The Sporting News Recognizes 3 Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Three University of Iowa football players -- graduate center Logan Jones, graduate return specialist Kaden Wetjen and senior left guard Beau Stephens -- were recognized Wednesday as All-Americans by The Sporting News.

Jones and Wetjen are first-team honorees, while Stephens is a second-team selection. Wetjen is a two-time All-American by The Sporting News (second team in 2024; first team in 2025).

The Sporting News is one of five outlets recognized by the NCAA to determine consensus All-Americans (Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp, American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press). The Hawkeyes have had three Sporting News All-Americans each of the last three years (2023, 2024, 2025).

Jones and Stephens anchor Iowa’s offensive line, which is a finalist for the Joe Moore Award. Their protection has helped quarterback Mark Gronowski break school single-season records for rushing yards (491) and rushing touchdowns (15) by a quarterback. The Hawkeyes have out-rushed their opponents nine times in 2025, compiling 245 yards in the victory over Penn State and rushing for 310 yards in the win over UAlbany. The unit helped Iowa gain more than 200 yards in five games and the line surrendered just 16 sacks.

Jones has already earned first-team All-America distinction from Walter Camp, AP and AFCA, as well as being named the recipient of the 2025 Rimington Trophy. The nation’s top center anchors Iowa's offensive line, which is a Joe Moore Award finalist. Also a first-team All-Big Ten honoree and Outland Trophy finalist, Jones started 50 career games and has served as a game captain all 12 games this season. The native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, is the top-rated center in the country by Pro Football Focus and has not been flagged for an offensive holding penalty in 2025. Jones was the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week on the weekend of Oct. 25 following Iowa’s 41-3 convincing victory over Minnesota.

Wetjen was honored as a first-team All-American by Walter Camp last week and is the first two-time recipient of the Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year Award. He also earned first-team all-conference honoree by both the coaches and media. Wetjen, who is a Jet Award finalist, leads the nation with 965 combined kick return yards (by 260 yards), while also ranking first in punt return yards (28.3). The Williamsburg, Iowa, native was a three-time Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week in 2025. He is the only Big Ten player to record at least three punt returns and one kickoff return for a score in the same season. Wetjen returned a 100-yard kickoff for a touchdown at Rutgers, and had punt return scores of 95 yards (UMass), 62 yards (Michigan State) and 50 yards (Minnesota) this season. His 28.3 career punt return average is currently tops in Big Ten history and the three punt return scores are tied for third-most in a single season in league annals.

Stephens, who started all 12 games, has already been recognized as a first-team All-American by the AP and earned second-team laurels by The Sporting News. He was a first-team all-conference selection by Big Ten coaches. The Blue Springs, Missouri, native is a two-year starter, starting all 33 games played in 2024 and 2025.

The 2025 FWAA teams will be announced Thursday, with consensus All-Americans confirmed on Friday.

No. 23 Iowa will face No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31, in Tampa, Florida. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. (CT) from Raymond James Stadium.

2025 IOWA POSTSEASON ALL-AMERICA NATIONAL HONORS
LOGAN JONES: Rimington Trophy, Walter Camp, AP, AFCA, Sporting News, USA Today, The Athletic, PFF (First Team); CBS (Second Team)
BEAU STEPHENS: AP, USA Today, PFF (First Team); Sporting News, On3 (Second Team)
KADEN WETJEN: Walter Camp, Sporting News, USA Today, On3, PFF (First Team); AFCA (Second Team)
KADE PIEPER: PFF (First Team)