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Drew Ott no doubt was surprised when he heard the Parade All-America news.

And that might have been putting it mildly.

"Just really shocked, actually," Ott said. "I can't believe they looked at me for that award."

The linebacker from Giltner, Neb., on Sunday was officially announced as part of the 49th annual Parade All-America football team. The team is featured in the Parade Magazine pullout in the Sunday World-Herald.

The circumstances are what make his selection unusual.

Ott played eight-man football at Giltner, which competes in Nebraska's smallest class. And in the history of the Parade All-America team, Scott Frost of Wood River is the only other Nebraskan selected from outside of Omaha and Lincoln.

"It says a lot for what he did," Giltner coach Jeff Ashby said.

Ott was an honorary captain on The World-Herald All-Nebraska team and named the state's Gatorade player of the year. The 6-foot-4, 245-pounder plans to sign with Iowa on Feb. 1 and will likely move to defensive end.

Over four seasons with Giltner, Ott was credited with making 626 total tackles.

"That kind of opens some eyes," Ashby said.

Ott is among the 18 offensive and defensive linemen listed together on the All-America team. That bunch also includes offensive lineman Andrus Peat, a Nebraska recruiting target and highly touted prospect from Tempe, Ariz.

Ott had about a half-dozen Division I scholarship offers, including after every camp he attended but at Nebraska. After committing to Iowa, he canceled unofficial summer visits to Wisconsin, Michigan and Notre Dame.

"Once he got to Iowa — and really liked the coaching staff and the way they treated him and the way they were very honest with him — he fell in love with the place," Ashby said. "And at that time he just quit and he was done."

Ott said he has been working on his speed and agility this winter, but he's holding off on heavy lifting because of basketball. If he can show the Hawkeye staff how well he can run, Ashby said, "maybe he can talk them into staying at linebacker."

"It just really matters what they want to do with me," Ott said.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com

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