AMES — Seems Big 12 coaches remember how they game planned (and often failed) to neutralize ISU’s big-play tight end E.J. Bibbs.
Wednesday, as expected, those same league coaches deemed the 6-3, 261-pound senior first-team all-conference.
Monday, the Associated Press bestowed the same honor on Bibbs, who missed the final two games of the season with a knee injury but still led all power-five conference tight ends in touchdown receptions with eight — one shy of tying the Cyclones’ single-season record.
Bibbs paced ISU with 45 grabs for 382 yards in 2014 and is drawing interest from NFL teams.
The tough junior college transfer from Chicago overcame preseason knee issues to record all eight of his touchdown catches in an eight-game span.
No other Cyclones garnered first- or second-team honors, but senior center Tom Farniok, senior offensive tackle Jacob Gannon, senior defensive end Cory Morrissey and sophomore kicker Cole Netten gained honorable mention all-league status.
Safety Kamari Cotton-Moya earned freshman defensive player of the year honors.
Wide receiver Allen Lazard was also an honorable mention selection for freshman of the year.
Iowa State’s release on the all-conference teams is below:
—-
AMES, Iowa — The Big 12 football coaches selected their All-Big 12 teams this morning, and seven Cyclones were awarded postseason honors for their performance on the field in 2014.
Senior tight end E.J. Bibbs was an All-Big 12 First-Team selection, while senior offensive lineman Jacob Gannon, senior center Tom Farniok, senior defensive end Cory Morrissey and sophomore placekicker Cole Netten earned honorable mention accolades.
Freshman safety Kamari Cotton-Moya was named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and rookie wide receiver Allen Lazard was an honorable mention pick on the all-rookie team.
A native of Chicago, Ill., Bibbs was one of the best tight ends in the nation in 2014, earning a spot as a John Mackey Award semifinalist. Bibbs led all “power 5” tight ends in catches per game (4.5) and caught eight TD passes, one shy from the ISU single-season school record.
Jacob Gannon, a native of Iowa City, Iowa, and Tom Farniok, a native of Sioux Falls, S.D., were both key members of the offensive line in 2014. The duo started at least one game in each of the past four seasons. Farniok ended his career with 47 starts and was on the watch list for the Rimington Award, an award given annually to the nation’s best center. Farniok earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors the last three seasons.
Morrissey, a native of Ames, Iowa, made the honorable mention team for the second-straight season. Morrissey led all ISU down linemen in tackles (52) and posted team-highs in tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (6.0). His 6.0 sacks ties for 10th all-time on ISU’s single-season record chart.
Netten, who hails from Ankeny, Iowa, made 11-of-14 field goals in 2014, tying for the third-best field goal percentage (78.6) in school history. His career 75.0 field goal percentage clip (24-32 FG) is currently No. 1 in the ISU record book. Netten was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week after making the game-winning field goal in the closing seconds of the Iowa game.
Cotton-Moya, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., started 10 games in his freshman season, leading the team in tackles (77) and ranking third on the team in pass breakups (8). He also registered 2.0 TFL and one forced fumble.
Lazard, a native of Urbandale, Iowa, caught 45 passes for 593 yards in his rookie season. Both totals rank second all-time on ISU’s rookie receiving record chart.
