Iowa’s offensive line and secondary are getting some preseason shine.
Athlon Sports included three Hawkeyes on its annual preseason All-America teams, with junior offensive lineman Kade Pieper landing on the first team, junior offensive lineman Trevor Lauck on the second team and junior defensive back Zach Lutmer on the fourth team.
Pieper earned the nod after a strong 2025 season at right guard, where he started all 13 games and helped Iowa’s line win the Joe Moore Award. The Norfolk, Neb., native was also a third-team All-Big Ten pick by the media last season. Now the 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman is moving to center to take over for Logan Jones, who was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Lauck made his first full run as a starter last season, locking down left tackle for all 13 games after stepping in for longtime starter Mason Richman. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound tackle was named a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches.
On the defensive side, Lutmer is projected to be a major piece on the back end of Phil Parker’s defense. The 6-foot, 205-pound defensive back started every game at the Cash position and finished with 71 tackles, 10 passes defended, seven pass breakups, 5.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, one sack, one fumble recovery and one defensive touchdown.
Iowa opens its 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 against Northern Illinois at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. CT, and the game will air on the Big Ten Network.
In Other News...
Two Iowa Freshmen Suddenly Have A Real Chance To Matter
Iowas roster turnover has opened a door for two freshmen who arrived with more than just long-term potential. Jaidyn Coon and Ethan Harris were both brought in as four-star recruits, and the Hawkeyes are looking at their size, athleticism and versatility as possible answers while they sort through the departures of Bennett Stirtz, Alvaro Folgueiras and Tavion Banks.
Coon already looks like the kind of wing-forward piece Iowa can plug into a lot of different spots, which matters for a team trying to replace Folgueiras all-around value. Harris brings a different kind of intrigue at 6-foot-9, with enough ball-handling and mobility to give Iowa a mismatch option it will not want to waste, and the early competition for minutes should tell plenty about how quickly both freshmen can matter. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Hawthorne Feels Vital To Iowas Rebuilt Defensive Line
With Iowas defensive line going through significant turnover, Bryce Hawthorne has quickly become one of the more important returning pieces for Phil Parkers group. The South Dakota State transfer brought a steady presence last season and showed enough athleticism to make himself part of the conversation for a bigger role, finishing with 15 tackles, three for loss and an interception while giving the Hawkeyes a glimpse of the stability theyll need up front.
Parker has already pointed to Hawthorne as a player Iowa can lean on, which says plenty about where the line stands heading into the next phase of the rebuild. There is still room for him to sharpen his work against the run and create more disruption through the middle, but the bigger question for Iowa is how much more he can give as a leader while the rest of the rotation takes shape around him. [Read more 🡒]