If Iowa was not already called, "Tight End U," they would be called "O-Line U." The Hawkeyes have produced several phenomenal offensive lineman from Marshal Yanda and Riley Reiff in the early 2000s to Tristan Wirfs and Tyler Linderbaum who are still playing today, there's no doubt that pro bowl lineman have came from Iowa.
With the offensive philosophy that we have seen over the years, the key to the success of this team starts with the offensive line.
With almost all of the starters from last season returning, there is a lot of hype surrounding this group. Let's look at the offensive linemen that you could see making huge running lanes for our backs this season.
The Starters
Starting on the left side at Tackle, junior Jack Dotzler comes in with the least amount of experience of all of the starters, appearing in just four games.
The Waunakee, WI, product will have a lot of veteran leadership around him to mentor him, but being at 6 feet 6 inches and 312 pounds, Dotzler should have the build to help protect the blind side well.
Moving to left guard is senior Beau Stephens from Blue Springs, MO. This should be a name that Hawkeye fans should know, as he started all but one game last season, and on most explosive offensive plays, he played a key role in them.
Being named a recipient of the Comeback Player of the Year award by his teammates, Stephens is well-liked by his teammates and is an integral part of this unit.
Even if you are not a Hawkeye fan, you will recognize the man in the middle of the line. Logan Jones has made a name for himself at Center.
He was named to the Big 10 All-Conference Second Team last season and is a Big 10 Preseason Honoree (one of only 16 Big 10 players) this season. Many NFL mock drafters have Jones being one of the top centers in the upcoming draft, so there's a lot to be excited about with Jones.
Shifting to the right side of the line, we have Kade Pieper at Right Guard. The sophomore from Norfolk, NE, played in 11 games last season as a freshman.
He is the smallest offensive lineman coming in at 6'4 and 290 pounds, but he makes up for it with his tenacity and finishing blocks. As a sophomore, expect to see him blossom not only this season but in many seasons to come.
Rounding out the line at right tackle is Gennings Dunker. Much like Jones, there is a lot of hype surrounding the Lena, IL product.
He is a Second-Team Preseason All-American per Phil Steele and Sporting News. Dunker is not only considered one of the top linemen in the Big 10 but also all of College Football. A lot of Kaleb Johnson's longest runs last season came from the right side with Dunker helping him out.
He will play a huge part in this line's success once again.
Backups
Add on key bench players like Trevor Lauck, Leighton Jones, and Michael Myslinski, who we could very well see rotate in at some points this season. This offensive line is not only talented but also deep.
Without a doubt, Iowa fans have every reason to be optimistic about this offensive line with the experience that was brought back.
If the Hawkeyes get over the offensive hurdle they've faced for many seasons, the offensive line will have played a key role in their success.