Lima named preseason second-team All-American by The Athletic

Nov 24, 2018; Ames, IA, USA; Kansas State Wildcats running back Dalvin Warmack (3) is tackled by Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman Ray Lima (76) at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones beat the Wildcats 42 to 38. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Another day, another preseason honor for Ray Lima.

The Cyclones’ senior nose guard was named a second-team preseason All-American on Tuesday by The Athletic. The honor adds to an already extensive list of offseason recognition Lima has received including being named to the Lott Impact, Wuerffel, Nagurski and Outland Trophy watch lists plus the preseason All-Big 12 team.

The Los Angeles native is widely regarded as one of the biggest keys to Iowa State’s rise to become one of the best defenses in the Big 12 and in all of college football. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound JUCO product has recorded 59 tackles, eight tackles for loss and a pass breakup during his first two years with the program.

Iowa State has not had a defensive lineman finish the season on an All-American team since Mike Stensrud in 1978, somewhat ironically, the last time the Cyclones entered the season ranked in the preseason AP Top-25 — a feat the program accomplished for the second time on Monday when the poll was unveiled with ISU coming in at No. 21.