Three Iowa State players – Charlie Kolar (TE), Greg Eisworth (DB) and JaQuan Bailey (DE) – made the 2020 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team, announced today by the Big 12 Conference.
The team was chosen by media representatives who cover the league.
ISU’s three members is tied for fourth in the league. Bailey and Eisworth made the preseason team for the second season in a row.
Without a doubt, Kolar is one of the best tight end targets in the country in 2020, earning second-team All-America accolades by the FWAA and First-Team All-Big 12 kudos after a breakout season in 2019.
A native of Norman, Okla., Kolar was one of eight semifinalists for the award in 2019. He led all Big 12 tight ends in receptions (51), receiving yards (697) and receiving touchdowns (7). His 697 receiving yards broke ISU’s season record for tight ends and ranked sixth nationally among FBS tight ends.
Kolar had five 70-yard receiving games in 2019 and 36 of his 51 catches went for first downs or touchdowns.
Pro Football Focus rates Kolar as the top returning tight end in the nation. He had the third-best overall grade (85.5%) for a tight end by PFF a year ago.
Kolar, who was also a first-team Academic All-American, has 10 career touchdown catches to tie for fourth among active FBS tight ends.
Eisworth is a two-time first-team All-Big 12 recipient, joining a list of just four Cyclones who have earned first-team honors by the Big 12 twice in their respective careers.
The team captain and 2018 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year tallied 65 tackles and 3.5 TFL in 2019 despite seeing limited playing time due to a shoulder injury.
Eisworth led the team and ranked sixth in the Big 12 in passes defended (11) in 2019 and has three double-digit tackle games in his career, including a career-high 15 vs. Iowa in 2019.
A native of Grand Prairie, Texas, Eisworth has 152 tackles, 15 pass breakups, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in his outstanding career.
Bailey is one of the greatest defensive ends in school history. The two-time All-Big 12 selection, including a second-teamer in 2018, is currently tied with Shawn Moorehead for the most career sacks in Iowa State history (18.5). His 18.5 career sacks ranks third among active NCAA FBS players.
Bailey was able to secure a redshirt in 2019 after playing in just four games before suffering a season-ending injury
A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Bailey has started in 37 games in his Cyclone career. His 31.5 career TFL ranks fifth in school history and is 2.5 shy from the school record.
In 2018, Bailey led the team and ranked fourth in the Big 12 in sacks (8.0), the third-best season total in school history. He also led the team in TFL, registering the ninth-best season total in the Cyclone record book at 14.5.