Tag: Shonn Greene

Adrian Clayborn, Shonn Greene elected to Iowa Hawkeyes Hall of Fame

Two Iowa greats that deserve it.

The legacy of the Iowa Hawkeyes is one that has a continuously running pipeline. They just keep churning out All-Americans and future NFL stars year after year.

Two former Hawkeyes are getting their moment of recognition back home now. Defensive end Adrian Clayborn and running back Shonn Greene are joining the Iowa Hawkeyes Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2024.

Adrian Clayborn played for Iowa from 2006-10 and is among the defensive greats for the Hawkeyes. During his time at Iowa, he was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten player and a consensus All-American in 2010.

Clayborn registered 192 total tackles, 37.5 tackles for loss, and 19 sacks for the Hawkeyes. He went on to be drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft with the 20th overall pick. Clayborn played for 10 seasons, accumulating 208 tackles and 40 total sacks.

Shonn Greene will be known as one of the best running backs to play for Iowa. The 2008 Doak Walker and Jim Brown winner had an illustrious career at Iowa. Greene ran for 2,228 yards and 22 touchdowns in three seasons.

After being named an unanimous All-American and the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2008, Greene was drafted by the New York Jets. He went on to play six years in the NFL amassing over 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Joining Clayborn and Greene as part of Iowa’s 2024 Hall of Fame Class are Mike Boddicker, Sue Bury, Rico Chiapparelli, Laura Dvorak, Kevin Kunnert and Lindsey Meder.

Boddicker was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 1978 for Iowa baseball. Boddicker posted a school-record 0.79 ERA in 1976 and led the team in batting average (.350) in 1978.

He was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth round of the 1978 MLB draft and made his MLB debut on Oct. 4, 1980. During his 11-year MLB career, Boddicker played for the Orioles, the Boston Red Sox, the Kansas City Royals and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Over the course of his career, Boddicker was recognized as the Sporting News Rookie of the Year, as an MLB All-Star selection, as a Gold Glove recipient and was the 1983 American League Championship Series MVP.

Meanwhile, Bury was a two-time first-team All-American (1981, 1982) with Iowa field hockey. She was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 1982, was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team in 1981 and was recognized as part of the Big Ten’s All-Decade Team. Bury helped Iowa win 82 games during her collegiate career, including a school-record 25 games in 1981.

Chiapparelli was a national champion in 1987 at 177 pounds and helped Iowa wrestling win three team NCAA titles (1983, 1985, 1986). He was a three-time All-American and a three-time Big Ten champion.

Dvorak was a four-time first-team All-Big Ten selection with Iowa women’s tennis (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995), was honored as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1992 and was the Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient in 2005. Dvorak won a then-school record 30 matches during her sophomore season and still ranks second in career single victories (102).

Kunnert was a first-team All-American by Helms in 1973 and a two-time second-team All-Big Ten selection (1972, 1973). Kunnert averaged a career double-double at 15.9 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. He had a school-record 48 double-doubles during his time in Iowa City and a school-record 20-plus rebound games.

Lastly, Meder was a three-time All-Big Ten honoree (first team in 2001, 2002; second team in 2000). Meder helped lead Iowa to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths, including the Big Ten Tournament championship in 2001.

She finished her career ranking second in career scoring with 1,906 points and was first in 3-point field goals with 261.

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Iowa Hawkeyes football all-time roster: Offensive starters and backups

See which legends made the cut in our all-time Iowa Hawkeyes football roster, starting with the offensive starters and backups.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have a rich history with some of the game’s titans suiting up in the black and gold. Hawkeyes Wire is taking a look back at Iowa’s finest offensive playmakers, defensive standouts, specialists and coaches from its entire history.

Who makes the cut on Iowa’s all-time offensive two-deep? Which quarterbacks define the Hawkeyes’ history books? How about the running back position? Who has stolen the show in Iowa’s backfield?

Along the skill positions, which wide receivers and tight ends make it among the Hawkeyes’ all-time two deep. Who has been paving the way on Iowa’s offensive line historically? Let’s take a look at the best offensive players in Hawkeyes history.

Check out our other College Wire all-time lineups: Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin

LaDainian Tomlinson: Signing with Jets was ‘the best decision I could have made’

Hall of Fame RB LaDainian Tomlinson says signing with the Jets in 2010 was the best decision he could’ve made for his career at the time.

LaDainian Tomlinson appeared to be entering the twilight zone after rushing for a career-low 730 yards in his last season with the San Diego Chargers.

What happened next is what Tomlinson calls the best decision he could’ve made for his Hall of Fame career, which looked to be on its last legs. After taking a visit with the Minnesota Vikings, Tomlinson decided to sign a two-year deal with Rex Ryan and the New York Jets ahead of the 2010 season.

“The best decision I could have made was signing with the New York Jets at that time,” Tomlinson, now an analyst with NFL Network, said. “I was able to bounce back with a good season. I helped my team get to the AFC Championship Game. I was featured in a national commercial. That season justified my decision to join Rex Ryan and the Jets — forgoing a deal with Minnesota — and that was a great feeling.”

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Tomlinson signed a two-year deal worth $5.1 million and joined the league’s top rushing attack from the season before. He was the veteran presence in the backfield that New York was searching for after parting ways with Thomas Jones, even though Jones rushed for a career-high 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2009. With Shonn Greene emerging as the Jets’ starting running back, Tomlinson was the perfect complement for Ryan’s ground and pound approach.

Tomlinson helped Gang Green to its second AFC Championship Game in as many seasons. He proved that he still had a lot left in the tank, rebounding with 914 yards on 219 carries with six rushing touchdowns in 2010. He also added 52 receptions for 368 yards, playing an important role as a check-down option for then second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Tomlinson played one more season for the Jets before calling it a career. New York gave Tomlinson his final shot at reaching the Super Bowl but fell just short of that mark in 2010. Tomlinson showed his age in 2011, recording just 729 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns.

At the time of his retirement in 2012, Tomlinson compiled 3,174 career rushing attempts for 13,684 yards and 145 rushing touchdowns. As one of the best pass-catching backs of his generation, he caught 624 passes for 4,772 yards and 17 touchdowns. Tomlinson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

Although he will be remembered for what he accomplished in San Diego, including scoring an NFL record 31 total touchdowns in a single season, Tomlinson still looks upon his two-year stint with New York fondly.