Tag: Connor Colby

Iowa Hawkeyes’ offensive line looking to kiss growing pains goodbye in 2022

Iowa’s young offensive line had its growing pains in 2021. Now, a new generation of Hawkeye linemen looks to impose their will in 2022.

It may go against Iowa’s perception, but the offensive line is one of the areas that needs the most improvement in 2022. Typically the biggest position of strength for Iowa, the offensive line was a bit of a disappointment in 2021.

While center Tyler Linderbaum was fantastic once again—there’s a reason the first-round 2023 NFL draft selection has already impressed his new team before even taking a single snap for Baltimore—the rest of the offensive line suffered from some inexperience last year. However, in Pete Fiutak’s preview of the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 2022 season for College Football News, he sees a bounceback year in store.

Seriously, Iowa? The offensive line was a problem? That’s the most amazing part about the 2021 run to the Big Ten Championship – Iowa was able to do that even though the program’s signature position group was way too ineffective for way too long.

Oh sure, Tyler Linderbaum was a special center, and there was all-star consideration at some other spots, but the line was dead last in the Big Ten in tackles for loss allowed, struggled in pass protection, and blocked for the 101st-ranked running game in the country.

The interior needs a reboot with all the lost parts, but Mason Richman is a good young tackle, there’s experience at right tackle, and it’s Iowa. This is going to be fixed. – Fiutak, College Football News.

As mentioned, Mason Richman is certainly a player to keep an eye on. Starting 12 games last year as a redshirt freshman, there definitely were some growing pains, but star potential is there.

He was an All-Big Ten honorable mention choice by both the Big Ten coaches and media in a conference known for great offensive line play. The 6-foot-6, 296 pound product of Leawood, Kan., definitely gained some extremely valuable experience to take another leap forward in 2022.

As detailed in our Iowa offensive line overview, Connor Colby is a guard Hawkeye fans should be very excited for. Iowa trusted Colby so much to start him at right guard each of the team’s final 11 games of last season as a true freshman. He wasn’t perfect, but as he gains experience and really gets the fundamentals down, he can be the next great Iowa guard.

Redshirt junior Justin Britt is back after starting Iowa’s first three games of last season at right guard and the Hawkeyes also return redshirt junior Nick DeJong and redshirt senior Jack Plumb. DeJong started Iowa’s first seven games at right tackle and Plumb started the final seven. DeJong also had a pair of starts at left tackle in 2021.

The Hawkeyes have a healthy competition underway at center heading into fall camp. Redshirt sophomore Tyler Elsbury was listed atop the depth chart to begin the spring with redshirt senior Matt Fagan and redshirt sophomore Logan Jones as the No. 2 and No. 3 options. Jones will be interesting to track moving into fall camp as he is making the switch from the defensive line to center.

The other starters to begin the spring were Richman at left tackle, Britt at left guard, Colby at right guard and Plumb at right tackle.

If you haven’t sensed the theme with this Iowa offensive line yet, it is pretty much the next generation. Last season was a year for growth, for gaining experience. The young budding stars now know what to expect in the Big Ten and will keep on growing. Look out for the Iowa offensive line to return to form in 2022.

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7 Iowa Hawkeyes honored as Phil Steele preseason All-American, All-Big Ten selections

Seven Iowa Hawkeyes earned either preseason All-American or All-Big Ten honors from Phil Steele.

As the preseason awards season rolls on, seven Iowa Hawkeyes were tabbed as either All-American or All-Big Ten selections by Phil Steele. Four defensive players, two offensive players and a specialist comprise the selections by Phil Steele.

Let’s take a look at the full list of honorees that Iowa football’s official account released today.

22 Iowa Hawkeyes football stats to know entering the 2022 season

Kickoff of the 2022 season is nearing closer every day. Here’s 22 Iowa Hawkeyes stats to know from last season as we inch toward 2022.

By now, you know the drill. The 2021 Iowa Hawkeyes had one of the nation’s stingiest defenses, but the offense left so much to be desired. As a result, a perfect 6-0 start lost its luster with a pair of midseason losses to Purdue and at Wisconsin.

