Iowa Post-Spring Position Analysis: OL

Plenty of Experience Back for Hawkeyes on Offensive Front

Iowa offensive lineman Mason Rochman on the field before a game against Iowa State on Sept. 10, 2022 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com)

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IOWA CITY, Iowa - You may have heard - Iowa's offense was not good last year. The issues started up front. 

That puzzles Hawkeye followers. The program is known for its success on the line. 

Head coach Kirk Ferentz and his son, Brian Ferentz, the offensive coordinator, are former O-Line coaches at the school. Current position coach, George Barnett, is almost 20 years into teaching it on the college level. 

With all that experience, it's hard fathoming how bad the Hawkeyes  played up front in 2022. Inexperience and injuries contributed to it, but I didn't think I'd see an Iowa offensive line slog through a season like that. 

Iowa ranked 124th out of 131 FBS programs nationally in rushing offense in 2022 at 94.9 yards per game. Only four schools in the country averaged fewer than its 2.92 yards per carry. That came a year after it rated 101st in rushing (123.6 YPG). It averaged 3.4 per carry. 

It's fair pointing out that sacks affect rushing statistics. Well, that's not a plus in the Hawkeyes' corner, either. 

Only 23 programs yielded more than the 2.92 sacks per contest given up by the Hawkeyes last Fall. The number was up from 2.29 the year before when they were No. 68 nationally. 

Good thing Iowa could get to work on improving this Spring. Only that didn't happen thanks to the injury bug hanging around. 

Projected starters on the left side, tackle Mason Richman and Connor Colby, a guard, along with transfer portal addition, Daijon Parker, were limited during the practice period. Another incoming transfer, Rusty Feth, was finishing up class work at Miami (Ohio). 

That's the bad news. The good news is that it's April and all of the guys are expected back for workouts in June and August training camp. 

Richman (6-6, 308) and Colby (6-6, 308) should play more consistently well in '23 after taking their lumps at times the last to seasons. The juniors have a combined 49 career starts. 

Logan Jones (6-3, 283) learned on the job at center last season after moving over from the defensive line during the previous year's bowl preparation. He started all 13 games in '22. 

If healthy, Richman, Colby and Jones are likely starters. We'll see how the right side shakes out in camp. 

Redshirt sophomore Beau Stephens (6-6, 307) started 10 games at guard last Fall. He held down the No. 1 right guard spot during the team's open Spring practice last weekend. 

Feth (6-5, 304) started at guard and center during his time in Oxford, Ohio. The All-MAC performer could end up starting at one of those positions at Iowa or he might end up as an interior rotational player. 

Fifth-year senior Nick DeJong (6-6, 300) may be another swing man if he doesn't win a starting gig. The former walk-on from Pella enters '23 with 17 starts at tackle and guard during the last two seasons. 

Gennings Dunker (6-5, 316) also can play inside or out. The redshirt sophomore from Lena, Ill. was lined up at right tackle during the final Spring practice. 

Parker (6-5, 300) comes to Iowa from Inkster, Mich. by way of D-II Saginaw Valley State. He'll be in the mix for a starting job. 

Junior guard Tyler Elsbury (6-5, 308) has two starts and 25 games played on his resume. Third-year sophomore Mike Myslinski (6-3, 287) could help on the inside if healthy. Jack Dotzler (6-6, 266) and Kale Krogh (6-5, 276) are redshirt freshmen in the development phase of their careers. 

Three incoming freshmen are projected as offensive linemen. Leighton Jones, Trevor Lauck and Cannon Leonard begin their quest for playing time upon arrival in June.