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109 D rew Ott didn't sleep well before his first collegiate football game as a true freshman in 2012. Add three years and 40 pounds, and now his opponents are tossing and turning the night before kickoff. Ott is a University of Iowa senior defensive end from Trumbull, Nebraska. When he arrived in Iowa City, Ott weighed between 235-240 pounds; he is now 275. e last two seasons Ott has started 25 games, recorded 107 tackles and 18 ½ tackles for loss. He laughs when reflecting on the Ott of 2012 compared to the Ott of 2015. "I am more confident and I have more size," he said. "I got man-handled a little (during a 28-17 loss at Northwestern in his first game). Since then I have packed on weight and strength thanks to (strength and conditioning coach Chris) Doyle. I have come a long way." During his junior season of 2014, Ott led the Hawkeyes with eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Compiling those statistics was made easier aer requesting to battle Outland Trophy winner Brandon Scherff every day in practice. Ott started 12 games at le end as a sophomore, then switched to right end as a junior. "If you want to be the best, you have to go against the best," Ott said. "at was a great opportunity. It taught me that I have to come to work every day and I had to be focused every day, otherwise (Scherff ) was going to put me on my butt. I had to rely on my technique because I wasn't going to beat him with power or speed." Ott's confidence soared aer persisting against the best interior lineman in college football. "I viewed Saturday as a day off from him," Ott said. is will be the third consecutive season as a starter for Ott. e two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection was named second-team All-Big Ten by media and honorable mention by coaches aer the 2014 season when the Hawkeyes finished 7-6 and played in the TaxSlayer Bowl. Hawkeye fans think of Ott as one of the top defensive ends in the Big Ten Conference and a shoo-in for an NFL career. Ott jokes that his first two years on campus his name was synonymous with scooters and facial hair. Aer his sophomore season, Ott rode a moped 450 miles on back roads from Iowa City to his home in Nebraska. e trip took 12 hours. On the Monday aer being named Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week against Ball State, Ott was injured in a car-scooter accident. He played five days later against Iowa State. "For my first two years here (I was known) more for my scooter than my football," Ott said. He is also recognized for wild hair styles. During his career, Ott has sported a mullet, Mohawk, and an ultra-full beard. He pledges to keep his hair short this season, but the beard is a different story. "When I was younger I always liked beards, I thought they were manly and made you look a little tougher," Ott said. "I need to look as tough as I can." Ott was named Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year in 2012 aer starring in 8-man football where he seemingly did it all for Giltner High School. His senior season Ott had 122 tackles, 52 pass receptions, two rushing touchdowns, and one passing touchdown. UI assistant coach Reese Morgan recruited Ott and has been his position coach since 2012. "He has great self-confidence, believes in himself and likes the challenge," Morgan said. "He doesn't back away from anything. He thinks he's a better player than some people perceive him to be. He is very humble, competitive, and tough." Ott remembers the day Morgan showed up at Giltner. Ott was liing weights when he noticed a man in an Iowa polo walking in the room.