By Tyler Devine

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Tyler Linderbaum’s senior season in football has been special so far and it just keeps getting better.

In addition to leading the Class 3A top-ranked Solon Spartans, Linderbaum recently accepted an invitation to play in the prestigious 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 6 in San Antonio, Texas.

The 6-foot-2, 255-pound defensive lineman is the first Solon native to be selected for the game, and Linderbaum looks forward to the competition that it will present.

“It’s very cool," Linderbaum said. "It’s a very prestigious bowl, so to be honored and to be able to play in it and represent my community is pretty awesome.

“There’s going to be really good competition down there so going against good competition is going to help me out. It’s just going to be nice representing the Hawkeyes down there.”

Linderbaum’s selection marks the second consecutive year in which at least one Iowa commit has participated in the game.

Iowa freshmen offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs, a native of Mount Vernon,  and freshman defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa, a native of Edwardsville, Ill., both played in last year's game..

The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Wirfs and the 6-foot-5, 270-pound Epenesa were ranked by Rivals as four- and five star recruits, respectively, while Linderbaum is a high three-star prospect.

Linderbaum's stock could rise with his selection to the all-star game, but he isn't concerned about getting attention from other schools.

“I’m set on the Hawkeyes, so if other teams do come talking it won’t change my decision,” said Linderbaum, who also starts at center for Solon, along with being a standout wrestler and baseball player.

Linderbaum’s physical frame and his demeanor are reminiscent of past Iowa defensive linemen such as Mitch King, Matt Kroul and Mike Daniels.

Having grown up as an Iowa fan, Linderbaum enjoys being mentioned in the same sentence with former Iowa stars, but he also looks forward to carving his own path as a Hawkeye and making a name for himself.

“I’ve heard of those guys and watched some of their plays and stuff,” Linderbaum said. “I feel like I’m pretty unique in my own way with my athletic ability. I do see some resemblance to my game with those guys and I think that’s pretty cool to be compared to some of those guys.”

Linderbaum has  paid close attention to Daniels, who plays for the Green Bay Packers, and current Iowa senior defensive tackle Nathan Bazata in order to learn more about the position. 

Daniels and Bazata both came to Iowa with small frames and few accolades, unlike Linderbaum, but made a name for themselves at Iowa.

Daniels was a two-star recruit from Blackwood, N.J. whose only other scholarship offer was from Temple.

Daniels now is the centerpiece of the Green Bay Packers’ defensive line.

Bazata was a three-star recruit from Howells, Neb. whose only other offer was from South Dakota State.

The 6-foot-2, 287-pound Bazata said on Tuesday that he feels like a smaller frame may be an advantage for a defensive tackle from a leverage standpoint.

“I agree with that,” Linderbaum said. ”You see a lot of successful defensive tackles that might be only 6-foot just because of that pad level and leverage and they’re built pretty big up in the chest. So I totally agree with that. A lot of the success that defensive tackles have to beat the man is stay low and play with leverage.”

Linderbaum is also a Packers fan and has seen enough of Daniels to know that he is a player to admire and respect.

“Mike Daniels is a stud,” Linderbaum said.

Iowa currently has 13 players committed to its 2018 recruiting class.

Iowa's 2018 recruiting class

Dillon Doyle, LB, 6-3, 215, Iowa City

Samson Evans, ATH, 6-1, 190, Crystal Lake, Ill.

Henry Geil, RB, 6-0, 211, Green Bay, Wis.

Cody Ince, OL, 6-5, 260, Balsam Lake, Wis.

Jeff Jenkins, OL, 6-4, 272, Crystal Lake, Ill.

D.J. Johnson DB, 6-0, 170, Indianapolis, Ind.

Tyler Linderbaum, DL, 6-2, 255, Solon

Jack Plumb, Ol, 6-8, 245, Green Bay, Wis.

Terry Roberts, DB, 5-10, 169, Erie, Pa.

Anthony Torres, TE, 6-6, 235, Mishawaka, Ind.

Noah Shannon, DL, 6-2, 285, Oswego, Ill.

Tyrone Tracy, ATH, 6-0, 187, Indianapolis, Ind.

Julius Brents, DB, 6-2, 179, Indianapolis, Ind.