OL Kade Pieper, DB Zach Lutmer, and Elon transfer DL Kahmari Brown landed on the 2026 edition with some impressive splits.
It's almost mid-August, which means every media outlet is beginning to push out every preseason list they possibly can.
Some of the classics include preseason All-American lists from the Associated Press, ESPN, or The Sporting News, but the creativity has extended well beyond that.
In 2005, Bruce Feldman, then a senior writer for ESPN, published a brand-new column to help pass the time during the long offseason months. The column was titled "College Football Freaks" and involved Feldman ranking the best "freaks" in college football, which is basically players that are just on another level compared to the rest of their peers in the sport, whether it'd be a ridiculous record in the weight room or explosive speed on the field.
The column was an instant success and remains a mainstay on the stands every August. Feldman's 2026 edition was released on Monday morning, and to no one's surprise, three Iowa football players cracked the 101-player list.
Here they are.
OL Kade Pieper: No. 8
Seeing an Iowa offensive lineman go in the top 10 is hardly surprising considering the Hawkeyes' rich history of developing star talent at this position.
The 6-foot-3, 298-pound Pieper didn't become a starter until the 2025 season, but he made the most of borrowed time at right guard, earning first-team All-American honors from Pro Football Focus and helping Iowa capture the Joe Moore Award for the nation's best offensive line.
Pieper and teammate Trevor Lauck are back to anchor the offensive line in 2026, and it's hard not to feel optimistic about this group to have another strong campaign again, especially when Feldman listed some of Pieper's strength and conditioning numbers.
According to Feldman, Pieper recorded an Iowa offensive guard records of short shuttle (4.13), vertical jump (37.4), and 10-yard dash (1.52). If that wasn't enough, Pieper's 680-pound squad set a new high mark for Hawkeye guards.
Though he started all 13 games at right guard last year, the versatile Pieper is in line to take over for Logan Jones at center this season. He was already named to the preseason Rimington Trophy watchlist, so it seems like that spot already has Pieper's name on it.
DL Kahmari Brown: No. 27
Iowa has a lot of new faces in its defensive line room this year, but Brown making this list without even playing a game for the Hawkeyes yet shows that he could have a ton of potential for this group in 2026.
The 6-foot-2, 258-pound Brown finished his two-year career at Elon as one of the most decorated pass rushers in school history, compiling 16.5 sacks and 99 tackles during his tenure there. The Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) isn't known for producing high-caliber football talent, but Brown was the lone player in the conference to record double-digit sacks, and the 16.5 sacks tied an Elon program record.
With a lot of inexperienced players alongside him, Brown's experience (albeit at the FCS level) could be crucial for this Iowa defense in 2026. The splits will certainly help, too: vertical jump of 40.2 inches, 1.56 10-yard dash.
DB Zach Lutmer: No. 37
No Hawkeye defender has received more hype than Lutmer this offseason. The 6-1, 203-pound defensive back emerged as one of Iowa's best defensive players in 2025 - tallying 71 tackles and three interceptions (one pick-six) - and figures to be just that again in 2026.
Lutmer does a lot of things well, but his impressive agility is what could make him the next great Hawkeye defensive back under coordinator Phil Parker. Feldman was all over this in his piece, using Lutmer's Iowa defensive back record of 3.81-second shuttle as a prime example.
Speed isn't the only impressive split on Lutmer's resume. He recorded a 41.9-inch vertical jump and can squat 575 pounds.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]
