Iowa’s offensive line has a familiar kind of buzz around it again, and Kade Pieper is right in the middle of it.
The fourth-year Hawkeye from Norfolk, Neb., has already piled up preseason praise, landing on nearly every All-American team and drawing attention as one of the top offensive linemen in the 2027 NFL Draft class. Now he’s picked up another strong endorsement, this time from a Big Ten Network voice.
Jake Butt, the former Michigan tight end who now works for the network, recently put together his top 10 players in the Big Ten heading into the 2026 season. He slotted Pieper at No. 6 overall in the conference.
"I see a guy that's going to play for a decade plus in the NFL," Butt said. "He's your classic Iowa offensive lineman.
Thick neck, strong back, great leverage, great feet, he does it all right. Don't be shocked to see him go day two, if not day one, in next year's NFL draft."
That kind of praise fits the profile Pieper has built for himself. He’s already being talked about as one of the league’s elite players, not just one of its best linemen.
And Iowa will need him. The Hawkeyes are expected to lean on the offensive line to set the tone early in the season, with Pieper and left tackle Trevor Lauck serving as the anchors. That combination should give whoever wins the quarterback job a much steadier foundation.
The Iowa line factory, in other words, is humming again.
In Other News...
Iowas Week 1 Opponent Just Became A Much Tougher Opener
Northern Illinois suddenly has a different look heading into its 2026 opener against Iowa. Rob Harley has been promoted to interim head coach after Thomas Hammock left for a coaching job with the Seattle Seahawks, putting the Huskies in the hands of a new leader at a time when roster stability can get shaky fast. Harley responded by meeting extensively with players, a crucial step with the transfer portal reopening and the program trying to hold on to as much of its core as possible.
For Iowa, the matchup just picked up a little more intrigue before the calendar even turns to 2026. An opener against a team with coaching change uncertainty can become a lot easier to circle, but it can also get trickier if the new staff keeps the roster together and gets buy-in quickly. Harley's first game in charge will be against the Hawkeyes, and the early test now carries the added weight of a program trying to steady itself while the rest of the country waits to see what survives the transition. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Is Honoring A Hawkeye Lineman Fans Will Never Forget
Iowa is set to add another familiar name to its long line of celebrated linemen, with former offensive tackle Brandon Scherff chosen as the 2026 ANF Wall of Honor recipient. Scherff was one of the defining players of the Hawkeyes 2011-14 run, piling up major individual honors before becoming a top-five NFL draft pick in 2015, and his place on the wall fits the programs decades-long habit of saluting the rugged blockers who have helped shape its identity.
The recognition will come during Iowas game against Ohio State on October 7, giving fans a chance to salute a player whose Iowa career left a lasting mark long before his pro career ended in August 2025. Even in a program built on offensive line pride, Scherff stands out as one of the names supporters remember most clearly, which makes this honor feel less like a formality and more like a nod to a Hawkeye they truly never forgot. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Still Has One Big Offensive Decision Before Northern Illinois
Kirk Ferentz spent part of the week on the Hawkeye Radio Network giving a fuller read on where Iowa stands in practice as the Northern Illinois game approaches, and the quarterback conversation remains the biggest item hanging over the offense. Ferentz also touched on the leadership hes seeing from players, while noting the value of veteran linebackers as the Hawkeyes keep sharpening things for the opener.
The discussion also widened beyond the depth chart, with Ferentz praising Northern Illinois and addressing the decisions by Mason Woods and Ryan Fitzgerald to stay at Iowa. In another notable football-side development, the program announced that the broadcast booth in Kinnick Stadium will be named after Gary Dolphin, adding a familiar voice to the list of Hawkeye staples being recognized around the stadium. [Read more 🡒]