Iowa’s preseason honors are already stacking up, and three names keep popping up: Kade Pieper, Trevor Lauck and Zach Lutmer.
Pieper and Lauck were central pieces of Iowa’s offensive front last season, and both are back after starting for the first time a year ago. Pieper is moving into the center spot this season after playing right guard last year, while Lauck returns at left tackle. Lutmer, meanwhile, is expected to keep moving around the defensive backfield, with most of his work coming at free safety or CASH.
The first wave of recognition came from Phil Steele, who named Pieper a First-Team All-American and Lutmer a third-team selection. Steele also put Pieper on his first-team All-Big Ten list, while Lutmer and Lauck landed on the second team. Kicker Eli Ozick was named third-team, and tight end DJ Vonnahme was placed on the fourth team.
Athlon Sports followed on Monday with its own preseason teams. Pieper again earned first-team All-American status, Lauck was placed on the second team and Lutmer on the fourth.
On the conference side, Pieper, Lauck and Lutmer were all first-team All-Big Ten picks. Vonnahme made the second team, while defensive tackle Bryce Hawthorne, cornerback Deshaun Lee and running back Kamari Moulton were each listed on the fourth team.
Then on Tuesday, the Walter Camp Foundation added another first-team All-American nod for Pieper.
Last season showed why these three are drawing so much attention. Pieper and Lauck were steady, important parts of the Joe Moore Award-winning Iowa offensive line, with both making their first starts.
Pieper closed the year as a PFF first-team All-American and also picked up third-team All-Big Ten recognition from the media and honorable mention honors from the coaches. He also chose to return to Iowa City despite the chance to be an early-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Lauck earned third-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and honorable mention from the media.
Lutmer put together a big season of his own, finishing with second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and third-team recognition from the media. He also won Iowa’s Roy Carver Most Valuable Player on defense after posting 71 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack, seven pass-breakups and three interceptions, including a pick-six against Minnesota.
All three are set to be part of Iowa’s player council this fall. Lutmer will also represent the program at Big Ten Media Days in late June, along with Addison Ostrenga and Jayden Montgomery.
The NFL buzz is already there, too. CBS Sports’ Mike Renner has both Lutmer and Pieper projected as first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft next spring, with Lutmer going to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 13 and Pieper landing with the Baltimore Raves at No. 29.
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