Senior linebacker Joel Lanning earned Second Team All-American honors from Sports Illustrated after spending time on defense, offense and special teams this season. 

Lanning averaged 9.2 tackles per game, putting him tied at No. 31 in the nation in that category. The Ankeny, Iowa native also had a team-high five sacks to go along with 10 tackles for loss. He also snagged a fumble and interception. 

“The kid [Lanning] has played over 900 snaps of football. That’s unheard of,” said Iowa State coach Matt Campbell in a press release. “He’s as great of a competitor and warrior I have ever been around in this sport. you can’t put into words what Joel has done for this football program and he is one of the best stories in college football. There’s a lot of really good players, but I don’t know if there’s somebody that does more for their team than Joel.”

A Paul Hornung Award Finalist, Lanning’s versatility was highlighted against Oklahoma State when he had five tackles, 0.5 sacks, a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown to Allen Lazard. 

Lanning’s performance against then-No. 3 Oklahoma cemented his name in the Paul Hornung Award list when he had eight tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, 35 rushing yards and 25 passing yards. 

Iowa State and Lanning will take to the field for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Dec. 30, in Memphis, Tennessee, against Memphis.