Iowa Hawkeyes: Inside The January Depth Chart – Offense

Offensive Line  

1st Team (Left Tackle to Right Tackle): Cole Croston (Sr.), Boone Myers (Jr.), James Daniels (So.), Sean Welsh (Jr.), Ike Boettger (Jr.)

2nd Team: Boone Myers (Jr.), Ryan Ward (Sr.), Steven Ferentz (Sr.), Keagan Render (So.), Dalton Ferguson (S0.)

Offensive line is the part of the Hawkeyes offense you sort of just expect Kirk Ferentz to figure out. Ferentz-Iowa teams have always been anchored by great offensive lines. Ferentz teams produce lineman like Apple produces Iphones, it’s what they do. He will have a good starting spot here with all five starters getting serious game reps at some point last season. They are probably Iowa’s best five offensive lineman, it is just a question of if this is the best arrangement of them.

Myers and Boettger started last season as the team’s starting tackles. Boettger lost his season to an ankle injury he suffered in early October against Illinois, while Myers also missed the early part of Big Ten play and then proceeded to struggle in pass protection upon his return to his left tackle position. Cole Croston shined at left tackle in Myers absence before moving to the right side of the line upon Myers’ return.

Croston should have no trouble returning to the left side where he had success in 2015, the question now becomes, can Boone Myers play guard? There is plenty of time to figure this out between spring practice and training camp. Myers did have trouble pass blocking on the edge, so a move to the middle could be good for him. If Myers in the middle works out, you’re looking at offensive line with the following:

A player with experience at left tackle who has been successful, a good left guard, a blue chip prospect at center in James Daniels, a now third year starter at guard in Sean Welsh, and a healthy experienced starter at right tackle in Ike Boettger. That sounds like a good offensive line if Boone Myers transition inside works out. Daniels also started a handful of games at guard this past season and could shift back out there making room for senior center Steven Ferentz if Myers struggles.

Next: Recruiting Notebook: Hawkeyes Land Top DE In Class of 2017

This O-Line has question marks, but the pieces are in place here for another great Iowa Hawkeyes offensive line.

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That’s for all today, check back with Dear Old Gold later in the week where I will break down the defensive side of the depth chart.