Iowa football DB named Lott IMPACT Trophy quarterfinalist

As No. 16 Iowa football (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) enjoys its Week 7 bye, Hawkeyes defensive back Zach Lutmer has been named a Lott IMPACT Trophy quarterfinalist by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation.

The 16 quarterfinalists represent the finest defensive players in college football who have had the biggest impact on their teams on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.

Lutmer has started the first six games at free safety in 2026, recording 34 tackles, including four pass breakups and one tackle for loss. In Iowa's come-from-behind win at Michigan on Sept. 26, the Rock Rapids, Iowa, native led the team with a career-high 12 tackles, and then led the team with 11 tackles against Ohio State on Oct. 3.

Making an impact on and off the field.@LutmerZach ➡️ @LottTrophy Quarterfinalist pic.twitter.com/CSMt6fXZcR

— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) October 15, 2026

In 2025, Lutmer earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. He was also selected as Iowa’s Roy Carver Most Valuable Player for defense and is a two-time Team Hustle Award recipient.

Off the field, Lutmer is a two-time CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-Big Ten selection, as well as a two-time Player Council representative (2025 and 2026).

The last Hawkeye to win the award was linebacker and current Carolina Panther Josey Jewell, who won the honor in 2017. Outside of Jewell, James Morris came closest, finishing as a finalist in 2013, while Desmond King (2016), Cooper DeJean (2023), and Jay Higgins (2024) earned recent semifinalist honors.

Semifinalists for the 2026 award will be announced in mid-November.

Iowa returns to action at Minnesota (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) for the annual battle for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy on Saturday, Oct. 24, from Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.