out BT Defensive lineman.. the big bad bulldozer is coming through with wadley following him oh so close as he breaks off some sick runs LONG runs in 2017/18

 

[pacnorthhawkeye]

NOW THAT IS SOME WONDERFUL NEWS! And only a sophomore! Watch out BT Defensive lineman.. the big bad bulldozer is coming through with wadley following him oh so close as he breaks off some sick runs LONG runs in 2017/18

Junior.

 

[Hawkeyeinsoutherncalifornia]

Thanks PAC

Junior.