It is well-known that the Iowa offensive line was the best overall unit in college football last season, paving the way for another successful year for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa finished with a 9-4 record, including an upset victory over Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl, and the offense was propped up by the stout rushing attack. Iowa's overall offensive output wasn't great last season (ranked No. 117), but the rushing attack was solid, averaging just under 177 yards per game, good for No. 42 overall in college football.
The offensive line was a key factor in the success, and now returning starters Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck, alongside breakout star DJ Vonnahme, are getting some love from EA Sports.
EA Sports CFB 27 was very kind to Pieper, Lauck, and Vonnahme in the ratings
Iowa has traditionally been a run-first offense thanks to stellar offensive line play and a lack of consistent quarterbacks, and everyone knows about Iowa tight ends. The program has affectionately been dubbed "Tight End U" for the number of NFL-caliber tight ends the program has produced.
Those trends are poised to continue next season and are showcased in the newest version of EA Sports' wildly popular college football video game.
Among the best in the game 😤
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) June 24, 2026
Three Hawkeyes rank Top 10 at their position in @EASPORTSCollege pic.twitter.com/hyQJO8lgkA
In unsurprising news to Hawkeye fans, three key members of next year's squad are ranked in the top ten in their position groups in the new College Football 27 video game, led by Kade Pieper, who is the No. 1-ranked center in the game. Pieper only just started taking snaps at center this offseason, which shows how elite a prospect he truly is.
All three players are well-deserving of their ranking and are poised to lead the squad next season.
Kade Pieper, center/guard (No. 1 overall center)
Pieper's meteoric rise began last season, his first season as a starter. He started all 13 games for the Iowa offensive line at right guard and was a staple of the unit that earned the Joe Moore Award. Pieper played in 11 games his freshman season before earning a starting spot, and is now showcasing why he is considered one of the top OL prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft if he declares.
With center Logan Jones now in the Chicago Bears organization, Iowa had a massive hole in the middle of its offensive line. The unit had several options to replace Jones, but Pieper slid over from guard to center and has all but won the job. He started taking snaps at center during the spring, and even though the program hasn't made an official announcement, Pieper appears to have the inside track to being the starting center.
Pieper getting ranked as the No. 1 overall center is a testament to his versatility, and he will be an anchor once again for the offensive line next season.
DJ Vonnahme, tight end (No. 5 overall TE)
The Iowa passing game was abysmal again last season, and if it weren't for the late emergence of freshman tight end DJ Vonnahme, it would have been a whole lot worse. Vonnahme played sparingly at the start of the season, but after starting tight end Addison Ostrenga suffered a season-ending injury, and backup tight end Hayden Large was also injured, Vonnahme took advantage.
The freshman sensation had four catches against eventual National Champion Indiana, but he really broke out in November. Against Oregon, he had 43 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Ducks. He ended the regular season with a stellar performance against Nebraska, tallying 91 yards and a touchdown, followed by 141 receiving yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt in the bowl game.
The AP selected him to their All-Bowl Team, solidifying him as one of the best young tight ends in the nation. To already be ranked in the top 5 as a sophomore speaks volumes about the program's developmental process, and he is well-positioned to be the starting tight end for the Hawkeyes next season.
Trevor Lauck, offensive tackle (No. 7 overall OT)
Similar to fellow offensive lineman Kade Pieper, tackle Trevor Lauck made the most of his first season as a starter last year. Lauck started all 13 games at left tackle and had such a stellar season that Pro Football Focus named him as one of the top OT prospects in next year's NFL Draft.
After earning All-Big Ten Third-Team (media) and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches) last season, PFF ranked him as the No. 6 overall OT prospect and the No. 31 overall prospect on their big board ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft. There is still plenty of time to improve his ranking, but CFB 27 has Lauck in a similar position.
The popular CFB vide game ranked Lauck as the No. 7 overall OT in the game, proving he has the potential to be one of the top offensive linemen in the country next season. As long as Kirk Ferentz is in charge of the program, we will consistently see the offensive line succeed.
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