Iowa State football's Xavier Hutchinson, Will McDonald are three-time first-team all-Big 12 selections
Xavier Hutchinson and Will McDonald became part of a select group of Iowa State football stars Wednesday. They joined Charlie Kolar and Greg Eisworth as the school's only three-time all-Big 12 selections by the coaches.
Cyclones on the second team were tight end/fullback Jared Rus, center Trevor Downing, and defensive backs Anthony Johnson Jr., and T.J. Tampa.
Hutchinson, one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award that recognizes college football’s top receiver, broke his own school record with 107 receptions in 2022. He led the nation in receptions and in receptions per game (8.9) this season. He caught at least eight passes in 11 of 12 games during his final season.
More:How Xavier Hutchinson went from a minor high school recruit to a college star
His brilliant three-season resume includes breaking the school’s career record for receptions (254), and a school-record 13 games with 100 or more receiving yards.
“I’m most grateful for his approach to how he’s gone about his business in terms of his own process,” said Iowa State coach Matt Campbell. “We talk a lot about perfecting yourself and becoming the best version of yourself, and part of that is having a process to do that day in and day out. Xavier has been fantastic at that.”
McDonald, an All-American last season, finished his brilliant career with 34 sacks, tying the Big 12 record of Texas Tech’s Aaron Hunt. He listed on some 2023 mock NFL drafts as a first- or second-rounder.
“The transformational growth in Will as a human being is far greater than anything he’s done for us on the football field,” Campbell said. “What he’s accomplished as a man, what he’s done in terms of academically and socially, and really, what he’s going to become when he leaves here – those are going to be the things I’m probably most proud of.
“He’s been a great football player but a way greater human being. That smile he walks in with 90% of the time, and what he’s become as a man – I’m well beyond proud of him.”
TCU quarterback Max Duggan, of Council Bluffs, was the Big 12’s offensive player of the year after leading his team to a 12-0 record.
Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson embarked on his 50th year of writing sports for the Des Moines Register in December 2021. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, 515-284-8132, and on Twitter @RandyPete.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Three-time all-Big 12 selections for Iowa State's McDonald, Hutchinson
