Iowa football: O-line and DB gets shakeup in Rutgers depth chart
By Andrew Wade
![IOWA CITY, IOWA- AUGUST 31: Defensive back Michael Ojemudia #11 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs back an interception during the second half against the Miami Ohio RedHawks on August 31, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) IOWA CITY, IOWA- AUGUST 31: Defensive back Michael Ojemudia #11 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs back an interception during the second half against the Miami Ohio RedHawks on August 31, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/358843b596888f6e15e6855e3795655e807da6c13220c37d7de7dbd463e8a0a9.jpg)
The offensive line is getting tinkered with
When one of your starters goes down, someone else needs to step up to fill the void, but the Iowa football team’s new depth chart is not exactly what we would have expected to happen had we been given this scenario prior to the season.
When Jackson went down, the Iowa football team began utilizing a variety of different offensive line combinations (6 to be exact, as counted by The Gazette’s Marc Morehouse), and it sounds like they settled on one for the Rutgers game after seeing the tape from Miami (OH).
Instead of redshirt sophomore Mark Kallenberger stepping into the left tackle role, Tristan Wirfs will be moving over to left tackle (which honestly could be really good for his draft stock if and when he does well there).
In Wirfs place is not his original backup Jack Plumb, rather it is Levi Paulsen, who is moving from guard. And in Paulsen’s place is redshirt sophomore (and former walk-on) Kyler Schott, which is a great story in itself.
Obviously, all the movement is not ideal, but there are a few positives. First, we’re getting a glimpse of what the younger guys look like on the offensive line. There’s a very real chance that when the season is over four of the five starters from the season-opener are not with the Iowa football team next year. Experience now will be huge next year. Second is these guys are continuing to develop their versatility, which makes the Hawks less vulnerable to crippling injuries on the offensive line.