Iowa center Logan Jones to return for sixth season in 2025

IOWA CITY — Iowa football will benefit from another year with Logan Jones at center.

Jones will use his extra COVID-19 year of eligibility to return for a sixth season in 2025, he announced Tuesday in an Instagram post.

“To have the chance to be able to play in the NFL is something I have dreamed of since I was a kid, but I’m not done being a Hawkeye yet,” Jones said in the Instagram post. “Being a Hawk has been a dream come true, and I am excited for one last season with my brothers!”

Jones was a first-team all-Big Ten selection by media and a second-team all-Big Ten selection by coaches and the Associated Press this season. The year before, he was an all-Big Ten third-team honoree.

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz earlier this year said Jones is “the kind of guy we want on our football team.”

“He was such a good prospect two years ago,” Ferentz said. “Now, he’s a really good football player just because he’s got every attribute you hope for — hard worker, very selfless. … He’s playing really well. No big surprise. We were certainly counting on that.”

Jones has made 38 career starts at center (and is expected to make his 39th start in Iowa’s bowl game) since making the move from the defensive line in spring 2022. He has been a key part of the offensive line’s improvement this year, which was recognized nationally as a Joe Moore Award semifinalist.

The Iowa offensive line was a driving factor — of course, along with Kaleb Johnson’s dynamic play — in the Hawkeyes ranking 21st nationally this season with 199.8 rushing yards per game. The only Big Ten team to average more rushing yards per game was Penn State with 202.2.

The Council Bluffs native was the first of Iowa’s seniors this year to announce plans to return in 2025. Iowa’s current fifth-year seniors are the last class with the option to take an extra COVID-19 year of eligibility, as they were true freshmen in 2020.

Even with Jones back, Iowa’s offensive line rotation will look notably different in 2025. Starting left tackle Mason Richman and experienced backups Tyler Elsbury and Nick DeJong were all seniors in 2024. Starting right guard (and Cedar Rapids native) Connor Colby also has exhausted his college eligibility.

The Hawkeyes could potentially have three returning starters on the 2025 offensive line, though, with Beau Stephens, Gennings Dunker (unless he pursues the NFL) and now Jones.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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