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Three B1G players make Sports Illustrated’s All-Bowl Team
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Sports Illustrated put together a team of the top performers from the 2018-19 bowl season and three B1G players earned mentions for their efforts.
Iowa defensive back Jake Gervase Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth and Michigan State punter William Przystup were all named to the All-Bowl Team following the postseason. There is just one game that remains, that being Monday’s national title showdown between No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Clemson.
Penn State and Michigan State both lost tight contests in their bowl games while Iowa pulled through late. The Nittany Lions fell to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl while Michigan dropped the Redbox Bowl to Oregon. The Hawkeyes knocked off Mississippi State in the Outback Bowl.
Sports Illustrated explained why each player made the All-Bowl Team.
On Penn State’s Freiermuth:
Freiermuth was the only tight end during the entire bowl season to catch a touchdown pass, hauling in an 18-yard strike from Trace McSorley in the fourth quarter. Penn State’s late rally from a 20-point deficit ultimately fell short against Kentucky, but the Nittany Lions have a promising underclassman who should be a top target for 2019 starting quarterback Tommy Stevens.
On Iowa’s Gervase:
Gervase made a couple of key plays in the fourth quarter against Mississippi State. His interception of Nick Fitzgerald in the end zone helped keep the Hawkeyes clinging to a five-point lead, and then he batted down the Bulldogs’ last-gasp pass on fourth down with less than a minute to go to seal the win.
While Sports Illustrated did mention Przystup, he shared the honor with the Oregon punters and didn’t receive as much recognition.
To view the full All-Bowl Team, visit Sports Illustrated.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB