Iowa football trio named to preseason USA TODAY Sports All-Big Ten team
The team was created by writers who cover every single team in the conference and features five unanimous selections, one of which was a Hawkeye. It may be a surprise to note that Iowa doesn't have a single defensive player on the team, a sign that people are taking a wait-and-see approach to a Hawkeyes defense that lost Jay Higgins, Nick Jackson, and Sebastian Castro, among others.
Regardless, it's a nice nod for the three Hawkeyes named to this team and should have Iowa fans feeling more confident about the offense and special teams units on this year's team.
Without any further ado, let's take a look at which Hawkeyes made USA TODAY Sports' preseason All-Big Ten team.
Which Hawkeyes made the USA TODAY Sports preseason All-Big Ten team?
Logan Jones, Gennings Dunker, and Kaden Wetjen were the three Hawkeyes named to the team.
Jones was one of five unanimous selections to the team, joining Jeremiah Smith and Sonny Styles of Ohio State, Olaivavega Ioane of Penn State, and Dominic Zvada of Michigan.
The 6-foot-3, 302-pound graduate student center has anchored the Iowa offensive line for three years and was named first-team All-Big Ten by the media last season. Jones has also been named a preseason first-team All-Big Ten player by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele this offseason.
Jones is joined on the USA TODAY Sports All-Big Ten team by another offensive lineman in Gennings Dunker. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound senior right tackle was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and third-team All-Big Ten by the media last season.
Dunker started at right tackle the last two seasons and has been a big stabilizing force on the offensive line alongside Jones. Dunker's role will be imperative this season with a new quarterback under center.
The final Hawkeye to make the team was Kaden Wetjen, named as the All-Purpose player. The 5-foot-9, 196-pound senior return specialist started his collegiate career at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to Iowa. He was named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media last season, in addition to taking home the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year award.
Wetjen was named a preseason first-team All-Big Ten player by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele as well.
This trio of Hawkeyes will be hugely important to the success of Iowa football in 2025. Assuming they play up to the standards that everyone believes they can, Iowa's offensive line should be really good and the special teams will set them up with short fields.
The Hawkeyes return to the field in just over a month for the season opener on Aug. 30 against Albany.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
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