Iowa Linebacker Jayden Montgomery Lands Spot on Jason Witten Man of the Year Watch List

Iowa fifth-year linebacker Jayden Montgomery has earned a place on the watch list for the 10th annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, an honor recognizing college football players for leadership, courage, integrity, and sportsmanship both on and off the field. The 2026 watch list features 89 players from across the country, each nominated by their respective schools.

Montgomery, a Suamico, Wis., native listed at 5-foot-11 and 227 pounds, appeared in all 13 games for the Hawkeyes last season with seven starts at linebacker. He finished the 2025 campaign with 44 tackles, including 24 solo stops, along with two passes defended and one tackle for loss.

Off the field, Montgomery has built an extensive leadership résumé. He is a three-time recipient of the Coaches Appreciation Award and one of eight seniors on Iowa’s 2026 Leadership Council. His recognition extends beyond the Witten award: he is also on watch lists for the Wuerffel Trophy, which honors community service, and the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker.

The award process unfolds over the coming months. A subset of the selection committee will narrow the field to 20 semifinalists, announced Oct. 13. Three finalists will follow on Dec. 14, with the winner revealed at a ceremony in spring 2027.

For readers tracking the broadcast side of college sports, games like Iowa’s upcoming matchup circulate through major media companies. Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), which trades at $25.17, up 0.48% from a previous close of $25.05 with a market cap of roughly $92.5 billion, operates NBC — the network carrying Saturday’s Iowa–Iowa State game. Comcast, a Communication Services company in the Telecom Services industry, holds sports rights across its Media segment, making college football broadcasts a recurring part of its programming portfolio.

Montgomery and the 21st-ranked Hawkeyes are scheduled to kick off against Iowa State at 6:36 p.m. CT on Saturday, with the contest airing on NBC.

What to watch

• Semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will be announced Oct. 13, with finalists named Dec. 14.
• Montgomery’s progress on the Wuerffel Trophy and Butkus Award watch lists as the season unfolds.
• Iowa’s matchup against Iowa State on Saturday, broadcast on NBC.

Source: original release