Iowa City Today

Three University of Iowa football players have been named to the midseason watch list for the 2025 Lombardi Award, which recognizes the top college offensive or defensive lineman in the nation. The announcement was made by the Lombardi committee on Tuesday.

Senior offensive linemen Gennings Dunker and Logan Jones, along with defensive lineman Aaron Graves, are the Hawkeyes selected for this recognition. Jones, who plays center, and Dunker, at right tackle, have together started 75 games in their careers. This season, Iowa’s offensive line has helped the team gain more rushing yards than its opponents in five out of six games. The offense has surpassed 200 rushing yards in three games, including a 210-yard performance during a 37-0 win against Wisconsin and a season-high 310 yards in the opener against UAlbany. The line has allowed only nine quarterback sacks so far.

Aaron Graves, a graduate student, leads the middle of Iowa’s defensive line. In five starts this year, he has recorded 18 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and an interception with a 35-yard return. The Hawkeye defense is currently ranked seventh nationally in yards allowed per game (246.7) and eighth in scoring defense (13 points per game).

Past Hawkeye finalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award include center Tyler Linderbaum in 2021 and defensive end Adrian Clayborn in 2010. Other semifinalists from Iowa have been linebacker Jay Higgins (2024), linebacker Jack Campbell (2022), offensive lineman Brandon Scherff (2014), offensive lineman Robert Gallery (2003), defensive lineman Jared DeVries (1998), offensive lineman Mike Devlin (1992), and defensive lineman Jeff Drost (1986).

Iowa holds a record of 4-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. The team will host Penn State, which is currently 3-3 overall and 0-3 in conference games, on Saturday at Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:08 p.m. Central Time and will be available on Peacock and the Hawkeye Radio Network.