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Iowa

Three Hawkeyes named to Lombardi Watch List

On3 imageby: Tom Kakert08/12/25HawkeyeReport
Dunker and Jones
Gennings Dunker and Logan Jones earn preseason Big Ten honors.

University of Iowa football seniors Gennings Dunker, Aaron Graves and Logan Jones have been named candidates for the 2025 Lombardi Award, the announcement was made on Tuesday.

The award is presented to the college player who best embodies the values and spirit of legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi. These qualities are include character, discipline and excellence both on and off the football field.

Dunker (6-foot-5, 315 pounds) started 11 contests as a junior and was a dominant force on the right side of Iowa’s offensive line that was recognized as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award in 2024. The Lena, Illinois, native was a second-team all-conference honoree, as well as an Academic All-District selection. Dunker, who is also a candidate for the 2025 Outland Trophy and Wuerffel Award, helped pave the way for Iowa’s offense rushing for more than 200 yards in seven games last season.

Graves (6-foot-5, 295 pounds) started all 13 games at defensive tackle in 2024, recording 33 tackles, including eight tackles for a loss (six sacks), three forced fumbles, three pass break-ups and two quarterback pressures. His three forced fumbles led the Big Ten. The native of Dayton, Iowa, was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last season. Off the field, Graves was a second-team Academic All-American.

Graves was previously named to the 2025 Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists. Graves was also tabbed a 2025 preseason second team All-American by Phil Steele.

Jones (6-foot-3, 302 pounds) was also named to the Rimington preseason watch list the last two seasons. Former Hawkeye Tyler Linderbaum was the 2021 Rimington Trophy recipient. He was previously tabbed for the Outland Trophy Watch List earlier this month, presented to the top offensive lineman in the country.

The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native started 12 games as a junior and was a first-team all-conference selection and an honorable mention All-American by Phil Steele in 2024. The native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, anchored the Hawkeye offensive line that allowed just 17 sacks and helped Iowa rush for 2,564 yards, the most since 2002. Jones was tabbed a preseason second-team All-American by Walter Camp, and a third-team All-American by Athlon and Phil Steele earlier this month.

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