Iowa Football Receives Nine Invites to 2026 NFL Combine as Hawkeyes prepare for Indianapolis
Iowa Football Receives Nine Invites to 2026 NFL Combine Hawkeyes Send a Powerful NFL Message
When Iowa Football Receives Nine Invites to 2026 NFL Combine, it’s more than a routine offseason update it’s a statement about development, toughness, and the kind of program that keeps producing NFL-ready talent. For Hawkeye fans, it’s validation. For NFL scouts, it’s confirmation.
IOWA CITY — The invitations are official. Nine Iowa football seniors are headed to Indianapolis in March after earning spots at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, the league announced Wednesday morning. Out of 319 total prospects selected nationwide, nine are Hawkeyes a number that reinforces Iowa’s reputation as one of college football’s most consistent talent pipelines.
This isn’t hype. It’s earned.
Iowa Football Receives Nine Invites to 2026 NFL Combine
Four defensive standouts received invitations, joined by the senior trio that anchored Iowa’s offensive line. Together, they represent the physical identity head coach Kirk Ferentz has built for years disciplined, fundamentally sound, and built for the next level.
Indianapolis now becomes their proving ground.
Offensive Line Trio Headlines the Group
The Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line trio leads Iowa’s Combine class and it’s no surprise.
Logan Jones, the reigning Rimington Trophy winner, headlines the group. As the nation’s top center, Jones didn’t just win awards he controlled games. Week after week, he dictated protections, handled elite defensive tackles, and anchored an offense that leaned heavily on trench dominance.
Scouts value reliability. Jones gave them that.
Joining him are Gennings Dunker and Beau Stephens, two veterans who saw their draft stock surge during January’s Senior Bowl. Dunker in particular turned heads with his footwork and physicality, earning a public shout-out on the massively popular “New Heights” podcast hosted by former Eagles center Jason Kelce and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
That kind of national spotlight doesn’t happen by accident.
Stephens, meanwhile, showcased versatility and power in one-on-one drills, reinforcing the idea that Iowa linemen arrive in the NFL technically polished and mentally prepared.
For all three, Indianapolis represents opportunity not just to confirm what evaluators already believe, but to elevate into early-round conversations.
Defensive Standouts Earn Their Shot
While the offensive line draws headlines, four defensive players also secured Combine invitations, underscoring Iowa’s long-standing defensive reputation.
Iowa defenders traditionally test well, interview even better, and translate seamlessly into NFL systems. The Combine will measure their 40-yard dash times, vertical jumps, and bench press numbers but it’s the film that got them here.
Scouts want instincts. They want consistency. They want toughness in November when the weather turns ugly in the Big Ten.
Iowa defenders check those boxes.
The Surprising Absences: Mark Gronowski and Aaron Graves
As strong as the invite list is, two notable names are missing quarterback Mark Gronowski and defensive lineman Aaron Graves.
Gronowski’s résumé reads like a draft feature story.
He was named MVP of both the East-West Shrine Bowl and the ReliaQuest Bowl. During his lone season at Iowa, he captured the distinction of becoming the NCAA’s all-time winningest quarterback, finishing his collegiate career with 58 wins.
That’s not just impressive — that’s historic.
Over his career, Gronowski threw for more than 12,000 passing yards and rushed for over 2,300 yards. In his season with the Hawkeyes alone, he totaled 1,741 passing yards and 545 rushing yards. He accounted for 10 passing touchdowns and 16 rushing touchdowns last season, showcasing a dual-threat skill set that mirrors the modern NFL prototype.
Yet, despite the accolades and production, he did not receive a Combine invitation.
That omission will undoubtedly make Iowa’s Pro Day must-watch viewing for quarterback-needy franchises.
Graves’ absence also raises eyebrows.
An AP All-Big Ten Second Team selection, Graves combined on-field production with academic excellence, becoming a finalist for both the Pop Warner Trophy and the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy.
In 2025, he started every game and recorded 37 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and one interception. Across his career, he compiled 122 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks.
Durable. Productive. Reliable.
Still, Indianapolis won’t see him in drills which means his evaluation will hinge heavily on film and Pro Day performance.
Why Nine Matters
When Iowa Football Receives Nine Invites to 2026 NFL Combine, the number itself carries weight.
Nine invitations place Iowa among the more respected programs nationally in this draft cycle. It signals to recruits that development happens here. It tells NFL front offices that Iowa prospects arrive prepared mentally and physically.
The Combine isn’t just about running fast in shorts. It’s about interviews that stretch into the night. It’s whiteboard sessions testing football IQ. It’s medical evaluations that can reshape draft boards in hours.
For Iowa’s nine invitees, this is where perception can shift dramatically.
A strong 40-yard dash can boost a player a round. A sharp interview can secure long-term trust. A clean medical report can solidify guaranteed money.
Indianapolis changes lives.
The Hawkeye Identity on Display
What makes this group intriguing isn’t flash it’s foundation.
Iowa players are rarely the loudest prospects in draft season, but they’re often the most dependable once Sundays arrive. NFL teams value linemen who understand leverage, defenders who trust their assignments, and players who don’t shrink under pressure.
That identity is now traveling to Lucas Oil Stadium.
Logan Jones snapping in drills. Dunker and Stephens battling through one-on-ones. Defensive standouts chasing elite 40 times. Each rep becomes part of the story.
And for Gronowski and Graves, who weren’t invited, the motivation sharpens. Iowa’s Pro Day will carry added intrigue, and history shows that overlooked prospects often turn slights into fuel.
March in Indianapolis
March will define narratives.
Draft boards are fluid. A standout Combine performance can turn mid-round projections into Day 2 momentum. For some, it may even ignite late first-round discussion.
For Iowa, the bigger picture is clear.
When Iowa Football Receives Nine Invites to 2026 NFL Combine, it reinforces what the program has built for decades: a system rooted in discipline, physicality, and long-term development.
The Hawkeyes don’t chase headlines.
They build pros.
And this March, nine of them will step onto the NFL’s biggest pre-draft stage carrying not just their own dreams, but the black and gold standard with them.
