5 Hawkeyes Named AP All-Big Ten

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Five University of Iowa football student-athletes --Logan Jones, Beau Stephens, Kaden Wetjen, Gennings Dunker and Aaron Graves -- have been named Associated Press All-Big Ten selections, it was announced Tuesday by the AP.

Jones, Stephens and Wetjen were first team selections, while Dunker and Graves were recognized on the second team by the voting panel of 24 media members who cover the conference. Iowa was the only school with three offensive linemen honored.

Wetjen (5-foot-9, 196 pounds) earned AP All-Big Ten First Team honors for a second straight year as the all-purpose selection. The native of Williamsburg, Iowa, became the first two-time recipient of the Big Ten’s Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year Award since the award was introduced in 2015. Wetjen also earned first-team all-conference accolades by both the league coaches and media. 

The 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). He was a three-time Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week in 2025. Wetjen is the only Big Ten player to record at least three punt returns and one kickoff return for a score in the same season. Hereturned 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 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.

Jones (6-foot-3, 302 pounds) anchors Iowa's offensive line, which is a Joe Moore Award finalist.  The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native is an Outland Trophy and Rimington Trophy finalist and he earned first-team All-Big Ten laurels by the league coaches and media. Jones, who has started 50 career games and has served as a game captain all 12 games this season, 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’ protection, along with the rest of the line, has helped quarterback Mark Gronowski break school single-season records for rushing yards (491) and rushing touchdowns (15) by a quarterback.  Jones, who was honored on the AP All-Big Ten Second Team a year ago, was the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week on the weekend of Oct. 25 following Iowa’s 41-3 victory over Minnesota.

Stephens (6-foot-5, 315 pounds) has started 17 straight games, dating back to last season, and 33 contests overall at left guard. He was a first-team all-conference selection by league coaches and named to the second team by the media last week. 

Dunker (6-foot-5, 315 pounds) started all 12 games in 2025 and 37 overall at right tackle. This marks the second consecutive season that the native of Lena, Illinois, was an AP Second Team All-Big Ten selection. 

Graves (6-foot-5, 295 pounds) has been a dominant defensive force and exceptional scholar-athlete, recording 36 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception in 12 starts in 2025. The team captain and William V. Campbell Trophy finalist graduated with highest distinction in 2024 after completing his bachelor’s degree in exercise science in just two years with a 4.03 GPA, and is on track to complete his master’s degree in sport and recreation management in December. Graves was also a second team all-conference honoree by league coaches and media last week.

The 23rd-ranked Hawkeyes (8-4) face No. 14 Vanderbilt (10-2) at the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida on Dec. 31. Fans can book travel packages to Tampa through Destinations Limited.