ISU Athletics Communications
A pair of Iowa State newcomers were honored today by the Big 12 Conference in freshman running back Mike Warren and junior nose guard Demond Tucker.
Warren was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and Tucker earned Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors.
For the second year in a row, an Iowa State rookie was honored by the Big 12 Conference for their auspicious debuts on the gridiron.
Warren, who led all NCAA freshman rushers with 1,339 yards, joins safety Kamari Cotton-Moya as recent Cyclones to win the league’s top honor for a freshman. Cotton-Moya was the 2014 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.
Iowa State’s improved running attack was the result of Warren’s outstanding play in 2015. Warren saw limited action in the first two games, but burst onto the national scene in week three when he rushed for 126 yards in his first career start against Toledo.
Warren racked up six 100-yard efforts in the final 10 games of the year, tying for the eighth-most 100-yard games in a season in ISU history.
Warren set the school’s freshman single-game rushing mark with 245 yards at Texas Tech, the second-best total by a FBS rookie this year and the eighth-best single-game performance in Cyclone history.
His 1,339 yards on the season ranks fifth all-time in the Iowa State record book and is the third-best tally by a Big 12 rookie in league history.
Warren, who was added to the Doak Walker Award watch list in midseason, also broke ISU’s school record for yards per carry at 5.90.
Tucker, a native of Hazelhurst, Miss., was a force all season at nose guard, racking up 28 tackles, 13.0 TFL and 6.0 sacks. His 13.0 TFL led the team, was second among all Big 12 interior defensive linemen and tied for the 10th-best season total in school history.
Tucker’s 6.0 sacks was second on the team and tied for 11th on ISU’s season list.
Tucker was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after registering career highs in tackles (eight), TFL (4.0), sacks (2.0) and forced fumbles (one) vs. Oklahoma State. He tallied a TFL in nine of 12 games played.
Tucker is the first Cyclone to win Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors since David Sims in 2009.
A pair of Iowa State newcomers were honored today by the Big 12 Conference in freshman running back Mike Warren and junior nose guard Demond Tucker.
Warren was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and Tucker earned Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors.
For the second year in a row, an Iowa State rookie was honored by the Big 12 Conference for their auspicious debuts on the gridiron.
Warren, who led all NCAA freshman rushers with 1,339 yards, joins safety Kamari Cotton-Moya as recent Cyclones to win the league’s top honor for a freshman. Cotton-Moya was the 2014 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.
Iowa State’s improved running attack was the result of Warren’s outstanding play in 2015. Warren saw limited action in the first two games, but burst onto the national scene in week three when he rushed for 126 yards in his first career start against Toledo.
Warren racked up six 100-yard efforts in the final 10 games of the year, tying for the eighth-most 100-yard games in a season in ISU history.
Warren set the school’s freshman single-game rushing mark with 245 yards at Texas Tech, the second-best total by a FBS rookie this year and the eighth-best single-game performance in Cyclone history.
His 1,339 yards on the season ranks fifth all-time in the Iowa State record book and is the third-best tally by a Big 12 rookie in league history.
Warren, who was added to the Doak Walker Award watch list in midseason, also broke ISU’s school record for yards per carry at 5.90.
Tucker, a native of Hazelhurst, Miss., was a force all season at nose guard, racking up 28 tackles, 13.0 TFL and 6.0 sacks. His 13.0 TFL led the team, was second among all Big 12 interior defensive linemen and tied for the 10th-best season total in school history.
Tucker’s 6.0 sacks was second on the team and tied for 11th on ISU’s season list.
Tucker was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after registering career highs in tackles (eight), TFL (4.0), sacks (2.0) and forced fumbles (one) vs. Oklahoma State. He tallied a TFL in nine of 12 games played.
Tucker is the first Cyclone to win Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors since David Sims in 2009.
