3 Hawkeyes Named SN Preseason All-Americans

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Three University of Iowa football student-athletes have been named to The Sporting News 2026 Preseason All-America teams, it was announced on Thursday. Fourth-year center Kade Pieper earned first-team honors, while third-year tight end DJ Vonnahme and fourth-year defensive back Zach Lutmer were selected to the second team.

Pieper, a 2026 Walter Camp Preseason first-team All-American and Outland Trophy candidate, started all 13 games at guard in 2025 and is coming off a breakout campaign where he earned Pro Football Focus first-team All-America and third-team All-Big Ten accolades. He was a cornerstone of an Iowa offensive line that took home the prestigious Joe Moore Award in 2025. Behind Pieper and the front five, the Hawkeyes outrushed their opponents in nine of 13 contests a year ago. Additionally, Iowa’s protection unit surrendered an average time-to-pressure of just 2.8 seconds, ranking fifth nationally.

Lutmer, a 2026 Lott IMPACT Trophy candidate, started all 13 games at the CASH position in 2025, collecting 71 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, one touchdown and seven pass breakups. He was a part of a Hawkeye defense that finished eighth in the country in scoring defense (15.6 ppg) and ninth in total defense (280.4 ypg). The Rock Rapids, Iowa, native earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the league's coaches and a third-team nod from the media. He was also selected as Iowa’s Roy Carver Most Valuable Player for defense and he is a two-time Team Hustle Award recipient.

Vonnahme was named a Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American in 2025 after becoming the first FBS freshman tight end to lead his team in both receptions and receiving yards in a season since Georgia’s Brock Bowers in 2021. The Breda, Iowa, native hauled in 19 of his team-high 29 receptions over the final five games, finishing the season with team-highs in receptions (29), receiving yards (434), and receiving touchdowns (3). Vonnahme sparked the Hawkeye offense in the ReliaQuest Bowl victory over No. 14 Vanderbilt, catching a career-high seven passes for 146 yards and a touchdown to earn a spot on The Associated Press All-Bowl Team. His 146 receiving yards marked the second-highest single-game total by a tight end in program history (159, Marv Cook in 1987).

The Hawkeyes kickoff the season against Northern Illinois on Sept. 5, at Kinnick Stadium beginning at 3:15 p.m. CT. Tickets are available for purchase for the season opener.