Iowa football: 30 greatest players in Hawkeyes history
By Andrew Wade
Bryan Bulaga was a dominant offensive tackle for the Iowa football team from 2007 to 2009. He was huge in keeping junior quarterback Ricky Stanzi clean during the Hawkeyes’ Orange Bowl run.
Bulaga joined the Hawks as a four-star recruit from Crystal Lake, Illinois and ended up starting games in his true freshman season, but it was until his sophomore year when he really shined. Starting all 13 games, Bulaga helped pave the way for Shonn Greene and his amazing 2008 NCAA season. For his efforts, he was named Second-Team All-Big Ten.
In his junior season, Bulaga stepped it up a notch. He started 10 out of the 13 games (he missed three due to an injury), and was named First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten. The offensive tackle also took home the Big Ten’s Offensive Lineman of the Year award, which given the Big Ten’s ability to develop offensive lineman at an absurd rate, is quite an honor.
After a stellar two seasons as a full-time starter, Bulaga declared for the NFL Draft and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. In eight seasons, when healthy, Bulaga has been one of the best tackles in the game.