Iowa’s offensive line got another big preseason spotlight this week, and Kade Pieper was right at the center of it.
The fourth-year Hawkeye has been showing up on just about every major preseason All-America list, and the Associated Press added its stamp of approval as well. Pieper was named an AP Preseason All-American, giving him another major honor in what has already been a busy offseason.
He’s already landed preseason All-America recognition from Walter Camp, On3, and Athlon Sports. With the AP selection, Pieper stands out as the only Iowa player to make the list this season. Trevor Lauck and Zach Lutmer did not get in.
The recognition fits the kind of season Pieper put together last year. He started all 13 games at right guard for Iowa and earned first-team All-American honors from Pro Football Focus (PFF) along with third-team All-Big Ten recognition from the conference media. At 6-foot-3 and 298 pounds, he’s now making a position switch this fall, moving to center after Rimington Award winner Logan Jones headed to the NFL.
Pieper won’t be making that transition alone. He and Lauck are set to lead an Iowa front that’s trying to repeat as Joe Moore Award winners, and Pieper will also be trying to boost his NFL draft stock with another strong season. If he follows up his 2025 performance with another big year in 2026, there’s a real chance he could add his name to the list of Iowa first-round picks.
That’s been the story line at Iowa for years under Kirk Ferentz: the Hawkeyes keep producing standout offensive linemen. Pieper’s latest preseason honor is just the latest reminder that trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
In Other News...
Iowa Fans Should Watch These Offensive Sleepers Very Closely
The conversation around Iowas offense is already shifting toward the next wave, and there are a few young names worth keeping on the radar as the program looks ahead to 2026. Freshman quarterback Tradon Bessinger, running back Xavier Williams, receiver Dayton Howard, tight ends DJ Vonnahme and Addison Ostrenga, and offensive lineman Michael Myslinski all sit in that category of players whose paths to playing time could open if development continues the way Iowa hopes.
What makes the group interesting is the variety of ways each could fit. Williams and Howard bring the kind of skill-position upside fans tend to track first, while Vonnahme and Ostrenga give the tight end room more potential depth, and Myslinski could matter up front if the line needs more help. For Iowa, the bigger question is not just which of these players flashes, but which ones are ready when the opportunity finally arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Already Faces A March Question Ben McCollum Must Answer
Iowas place in ESPNs updated bracketology says plenty about where Ben McCollums first Hawkeyes team stands in the national picture. Projected as a No. 10 seed in the South Region against Miami, Iowa is sitting in that uneasy middle ground where a promising start is enough to keep the conversation going, but not enough to make anyone comfortable yet. McCollum has a returning roster to work with, and the offseason additions of guard TyReek Coleman and center Andrew McKeever give the group more pieces to lean on as the season starts to take shape.
The bigger question for Iowa is the one that comes with being listed among the last four byes, because bubble teams rarely get the luxury of coasting into March. McCollum will have to prove quickly that this roster can handle the pressure that comes with those close calls, especially once the schedule tightens and the margin for error shrinks. For now, the Hawkeyes are in the mix, but the path from projected tournament team to a secure one is still being written. [Read more 🡒]
Dallas Clark Just Strengthened Iowas Claim To Tight End U
Iowas reputation as Tight End U just picked up another notable boost with Dallas Clark joining the 12-member selection committee for the John Mackey Award, the honor given annually to the nations top tight end. Clark remains one of the programs defining names at the position, a consensus All-American who helped set the standard in Iowa City before moving on to a first-round NFL career that included a Super Bowl ring and a Pro Bowl nod.
The committee itself is stocked with former NFL players, award winners and other football professionals, which only adds to the prestige of Clarks new role. For Hawkeye fans, it is another reminder of how deeply Iowas tight end lineage runs, and how often the programs best players continue shaping the conversation around the position long after their college careers end. [Read more 🡒]