Iowa football OL Kade Pieper named to Big Ten Preseason Honors list

As the Big Ten Media Days came and passed ahead of the 2026-27 season, Iowa football's Kade Pieper has earned a spot on the conference's preseason honors roll as the only offensive lineman on the 12-man list.

Pieper, a 2026 Walter Camp Preseason first-team All-American, started all 13 games at guard in 2025 and is coming off a breakout campaign where the 6-foot-3, 298-pound native of Norfolk, Neb., earned Pro Football Focus (PFF) first-team All-America and third-team All-Big Ten accolades.

The fourth-year star was also a cornerstone of Iowa’s offensive line that took home the prestigious Joe Moore Award in 2025. Behind Pieper and the front five, the Hawkeyes outrushed their opponents in nine of their 13 contests a year ago and surrendered an average time-to-pressure of just 2.8 seconds as a unit, ranking as the fifth-best mark nationally.

The 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 OL to receive B1G Preseason Honors ➡️ @PieperKade 🏅 pic.twitter.com/qXeCDu2cBe

— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) July 28, 2026

The Hawkeyes have had 14 players named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List in the last 13 seasons. Pieper joins a lengthy list that includes, offensive linemen Gennings Dunker and Logan Jones (2025), linebacker Jay Higgins (2024), defensive back/return specialist Cooper DeJean (2023), linebacker Jack Campbell (2022), offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum (2021), defensive end A.J. Epenesa (2019), tight end Noah Fant (2018), linebacker Josey Jewell (2017), quarterback C.J. Beathard (2016), defensive back Desmond King (2016), defensive end Drew Ott (2015) and offensive lineman Brandon Scherff (2014).

Notably, 11 of the 13 previous Hawkeyes who earned such honors were selected in the NFL Draft after making the list.

2026 Big Ten Preseason HonorsWR Charlie Becker, IndianaLB Rolijah Hardy, IndianaDL Tyrique Tucker, IndianaOL Kade Pieper, IowaDL Anthony Smith, MinnesotaQB Julian Sayin, Ohio StateWR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio StateQB Dante Moore, OregonDB Koi Perich, OregonQB Jayden Maiava, USCWR KJ Duff, RutgersRB Antwan Raymond, Rutgers

Pieper and the Hawkeyes open the 2026 season against Northern Illinois on Sept. 5 at Kinnick Stadium at 3:15 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football OL Kade Pieper named to Big Ten Preseason Honors list