After four straight wins to close the regular season locked down the Big Ten West crown, the Hawkeyes were exposed in the Big Ten championship game by the Michigan Wolverines, 42-3. Iowa followed that championship game loss up with a field goal defeat in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl against Kentucky. Enter the spring and summer of offensive discontent.

A step forward in the Hawkeyes’ quarterback play and Iowa’s offense in general would go a mile in 2022. If Iowa can find that recipe, then fans can start realistically thinking about a return trip to the Big Ten championship game.

With an ongoing quarterback competition still being waged in Iowa City, what’s to come next is really anybody’s guess. There’s optimism that Spencer Petras can elevate his game to the next level. The 6-foot-5, 233 pound signal-caller from San Rafael, Calif., has been working out with quarterbacks coach and trainer Tony Racioppi this offseason to refine his body and his game.

Still, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said to end the spring that he and the rest of his offensive staff are planning a long, hard look heading into the fall at each of their three options under center.

Where does that leave us entering the 2022 college football season? Here’s a look back at all of Iowa’s key offensive and defensive numbers from last season to get fans prepped for what may lie ahead in 2022.

Iowa offensive line overview: Hawkeyes feature talented youth entering 2022

Iowa’s offensive line is highlighted by talented young players with a splash of experience. The Hawkeyes hope it resembles past units.

The offensive line is the position group that saw the biggest turnover of talent on the Hawkeyes. Center Tyler Linderbaum was the best center in the nation in 2021, arguably in the year prior as well. Iowa’s latest first-round NFL draft pick and the newest Baltimore Raven, Linderbaum’s impact over the past two years cannot be overstated. He helped power one of the nation’s most potent rushing attacks.

Kyler Schott is also a big loss for Iowa as well. Unfortunately overshadowed by his center counterpart, Schott was one of the best guards in the Big Ten last year and was named second-team All-Big Ten by the league’s coaches and the Associated Press in 2021. Iowa loses a ton of experience with his departure. Schott started 10 games last season and 18 over the past three. Those are two big holes to fill on the interior.

Iowa is known for being an offensive line factory, though. Despite sending multiple high-level linemen to the league, including recent examples Tristan Wirfs, James Daniels, and Brandon Scherff, the Hawkeyes always seem to replenish and maintain the position as a strength. Iowa has a few returning starters but will look a whole lot different this year. Here is a look at the Hawkeyes’ line in 2022.

Iowa Hawkeye Tyler Linderbaum is Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded 2021 college football player

Pro Football Focus graded Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum as its top 2021 college football player.

Iowa center [autotag]Tyler Linderbaum[/autotag] is going to be an excellent addition for somebody in the 2022 NFL draft. That much is evidenced by his Pro Football Focus grade.

Linderbaum had the highest grade of any college football player in 2021. The 6-foot-3, 290 pound center earned a grade of 95.4.

That mark was well clear of the next-closest center. Missouri’s Michael Maietti finished the 2021 season with a PFF grade of 89.1, Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz earned a grade of 88.5, USC’s Brett Neilon registered a grade of 86.2 and Wyoming’s Keegan Cryder recorded a grade of 85.5 to round out the top grades for Division I centers.

According to PFF, Linderbaum had a run blocking grade of 96.6 and a pass blocking grade of 79.8. His run blocking grade was tops among all Division I players, while his pass blocking grade checked in at No. 15. Linderbaum was also recently listed among Bucky Brooks of NFL.com’s top five interior blockers.

Iowa’s top ten offensive players during the 2021 season according to PFF looked like this: Linderbaum at No. 1 with a grade of 95.4, left guard [autotag]Kyler Schott[/autotag] with a grade of 86.1, offensive lineman [autotag]Tyler Elsbury[/autotag] with a grade of 80.4, offensive guard [autotag]Justin Britt[/autotag] with a grade of 78.5, center [autotag]Matt Fagan[/autotag] with a grade of 75.8, running back [autotag]Gavin Williams[/autotag] with a grade of 75.1, offensive guard [autotag]Cody Ince[/autotag] with a grade of 75.1, quarterback [autotag]Spencer Petras[/autotag] with a grade of 73.9, tight end [autotag]Sam LaPorta[/autotag] with a grade of 72.5 and right guard [autotag]Connor Colby[/autotag] with a grade of 71.5

