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2026 IOL Owen Linder commits to Iowa Hawkeyes

hunterby:Hunter Shelton•about 21 hours•

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Owen Linder
Class of 2026 offensive lineman Owen Linder. (Photo by Dennis Scheidt, HawkeyeReport.com)

Chanhassen (Minn.) three-star interior offensive lineman Owen Linder has committed to Iowa, he announced on Sunday.

He chose the Hawkeyes while also holding offers from the likes of Kansas, Illinois, Kansas State, Arkansas and Minnesota.

Linder is the No. 560 overall prospect and No. 54 IOL in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 3 player in Minnesota.

Linder becomes commit No. 4 for head coach Kirk Ferentz and Co. in the 2026 cycle. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, he is the first pledge for the Big Ten program since Dec. 1.

Linder is the second offensive lineman in the class to date, joining Waterloo (Iowa) West four-star offensive tackle Carson Nielsen, a top-200 recruit who’s been in the fold since April 22 of last year. Nielsen is the No. 2 player in Iowa.

San Diego Bishop’s School three-star quarterback Cash Herrera joined the class on Oct. 3 and is currently the No. 49 QB in the cycle. Detroit Divine Child four-star athlete Marcello Vitti committed last month and is the No. 4 player out of Michigan.

While still far too early in the cycle, Iowa’s class currently ranks No. 22 in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Iowa signed No. 32 recruiting class last cycle

Ferentz and Co. signed 15 prospects in the 2025 cycle last month, five of whom were four-star recruits.

Edwardsville (Ill.) four-star defensive lineman Iose Epenesa is the headliner, checking in as the No. 33 overall recruit and No. 5 DL in the cycle. He is a Hawkeye legacy and held five-star status throughout points of his recruitment.

Behind Epenesa was Clear Lake (Iowa) four-star tight end Thomas Meyer, a top-200 prospect and the No. 1 player in Iowa in the cycle. Sycamore (Ill.) four-star linebacker Burke Gautcher and Oswego (Ill.) four-star LB Carson Cooney also headline as top-120 recruits in the On300.

Other top signees in the class include: North Aurora (Ill.) West four-star wide receiver Terrence Smith, Saint Louis Country Day three-star OT Lucas Allgeyer, Pleasant Valley (Iowa) three-star IOL Joey VanWetzinga and Plant City (Fla.) Armwood three-star safety O’Lontae Dean.