Hawknick
Banned
Offensive Line Preview.
This year's offensive line will be a good one. Not only are they athletic, strong, and talented, but they are also well coached. On top of that 3 of the 5 spots have experienced starters.
The leader will be All Big 10, and All American candidate Austin Blythe. He will be making the line calls at center, and his senior leadership will help this line a lot. He also has the ability to play multiple positions on the line, as he has played both guard and center.
Another senior leader on this line will be pre season All Big 10 performer Jordan Walsh. This will be his third year as starter at right guard, and his impact will be huge.
At the other guard spot will be another experienced starter, Sean Welsh. Last year he started 7 games and earned freshman All Big 10 honors. This year he will take the next step forward. Another possibility at this spot will be Senior Eric Simmons, he currently topping the depth chart as of June 30.
At left guard will be 6'5" 300 pound Boone Myers! He is big and athletic. Like many of Iowa's great left tackles he is a converted tight end, so we know he has speed. He has also worked hard in the weight room to gain the strength needed to be a tackle. He will live up to the previous Iowa greats, and be the next inline as a great left tackle.
At right tackle is another big former tight end. 6'6" 300 pound Ike Boettger is every bit the athlete. Last year he filled in at left tackle do to injuries early in the season and performed admirably. Now he is ready to be a full time starter. When we all get to see more of him the chant "I like Ike" will fill the stadium as he bowls over defenders.
Two of the first guys of the bench might just be junior legacy players. First at tackle is Cole Croston son of former Iowa lineman Dave Croston. He has worked hard to bulk up, and he is now 295. Don't rule out him pushing for a starting job yet either. At guard is Mitch Keppy son of former Iowa lineman Myron Keppy. He has waited his turn, and now he is ready to push for playing time.
Iowa also has two huge 6'4" 300-305lb redshirt freshman. Ross Reynolds and Keagen Rendor are both all state Iowa lineman who have used their ability well at the college level. Rendor actually had to lose weight to get into college football shape, and he did. Both these guys are strong, and will only get better.
The second team also has an experienced center with 6'2" 295lb senior Eric Simmons. He is also a versatile player. As he listed as backup at both center and starting left guard.
Competing for time at tackle will also be junior 6'5" 290lb Ryan Ward. He has been used as an extra blocker in heavy sets, however he could play on the line too. At guard or center true freshman James Daniels could play. He already has the size at 6'4" 285. He also got on campus early so he would have a leg up on fundamentals vs other true freshman. They may not want to use him though as to take a year of eligibility.
This is a good group of lineman. They will be the foundation for offensive success this year.
This year's offensive line will be a good one. Not only are they athletic, strong, and talented, but they are also well coached. On top of that 3 of the 5 spots have experienced starters.
The leader will be All Big 10, and All American candidate Austin Blythe. He will be making the line calls at center, and his senior leadership will help this line a lot. He also has the ability to play multiple positions on the line, as he has played both guard and center.
Another senior leader on this line will be pre season All Big 10 performer Jordan Walsh. This will be his third year as starter at right guard, and his impact will be huge.
At the other guard spot will be another experienced starter, Sean Welsh. Last year he started 7 games and earned freshman All Big 10 honors. This year he will take the next step forward. Another possibility at this spot will be Senior Eric Simmons, he currently topping the depth chart as of June 30.
At left guard will be 6'5" 300 pound Boone Myers! He is big and athletic. Like many of Iowa's great left tackles he is a converted tight end, so we know he has speed. He has also worked hard in the weight room to gain the strength needed to be a tackle. He will live up to the previous Iowa greats, and be the next inline as a great left tackle.
At right tackle is another big former tight end. 6'6" 300 pound Ike Boettger is every bit the athlete. Last year he filled in at left tackle do to injuries early in the season and performed admirably. Now he is ready to be a full time starter. When we all get to see more of him the chant "I like Ike" will fill the stadium as he bowls over defenders.
Two of the first guys of the bench might just be junior legacy players. First at tackle is Cole Croston son of former Iowa lineman Dave Croston. He has worked hard to bulk up, and he is now 295. Don't rule out him pushing for a starting job yet either. At guard is Mitch Keppy son of former Iowa lineman Myron Keppy. He has waited his turn, and now he is ready to push for playing time.
Iowa also has two huge 6'4" 300-305lb redshirt freshman. Ross Reynolds and Keagen Rendor are both all state Iowa lineman who have used their ability well at the college level. Rendor actually had to lose weight to get into college football shape, and he did. Both these guys are strong, and will only get better.
The second team also has an experienced center with 6'2" 295lb senior Eric Simmons. He is also a versatile player. As he listed as backup at both center and starting left guard.
Competing for time at tackle will also be junior 6'5" 290lb Ryan Ward. He has been used as an extra blocker in heavy sets, however he could play on the line too. At guard or center true freshman James Daniels could play. He already has the size at 6'4" 285. He also got on campus early so he would have a leg up on fundamentals vs other true freshman. They may not want to use him though as to take a year of eligibility.
This is a good group of lineman. They will be the foundation for offensive success this year.
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