Iowa Football Preview: The Offensive Line

It all starts up front.

If you have follow Iowa football, you have heard Kirk Ferentz utter those words countless times over the years when he is discussing the Hawkeye offense. If Iowa isn’t good up front, then they are going to struggle. That’s just the reality.

Last year, Iowa struggled up front with a variety of health issues. Some players continued to try and play through their various injuries and others missed a significant amount of time. This year, Iowa returns plenty of experience, but will this veteran group improve their performance?

According to the official stats from the University of Iowa, the Hawkeyes allowed 32 quarterback sacks and 30 hurries in the 2023 season. While rushing stats in college football can be a bit wonky because they also include quarterback sacks, Iowa only rushed for 115.9 yards per game and averaged just 3.3 yards per carry. Ideally, Iowa would like to be around 4.5 yards per carry, but would settle for something over 4.0 per carry.

First, let’s start with the new two deeps for the Hawkeyes from the recently released media guide:

LT : Mason Richman (SR), Jack Dotzler (SO)

LG : Beau Stephens (JR), Kade Pieper (rFR)

C : Logan Jones (SR), Tyler Elsbury (SR)

RG : Connor Colby (SR), Nick DeJong (GR)

RT : Gennings Dunker (JR), Trevor Lauck (rFR)

This is an experienced group. Richman has 39 career starts. Colby with 37 starts. Jones has 26 and DeJong has 24. Dunker and Stephens have 14 and 10, while Elsbury has 3. Iowa’s top seven have an average of nearly 21 career starts, which I would guess make them one of the most experienced lines in the country.

But, the question is health. Last year Stephens was hurt in camp and went down again during the season. Richman battled a leg issue for nearly the entire second half of the season, as did Jones. Meanwhile, Dunker had off-season shoulder surgery.

The good news is Iowa is healthy heading into fall camp. Good health and experience can lead to go things for Iowa football in 2024.

THE BIG QUESTION

How solid is this starting five?

Another mantra from Kirk Ferentz is the best five will start.

We have heard that a lot over the years and it’s true. It’s also why Iowa does a good amount of what I would call cross training with offensive linemen. That means centers learn to play guard and some guards learn to play center or tackle. Then there are some tackles that learn to play guard.

That cross training has served Iowa well over the years. This year, for example, off the bench, Tyler Elsbury could play center or guard and I think he might even be able to work at tackle if needed. Nick DeJong has started games at guard and tackle.

When it comes to the starting five, I think the group listed as starters head into fall camp pretty solidly established. This has kind of been the group since the spring and it feels like this is the direction they want to head. Four of the five seemed like locks with Stephens being the only question mark. But, when he’s healthy, Stephens has been pretty good and physical.

I think that’s also a tell that Kirk Ferentz and George Barnett want a physical group up front. They want to try and dominate the point of attack and Stephens fits in the mauler type mode.

So to answer the question, I think it’s a pretty solid starting five and I don’t expect any changes initially unless there are injuries. I am curious to see if there is any sort of rotation at guard this year that would allow either Elsbury or DeJong to see some regular playing time.

WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?

If you look at the depth chart there are five players who are seniors/graduates. That includes three players who are listed as starters. All that means is that certainly a year from now there will be several new faces in the two deeps and starting lineup.

Of course, Iowa could go out and find some potential replacements in the transfer portal in December, but let’s leave that out of the equation for now. Instead we will focus on the future of the players on the roster.

One name that is rising faster than others is Kade Pieper. He won the Solon Hay Bale Toss, which means stardom is on the way, but he also spent several weeks in the two deeps last year. Basically, his star is on the rise and we have heard he might be working at center now as his primary position for the future.

Trevor Lauck is also moving up the chart and could factor in at guard or tackle. Right now tackle is his listing. Another young player to watch is probably Leighton Jones , who could be working at guard. Of the true freshman, we have heard that Josh Janowski , who arrived on campus in January, has impressed the folks in Iowa City.

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