The Hawkeyes’ top 10 defensive players in 2021 via PFF went as follows: defensive end [autotag]Zach VanValkenburg[/autotag] with a grade of 84.2, cornerback [autotag]Riley Moss[/autotag] with a grade of 80.1, cornerback [autotag]Matt Hankins[/autotag] with a grade of 80.0, safety [autotag]Dane Belton[/autotag] with a grade of 77.1, safety [autotag]Quinn Schulte[/autotag] with a grade of 75.3, safety [autotag]Kaevon Merriweather[/autotag] with a grade of 73.1, cornerback [autotag]Jermari Harris[/autotag] with a grade of 72.9, defensive tackle [autotag]Noah Shannon[/autotag] with a grade of 70.6, defensive tackle [autotag]Lukas Van Ness[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Jack Campbell[/autotag] with a grade of 69.8.

Iowa’s top-five graded specialists according to PFF were defensive tackle [autotag]Logan Lee[/autotag] with a grade of 89.0, cornerback [autotag]Terry Roberts[/autotag] with a grade of 84.6, cornerback [autotag]Cooper DeJean[/autotag] with a grade of 76.3, cornerback [autotag]Xavior Williams[/autotag] with a grade of 76.1 and defensive back [autotag]Henry Marchese[/autotag] with a grade of 74.2.

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Athlon Sports’ 5 spring storylines to watch for the Iowa Hawkeyes

Athlon Sports’ J.P. Scott broke down five spring storylines to watch for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Iowa enters the 2022 spring after a 10-4 campaign that was highlighted by a 6-0 start and four wins to close the regular season that meant the Hawkeyes captured the Big Ten West championship.

Now, the focus is on figuring out how to replace three offensive starters and four defensive starters and how to close the gap between themselves and Big Ten champion Michigan. The Wolverines sent the Hawkeyes into bowl season with a 42-3 drubbing.

There’s plenty of reason for excitement in Iowa City with what Iowa returns, but, as typifies a spring, there’s plenty of questions for the Hawks as well. Athlon Sports’ J.P. Scott took a look at the five biggest spring storylines for Iowa in his spring preview of the Hawkeyes.

Examining the Iowa Hawkeyes’ offensive line to start the 2022 spring

What does Iowa’s 2022 offensive line look like as spring practices begin?

The Hawkeyes had the best center in the nation in 2021. That fact was illustrated by Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum earning the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded annually to the country’s top center.

Obviously, the loss of Linderbaum is a significant departure. The 6-foot-3, 290 pound center from Solon, Iowa, started all 35 games over the past three seasons for the Hawkeyes. Iowa replaces just three starters overall offensively, but another one of the Hawkeyes’ losses is left guard Kyler Schott.

The 6-foot-2, 294 pound offensive lineman played in 25 games with the Hawkeyes and started 18 overall, including the final 10 games of last season.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz was asked if it’s a mix of fear and excitement with his offensive line entering the spring given some of the inexperience but knowing that young talent is there.

“Yeah, I’d say more fair a year ago. Again, we felt really good about the guy in the middle. Tyler (Linderbaum), one of the best guys we’ve had. And felt pretty good about Cody and, you know, well, Cody and Shooter. Thought we had three solid guys there. So we knew we had some work to do at the tackle spot, but that kind of blew up with Shooter and Cody. So that was a tough, challenging year and really impressed with the way George (Barnett) handled things. He didn’t go crazy or anything. He just kept coaching. And again, I think I’m excited about the growth that we saw, especially the last two months, November, December.

“So to me, I’m encouraged. I think the potential is there. Potential is potential. It really doesn’t help you, but I think the guys have worked hard. They’ve got the right attitude and I’m really anxious to see everybody this spring. It’s fun to watch guys and see how they practice, how they improve and compete. And it will be different on Saturday. We put pads on. We’ll be playing real football instead of just shells out there. But at least, you know, I think we’ve got, counting on everybody using the experience they’ve got and then improvement, and that’s where everybody on the team is really, that’s their job, including us coaches,” Ferentz said.

With that said, here’s how Iowa’s starting offensive line looks according to the first depth chart to the start the spring.