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Iowa football: Top five players on the 2019 Hawkeye’s roster

By Andrew Wade

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 01: The Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate after winning the 2019 Outback Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 01: The Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate after winning the 2019 Outback Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 23: Offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs #74 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates with teammates after their match-up against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 23, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 23: Offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs #74 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates with teammates after their match-up against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 23, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

2. Tristan Wirfs

Like I said, it was tough to decide the better of the two Iowa football tackles and to be fair, you really can’t go wrong selecting either, but my choice is Tristan Wirfs. While draft media is split on which prospect they like more, I prefer Wirfs versatility and youth.

Wirfs is a true junior with a ton of potential, and he was the first true freshman to start at tackle during Kirk’s tenure as head coach.

He’s a beast on the field, and he is a beast in the weight room. His presence at the right tackle spot along with Alaric Jackson at left is why Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller called Iowa’s offensive line the best in the nation. Miller also listed Wirfs as a top-10 prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The first thing that stands out about Wirfs is his size. He’s 6’5” 322 pounds and is an athletic freak. Not only did he set the Iowa football team’s hang clean record, but in high school, he won state championships in the discus, shot put, and wrestling.

The grappling ability from wrestling gives him a leg up on hand usage in the trenches, and he has a mean streak that he uses to destroy opposing players. He is, in my opinion, the second best player on the Iowa football team.