Jayden Montgomery named to preseason Wuerffel Trophy watch list as Iowa enters 2026

Iowa football added another preseason honor to its fall-building momentum Tuesday, naming fifth-year linebacker Jayden Montgomery to the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy preseason watch list. The award is administered through the Wuerffel Foundation, and the watch list functions as a springboard for candidates who are expected to distinguish themselves during the 2026 season.

Montgomery’s inclusion highlights how Iowa is looking at its defense as more than a unit of schemes and snaps. As a veteran presence at linebacker, he is positioned to be a stabilizing voice in the middle of the Hawkeyes’ defensive structure, especially with his fifth year indicating he has had multiple opportunities to establish himself as a daily leader in program culture.

For Iowa, the timing matters. Preseason watch lists arrive before the first game, but they also become a public narrative the season can either confirm or challenge. In practice, that means Montgomery will carry additional visibility into camp and early nonconference weeks, with coaches and media more likely to focus on his all-around impact rather than only the stat line.

The Wuerffel Trophy watch list is traditionally treated as a shortlist of players the foundation expects to represent the award’s values over a full season. While being named to the list does not predict a winner, it places Montgomery in the same conversation as other prominent college players who will be evaluated throughout the year as they progress through their roles on offense, defense, and special teams.

Montgomery’s case is also tied to Iowa’s broader roster picture heading into 2026. Linebackers are often the connective tissue of a defense, matching up in coverage, reading run fits, and directing teammates from the second level. With Iowa leaning on veterans to manage responsibilities in the front seven, a preseason watch list selection can be read as another sign the program expects Montgomery to be central to that leadership framework.

What to watch next is how the Hawkeyes’ defense translates that preseason recognition onto the field. The most direct indicators will be whether Montgomery’s role expands in coverage and run-stopping assignments and whether Iowa’s defensive performance holds steady as opponents adjust to their personnel groupings. If he separates himself through consistent on-field production and program visibility, he will likely remain one of the names that surfaces again as midseason and postseason evaluations approach.

As of Tuesday’s announcement, Montgomery’s presence on the preseason Wuerffel Trophy watch list is the key development. The season will determine whether he emerges as a top candidate by the time the award’s later stages narrow the field from early anticipation to final recognition.