Caleb Bacon

Awards & Honors Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List (2023) Burlsworth Trophy Nominee (2023) CSC Academic All-District (2023) Academic All-Big 12 First Team (2022, '23) Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (S22, F22, S23, F23, S24, F24, S25) Nick Bassett Perseverance Award (2025) Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Award (2024-25) 2024 Started opener against North Dakota but season came to an end via injury suffered on special teams in the game ... switched jersey from No. 50 to No. 26 prior to season to honor former Cyclone Jack Whitver, a walk-on who played under Dan McCarney and was diagnosed with a brain tumor in early 2024. 2023 Former walk-on earned a scholarship after a strong season ... played all 13 games as a reserve linebacker, finishing second on the team with 60 tackles ... had 6.5 tackles for a loss and 3.0 sacks ... also had eight quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and one forced fumble ... averaged 7.7 tackles per game over the season's final three games ... had season-high eight tackles against Texas and Memphis ... forced a fumble on special teams at BYU that was recovered by Drew Surges ... had six solo tackles against Kansas State. 2022 Played in 10 games, exclusively on special teams ... finished with three tackles, all on kickoff team. 2021 Redshirted High School Named IPSWA and Des Moines Register first team all-state in Class A as a senior … was a two-time all-state selection by the IPSWA … the 2020 Mason City Globe Gazette Defensive Player of the Year … two-time district player of the year … 2021 Iowa Shrine Bowl participant … team finished 5-4 and made the playoffs as a senior … led Class A in tackles (103) and solo tackles (90) in 2020 … also had 7.0 TFL, two interceptions and one fumble recovery … as a junior, registered 92 tackles, including 77 solo stops, 7.5 sacks and 21.5 TFL … posted 46 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 6.5 TFL as a sophomore … also a standout in basketball, earning third-team all-state in Class 1A as a senior … had only walk-on offers from Iowa State and Western Illinois out of high school … scholarship offers were from Grand View, Graceland, St. Thomas, Wayne State and Waldorf ... coached by Bill Byrnes. Personal Agricultural business major.