Even dealing with lingering injuries, Beau Stephens is still a top pass blocking OL

The Iowa offense goes as the offensive line goes.

When the Hawkeyes have a stout offensive line, the playbook opens up, and it makes it more difficult for opposing defenses to predit what Iowa will do.

Iowa has always and will always be a run-first team under Head Coach Kirk Ferentz, but the strength of the offense is dependent on the strength of the line.

As the 2025-2026 season has progressed, the Iowa offensive line continues to turn head.

The unit has been recognized as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the best offensive line unit in college football.

The offensive line also leads the nation with the fewest amount of quarterback pressures allowed this season (19).

After losing star offensive linemen Mason Richman (Seattle Seahawks) and Connor Colby (San Francisco 49ers) to the NFL, the Hawkeyes have reloaded the offensive line and have maintained a veteran presence.

One of the veteran leaders in the unit, senior Beau Stephens, has been one of the best pass-blocking offensive linemen in college football.

According to "PFF College," Stephens has only allowed one quarterback pressure and zero sacks on 201 pass-block snaps this season.

Starting quarterback Mark Gronowski has had nothing but praise for the offensive line this season, and even though the passing game has not been amazing, the offensive line has.

Stephens has been dealing with a lingering issue for most of the latter half of the season, and it caused him to play only 15 snaps against Minnesota during Iowa's last game.

After the game, Ferentz stated that Stephens "is fine," and if it were a life-or-death situation, he would have played.

Even dealing with some tissue injuries throughout the season, Stephens has been one of Iowa's best pass-blocking tight ends, and they will need him this weekend against a stout Oregon passing defense.