We are officially 18 days from the start of Iowa Football on August 30 against UAlbany. As the Hawkeyes continue preparations for next season, the preseason award list nominations continue trickling out.
Nine Hawkeyes have been named to preseason award watch lists, including Rhys Dakin (Ray Guy Award), Gennings Dunker (Outland Trophy, Wuerffel Award), Aaron Graves (Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Nagurski Trophy), Mark Gronowski (Maxwell Award), Logan Jones (Outland Trophy and Rimington Trophy), Kamari Moulton (Doak Walker Award), Zach Ortwerth (Mackey Award), Drew Stevens (Lou Groza Award), and Kaden Wetjen (Jet Award).
Dunker, Graves, and Jones are the three Hawkeyes who have been nominated for the most preseason award watch lists, and the trio has added another award nomination to the list.
🏆 @aarongraves95 @gennings_dunker @logan_jones75 ➡️ 𝐋𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭@lombardi_award x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/RRKSjLAtfw
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) August 12, 2025
Dunker, Graves, and Jones have all been named to the preseason Lombardi Trophy watch list. The Lombardi Trophy is awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies legendary coach Vince Lombardi's values of leadership, courage, performance, and discipline on and off the field.
The Lombardi Award has been presented since 1970 and is celebrating its 52nd anniversary this season.
The 2025 award watch list has a variety of players, ranging from lineman to tight ends, with Iowa having the most nominations in the Big Ten (three).
The Iowa trio will look to lead a Hawkeye team that is attempting to improve this season after finishing 8-5 (6-3 Big Ten) last season.
Dunker, Graves, and Jones all have multiple years of experience under their belts, and will attempt to use their leadership and experience to anchor the offensive and defensive line units.