Big Ten analyst says Iowa OL will be back in Joe Moore Award mix

While on set of the Big Ten Network's coverage of Iowa football training camp on Monday, college football analyst Jake Butt spoke highly of the Hawkeyes' offensive line.

Butt thinks Iowa will be in the mix to win a second straight Joe Moore Award.

"They'll be competing for the Joe Moore Award once again," Butt said. "I mean, it is just beautiful to watch them operate. They've got a few guys that are, you know, Kade Pieper or Trevor Lauck at tackle that will be day two, maybe day one draft picks. But this is just a well-oiled machine, the way they operate in their outside zone schemes, the way the tight ends block, and I really like what they have at running back as well."

"They'll be competing for a Joe Moore Award once again."@Jbooty88 on @HawkeyeFootball's 2026 offensive line 👇 pic.twitter.com/SzpmxhytmS

Fellow Big Ten Network analyst Howard Griffith shared some of what he saw from the Hawkeyes during the crew's Iowa City stop.

"Yeah, you start to think about just the zone blocking schemes and you alluded to it, you see one guy step to the left, they're all stepping to the left. To the right, (they're all stepping to the right). It's like synchronized swimming when you have the opportunity to come here. They're so well coached and understand where the hand placement is important, so that opens things up for this run game.

"You've talked about that (running backs) room. I think they should be excited about what they have in the room, but it all has to start up front. Yes, they've lost some guys up there, but they have guys that are really going to be able to help this team. That's what is ultimately going to help this quarterback situation," Griffith said.

During the Big Ten Network's time in Iowa City, from left to right, Iowa's offensive line was Trevor Lauck at left tackle, Leighton Jones at left guard, Cael Winter at center, Kade Pieper at right guard and Jack Dotzler at right tackle.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz confirmed on Wednesday that Winter was in line to start at center if the season were today.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Big Ten analyst says Iowa OL will be back in Joe Moore Award mix