Rick Brown

ribrown@dmreg.com

Kirk Ferentz has had several players honored as the nation's best at their position during his 16 seasons as Iowa's football coach.

Quarterback Brad Banks won the Davey O'Brien Award, placekicker Nate Kaeding the Lou Groza Award and tight end Dallas Clark the John Mackey Award in 2002. Offensive tackle Robert Gallery won the Outland Trophy in 2003. And running back Shonn Greene was presented the Doak Walker Award in 2008.

Senior offensive tackle Brandon Scherff had his name added to that list Thursday when he was awarded the 2014 Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman. The announcement was made during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

"Coming to Iowa, and their offensive line tradition there, sending people to the NFL and being known as tough, physical guys, that's what I want to be known for," Scherff said after winning the award.

Scherff became Iowa's fourth winner of the Outland Trophy. He was preceded by Gallery, Alex Karras (1957) and Calvin Jones (1955). The presentation banquet will be Jan. 15 in Omaha, Neb., just 75 miles from Scherff's hometown of Denison.

Named the Big Ten's Rimington-Pace offensive lineman of the year on Dec. 1, Scherff also became the third native Iowan to win the Outland. Gallery is from Masonville. Chad Hennings, who won in 1987 as a senior at the Air Force, is from Elberon. Hennings' high school coach at Benton of Van Horne was Reese Morgan, an Iowa assistant the last 15 years. Morgan also coached Gallery and Scherff at Iowa before switching his coaching duties to the defensive line in 2012.

The Walter Camp Foundation, USA Today and CBSsportsline.com all named Scherff to their first-team all-American squads Thursday.

Scherff became the 12th Iowa player to be named to an all-American team under Ferentz. He joins Riley Reiff, Adrian Clayborn, Bryan Bulaga, Pat Angerer, Greene, Kaeding, Gallery, Eric Steinbach, Bruce Nelson, Clark and Banks.

"Brandon is clearly one of the most exceptional players I have had the pleasure of working with during my 25 years at Iowa and six in the NFL," Ferentz said. "He comes from a great family that knows about hard work and dedication. Congratulations to Brandon and his entire family."