Before the start of the 2025-2026 college football season it is time for numerous preseason awards and watchlists.
The Hawkeyes are well-represented on a variety of watchlists, with eight players being named to award watchlists.
The players named to award watchlists includes Rhys Dakin (Ray Guy Waard), Gennings Dunker (Outland Trophy/Wuerffel Award), Aaron Graves (Lott IMPACT Trophy/Nagurski Trophy), Mark Gronowski (Maxwell Award), Logan Jones (Outland Trophy), Kamari Moulton (Doak Walker Award), Drew Stevens (Lou Groza Award), and Kaden Wetjen (Jet Award).
Preseason award watchlists do not guarantee a player will receive the award when the season comes to an end, but they give fans a glimpse into who could have a breakout season.
As the award nominations continue to pile up, two Hawkeyes were named as preseason Second Team All-Americans by Sporting News.
Iowa right tackle Gennings Dunker and returner Kaden Wetjen have each been named Sporting News Preseason Second-Team All-Americans.
— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) August 6, 2025
Iowa senior right tackle Gennings Dunker and senior receiver/return specialist Kaden Wetjen were named preseason Second Team All-Americans by Sporting News.
Dunker, a six-foot-five, 315-pound offensive lineman started 11 games at right tackle for the Hawkeyes last season. Dunker was a part of the offensive line unit that was named as semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, given to the best offensive line unit in college football.
Dunker was named a Second Team All-Big Ten selection last season and has already been added to the Outland Trophy and Wuerffel Award watchlists
Iowa senior receiver Kaden Wetjen was also named a preseason Second Team All-American. Wetjen, a five-foot-nine, 196-pound wide receiver, was primarily a special teams performer last season and was one of the best in college football.
Wetjen earned the 2024 Jet Award, given to the best return specialist in college football. Wetjen ranked No. 1 overall in kickoff return yards (727) and overall return yards (1,055) and No. 2 overall in punt return yards (328).
Wetjen was also named a First Team All-Big Ten selection last season, and is up for the Jet Award once again.