Iowa State Football: Punter Named on Phil Steele’s All-Big 12 First Team

Nov 17, 2012; Lawrence, KS, USA; Iowa State Cyclones kicker Edwin Arceo (41) kicks a field goal with the help of holder Brett Bueker (8) against the Kansas Jayhawks in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Iowa State won the game 51-23. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Everyone locally knows how important Kirby Van Der Kamp is to the Iowa State football team, and perhaps he’ll finally get the national attention he deserves.

The senior punter was named on the All-Big 12 First Team in Phil Steele’s College Football Preview. Six other Cyclones made it on the other level teams.

Second team:

• Edwin Arceo, kicker

Third team:

• Jeremiah George, linebacker

Fourth team:

• Ernst Brun, tight end
• Tom Farniok, center
• Kyle Lichtenberg, offensive tackle
• Jacques Washington, safety

After struggling with a place kicking unit for so long, it’s a pleasure to see someone like Arceo ranked this high on a preseason team. Extra points were finally no longer an adventure with Arceo nailing 37 of his 40 attempts. He also converted on 12 of 18 field goals.

It’s disappointing to not see one of the running backs on the list, but the Big 12 is loaded in that position this year with plenty of familiar names returning. Damien Williams, John Hubert, Johnathan Gray, and Malcolm Brown are just some of the names Iowa State’s defense will have to slow down this upcoming season, and it will not be easy for a team that ranked 77th in rush defense last season.

An underrated player that should have received a higher ranking is Lichtenberg, read more about the tackle in this depth chart preview of offensive tackles.

[Source: Phil Steele]