University of Iowa senior quarterback James Vandenberg was named to the 2012 Davey OโBrien National Quarterback Award watch list which annually recognizes the top quarterback in college football. Former Hawkeyes Chuck Long (1985) and Brad Banks (2002) won the award and Ricky Stanzi was named a semifinalist in 2010. Iowa is one of eight schools nationally to have had two or more individuals capture the award.
Vandenberg, a native of Keokuk, Iowa, started all 13 games under center for the Hawkeyes last year. He completed 237-of-404 pass attempts for 3,022 yards and 25 touchdowns. Only 17 returning players in the FBS threw for more yards than Vandenberg.ย He ranked third in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (232.5), fourth in total offense (237.2) and fifth in pass efficiency (138.5). Vandenberg (6-foot-3, 212) was named to the Capital One/CoSIDA District Six Academic All-America team and is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.ย He is also on the 2012 preseason Maxwell Award and CFPA Quarterback Trophy watch lists.
I would rate him as the best passer in the Big Ten. But who does he model his game on?
“I was just sayin a second ago I think I watch Drew Brees the most, the way heโs able to do things, just over six foot, balance. I think the one thing you notice about him is how balanced he is at all times. He can get the ball out any moment in time. Heโs extremely fun to watch. I saw him when he was at Purdue and really liked him then. I watch him with the Saints, heโs really fun to watch last couple years,” he told me at Big Ten Media Day.
Has anyone ever said James Vandenberg is the next ____?
Not really, I got my own unique player and I think you watch all the good guys Iโve been around the Ricky Stanzis, you watch how they go about their daily business, plus just try to be like them as much as you can. I get to talk to Rick a lot. Weโre great friends. Heโs a great guy and I got to learn so much from him. Itโs helped me along the way.”
Did he have a mentor at Iowa?
“Tyler Nielsen is a guy Iโm really good friends with. Just graduated, got to learn a ton from him over the years. Pat Angerer, somebody I was really good friends with when I was young. Heโs doing great things for the Colts now, been really fortunate to be around a lot of really good players.”
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. Heโs also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Chicago Tribune.com, Fox Sports, Walter Football and Yardbarker
A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and heโs a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter
