AMES — Iowa State University quarterback Joel Lanning of Ankeny and senior linebacker Kane Seeley of Perry are both teammates and roommates. Earlier this week the pair learned they would share something else, as Lanning was named the offensive and Seeley the defensive recipient of the Bill Dailey Unsung Hero Award at the Cyclone football team banquet.
Seeley finished his final collegiate season tied for the team lead in tackles with 78. He also recorded the first safety by the ISU defense since 2006.
The former Bluejay standout appeared in every game possible during his college career and finished with 155 tackles (79 solo, 76 assisted), eight tackles for a loss, two sacks, an interception, two passes defender and two forced fumbles. Along with his safety (against Kansas State) Seeley returned a kick off against West Virginia for seven yards. As a junior he caught a pass on a fake punt and gained five yards to convert a first down against West Virginia in Morgantown, WV.
Seeley’s career has also been one of noted success in the classroom. He graduated last December and has been taking post-graduate classes. A four-time Big 12 All-Academic choice, Seeley was named to the First Team on said list as a freshman, junior and senior as a Second Team honoree as a sophomore.
He was chosen this year to be the football team representative for ISU on the Iowa Farm Bureau’s “Farm Strong” team, which salutes a combination of academic success, volunteer efforts and leadership. Seeley was also a national semifinalist for the William Campbell trophy, considered the “Academic Heisman.”
