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CHICAGO — The Rimington Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding center in Division I college football. Two of the last five winners have come from the University of Iowa.
Tyler Linderbaum earned the honor in 2021. Logan Jones followed in his footsteps in 2025.
It shows how good Iowa’s recent development of centers has been. It’s not like Jones, who moved from defensive line to center, immediately became a carbon copy of Linderbaum. But eventually, Jones got to that level. Linderbaum was a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Jones was a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Now what for the Hawkeyes?
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz doesn’t know yet who will replace Jones at center.
But this is not a bad problem to have. Iowa’s starting offensive line is still unclear because they have options.
“It’s a good, healthy competition and we may have some rotation going on,” Ferentz said on July 28. “I’d rather not have multiple centers. Kind of like quarterback, you’d rather kind of get settled there a little bit. But I think it’s too early right now to make a decision.”
More: What we learned from Iowa football's appearance at Big Ten Media Days
That optimism speaks to the current state of Iowa’s offensive line. Position coach George Barnett rebuilt that unit from frustrating lows to the 2025 Joe Moore Award, given to the most outstanding offensive line in college football. Even though the Hawkeyes lost three starters from that unit, all of whom were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, there is belief Iowa’s offensive line can deliver again.
“George really nurtured that room and brought them along, much like Reese Morgan years ago with our defensive line,” Ferentz said. “So just a great job of coaching, and it goes beyond the football part of it. There’s a lot going on. So, I can’t say enough about the job George has done. We’ve got some challenges in front of us, some newness, but I think those guys are really prepared for it and anxious to see how that unfolds equally as much.”
The most obvious name to play center is Kade Pieper, who started all 13 games at right guard last season and recently earned 2026 Big Ten preseason honors. He was the only offensive lineman to make the 12-player list, illustrating his status as an elite talent.
If it seemed like Iowa’s center depth outside of Pieper was dire, it would be an easy call to put him there. But that isn’t the case.
Ferentz is looking at the bigger picture — how all the pieces fit together on the offensive line — not just the center.
More: What does Kirk Ferentz think about Matt Campbell’s move to Penn State?
Trevor Lauck, who started all 13 games at left tackle last season, joins Pieper as an established returner. But there is production to fill with the three departed starters. Leighton Jones and Jack Dotzler are prime candidates to take on larger roles in 2026.
“Kade would be an outstanding center,” Ferentz said. “He’s already a pretty good guard. So it depends how it shakes out with the other guys. Are we better off having Cael Winter at center or guard? But that’s assuming he ends up being one of the five. Right now, I just don’t know if we can predict it.”
Winter, who is entering his fourth season at Iowa, emerged during spring practice. Michael Myslinski, who returned for his sixth season in the program, can play center or guard.
So even though Ferentz believes Pieper could play “really well” at center, it’s not as simple as plugging him into that position.
“We graduated three really good players,” Ferentz said of Iowa's offensive line, “but I think we've got a pool right now of seven, eight guys, maybe nine, that have a chance to play significant reps right now. Just not sure where they're going to end up, what positions. We'll figure that out as we go along.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Hawk Central: What's next for Iowa football at center after Logan Jones?
Continue reading...
Tyler Linderbaum earned the honor in 2021. Logan Jones followed in his footsteps in 2025.
It shows how good Iowa’s recent development of centers has been. It’s not like Jones, who moved from defensive line to center, immediately became a carbon copy of Linderbaum. But eventually, Jones got to that level. Linderbaum was a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Jones was a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Now what for the Hawkeyes?
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz doesn’t know yet who will replace Jones at center.
But this is not a bad problem to have. Iowa’s starting offensive line is still unclear because they have options.
“It’s a good, healthy competition and we may have some rotation going on,” Ferentz said on July 28. “I’d rather not have multiple centers. Kind of like quarterback, you’d rather kind of get settled there a little bit. But I think it’s too early right now to make a decision.”
More: What we learned from Iowa football's appearance at Big Ten Media Days
That optimism speaks to the current state of Iowa’s offensive line. Position coach George Barnett rebuilt that unit from frustrating lows to the 2025 Joe Moore Award, given to the most outstanding offensive line in college football. Even though the Hawkeyes lost three starters from that unit, all of whom were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, there is belief Iowa’s offensive line can deliver again.
“George really nurtured that room and brought them along, much like Reese Morgan years ago with our defensive line,” Ferentz said. “So just a great job of coaching, and it goes beyond the football part of it. There’s a lot going on. So, I can’t say enough about the job George has done. We’ve got some challenges in front of us, some newness, but I think those guys are really prepared for it and anxious to see how that unfolds equally as much.”
The most obvious name to play center is Kade Pieper, who started all 13 games at right guard last season and recently earned 2026 Big Ten preseason honors. He was the only offensive lineman to make the 12-player list, illustrating his status as an elite talent.
If it seemed like Iowa’s center depth outside of Pieper was dire, it would be an easy call to put him there. But that isn’t the case.
Ferentz is looking at the bigger picture — how all the pieces fit together on the offensive line — not just the center.
More: What does Kirk Ferentz think about Matt Campbell’s move to Penn State?
Trevor Lauck, who started all 13 games at left tackle last season, joins Pieper as an established returner. But there is production to fill with the three departed starters. Leighton Jones and Jack Dotzler are prime candidates to take on larger roles in 2026.
“Kade would be an outstanding center,” Ferentz said. “He’s already a pretty good guard. So it depends how it shakes out with the other guys. Are we better off having Cael Winter at center or guard? But that’s assuming he ends up being one of the five. Right now, I just don’t know if we can predict it.”
Winter, who is entering his fourth season at Iowa, emerged during spring practice. Michael Myslinski, who returned for his sixth season in the program, can play center or guard.
So even though Ferentz believes Pieper could play “really well” at center, it’s not as simple as plugging him into that position.
“We graduated three really good players,” Ferentz said of Iowa's offensive line, “but I think we've got a pool right now of seven, eight guys, maybe nine, that have a chance to play significant reps right now. Just not sure where they're going to end up, what positions. We'll figure that out as we go along.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Hawk Central: What's next for Iowa football at center after Logan Jones?
Continue reading...
