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Why former Hawkeye Connor Colby reminds me of former Iowa legend Robert Gallery

Colby has the size, athleticism, and looks of another former Hawkeye legend
Jordan Underwood
Jordan Underwood

Dear Old Gold

Mar 2, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa offensive lineman Connor Colby (OL06) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Connor Colby was a stud at the 2025 NFL Combine. The former Iowa Hawkeye offensive lineman showed why he could be a dark horse candidate for best offensive lineman in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. His size, skill, and looks have me thinking about another former Iowa Hawkeye star offensive lineman.

NFL Hall of Famer Robert Gallery was a beast at Iowa. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches, and weighing 323 pounds, he was a force to be reckoned with at Iowa, making him the number 2 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

Connor Colby is a spitting image of Gallery in more than one way and a comparison has to be made.

Robert Gallery, offensive tackle

College: Iowa
Draft Information: Round One, Pick 2 (Raiders)
Hometown: Manchester, Iowa

Combine measurements and results

Height: 6 feet, 6 inches
Weight: 323 pounds
Arm length: 32 inches
Hand size: 9 inches

40-yard dash: 4.97 seconds
10-yard split: 1.74 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.38 seconds
Vertical leap: 30 inches
Broad jump: 8 feet, 8 inches
Bench press: 24 reps

Connor Colby, offensive guard

College: University of Iowa
Draft Information: N/A
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Combine measurements and results

Height: 6 feet, 6 inches
Weight: 309 pounds
Arm length: 32 inches
Hand size: 10 inches

40-yard dash: 5.11 seconds
10-yard split: 1.78 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.63 seconds
Vertical leap: 28.5 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 2 inches
Bench press: N/A

These small-town Iowa kids have so many things in common, that one cannot help but compare them. Robert Gallery was a little bigger and faster, but their other measurements are similar. I am not suggesting Connor Colby will go in the first round, but the looks, measurements, and skills are eerily similar.

The resemblance is uncanny, and Connor Colby hopes to be as good in the NFL as Robert Gallery was.

Jordan Underwood

Jordan Underwood

Jordan is the Site Expert for Dear Old Gold, which focuses on University of Iowa athletics. He has 10 years in the broadcast media industry covering a wide variety of topics including sports, news, local weather and politics. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa and a die-hard Hawkeyes fan. That means he has witnessed very few titles, and knows how much pain Hawkeyes' fans endure on a daily basis. His hobbies include watching/covering sports, video games, comic book collecting and spending time with his wife Rosane and dog Wrigley. Go Hawks!