Tag: Jack Plumb

Iowa’s Jack Plumb selected by D.C. Defenders in 2023 XFL draft

Former Iowa Hawkeyes offensive tackle Jack Plumb was selected by the D.C. Defenders in the 2023 XFL draft.

Former Iowa Hawkeyes offensive tackle Jack Plumb has his professional landing spot. The 6-foot-7, 297 pound offensive tackle is off to our nation’s capital.

The D.C. Defenders selected Plumb as part of their 10-player 2023 XFL draft class. Plumb joins Tennessee punter Paxton Brooks, Michigan State offensive lineman Matt Carrick, South Dakota offensive lineman Alex Jensen, East Carolina wide receiver C.J. Johnson, Western Kentucky linebacker Kaleb Oliver, Nevada defensive back Bentlee Sanders, Louisville linebacker Mohamed Sanogo, Missouri State wide receiver Ty Scott and UAB wide receiver Trea Shropshire.

The D.C. Defenders finished the 2023 season with a 10-2 record and captured the North Division Championship. The Arlington Renegades topped D.C. in the 2023 XFL Championship game, 35-26, from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, though.

Plumb started the final five regular season games this past season for the Hawkeyes at right tackle.

The Green Bay, Wis., native’s insertion into the starting lineup coincided with the Hawkeyes’ turnaround to last season and a 4-1 finish to the regular season for Iowa. That sent the Hawkeyes to the TransPerfect Music City Bowl where Iowa blanked Kentucky, 21-0. Plumb didn’t start that contest against Kentucky, though.

He also made seven starts at right tackle for Iowa in 2021 and 14 career starts for the Hawkeyes. Plumb also received an invite to the Green Bay Packers‘ rookie mini camp back in May.

The final goal and destination will be for Plumb to make the climb from the XFL to the NFL. Other players are making that very leap right now. Former D.C. Defender Chris Blair just made the jump from the XFL to the NFL, signing with the Atlanta Falcons.

Hopefully, that’s the path that Plumb can eventually follow as well. Until then, congratulations to Plumb on a professional opportunity with the D.C. Defenders.

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Report Card: Grading the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 27-0 win over the Nevada Wolf Pack

The Iowa Hawkeyes blanked Nevada, 27-0. Naturally, the best all-around performance thus far earns improved marks in this week’s report card.

Even though Mother Nature had other ideas, ultimately, nothing could stop the Iowa Hawkeyes from turning in their best start-to-finish performance of 2022. The Hawkeyes improve to 2-1 on the season and will now turn their attention to Rutgers next Saturday night from SHI Stadium at 6 p.m. on FS1.

As a result, the Nevada Wolf Pack exit Iowa City the victim of a 27-0 shutout and drop to 1-2 on the season.

“We got off the mat and got back in the fight and did a good job in unusual circumstances tonight. So to stay focused, that was good to see. Just really pleased. We showed some progress in certain areas. Happy about that. Obviously, it was good to get Nico (Ragaini) back and Keagan (Johnson) back and then Brody (Brecht) was able to get involved a little bit too at the receiver position. So gave us a few more guys to throw to.

“All in all, the team effort was good. Again, you go 60 minutes broken down over seven hours, not easy to do. Defensively, you all saw the game, those guys played a good game. They were aggressive and very tough to run against and they made the passing yardage tough as well. I thought especially in the first half. It was a little disjointed once we got back in the second half. But in the first half I thought we had a little rhythm offensively. The run game wasn’t perfect, but we did some better things so that was encouraging,” Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said of the victory.

Before completely turning the page over to Rutgers, let’s hand out some Nevada grades. Pull up a chair. Class in session.

Iowa may have accomplished the unthinkable: Spencer Petras, offense might have gotten worse

What happened versus South Dakota State might be worse than every Iowa fan’s worst nightmare: inexplicably, the Hawkeyes’ offense is worse.

Let’s get the “yeah, buts” out of the way right off the top. Iowa opened with the No. 3 team in the FCS in South Dakota State. The Hawkeyes did so minus their top running back and two of their top three wide receivers with both Gavin Williams and Keagan Johnson sidelined and wide receiver Nico Ragaini announced as out to start the week.

Those injuries are in addition to wide receiver Jackson Ritter and offensive lineman Justin Britt both being lost for the season. Plus, wide receiver Diante Vines isn’t expected back from his injury before at least the midway point of this season it doesn’t sound like.

It’s an offensive line that’s young in spots and looking to replace a first-round 2022 NFL draft pick in former center Tyler Linderbaum. Just to reiterate, South Dakota State is really good at the FCS level and has beaten FBS competition as recently as last season in Colorado State and hung with Minnesota in a 28-21 loss to start 2019.

All of this is true. It doesn’t change or excuse the fact that this looked and felt like rock bottom for Hawkeye quarterback Spencer Petras and the Iowa offense.

This was a flat-out embarrassing offensive performance for a program that spent all offseason looking to address a group that finished No. 121 nationally in total offense a season ago, averaging 303.7 yards per game.

Iowa ranked 101st in the country in rushing yards per game with 123.6 and 109th in passing yards per game with 180.1 last year. In 2021, Iowa registered an average of 16.5 first downs per game. In scoring offense, the Hawkeyes finished ranked No. 99, averaging 23.4 points per game.

So far, not so good in the improvement department. Iowa managed to do worse than each of those averages from last season. The Hawkeyes finished with a measly 166 yards of total offense, 109 passing yards and 57 rushing yards. Even though the score looks like the Hawkeyes tossed a conventional touchdown and PAT on the board, Iowa scored its seven points by virtue of one field goal and a pair of safeties. Oh, by the way, Iowa finished with 10 first downs and was 4-of-17 on third-down conversion tries.

In fact, Iowa’s seven points were the fewest by a winning Big Ten team since Iowa’s 6-4 triumph over Penn State in 2004. The Hawkeyes are also the first Big Ten team to win a game without scoring a touchdown since Nebraska beat Michigan State 9-6 in 2018.

At halftime, Petras was 6-of-15 passing for 41 yards with an interception. He finished 11-of-25 for 109 yards. All of the talk about this being a new-look offense sure didn’t hold up over the course of game one.

It could be as simple as Iowa truly doesn’t have a better option than Petras at quarterback. That’s what Ferentz said to start this season.

“It’s a long evaluation, and we evaluate everything, we tell our guys starting in January. Obviously we’re not doing football stuff, and both Spencer and Alex are both quality guys, but just the time on the field, I think Spencer has outperformed Alex a little bit at this point. He’s further ahead and gives us a better chance to be successful. That’s not to diminish what Alex has done. Both have improved.

“Now the thing is can we put this whole thing together and be a little bit more productive offensively. Both guys have done a good job. Spencer has continued to climb,” Ferentz said earlier this week when asked why Petras was able to secure Iowa’s starting quarterback job.

If that’s the case, then so be it, but it’s difficult for fans to reconcile not seeing other quarterbacks like Padilla or Labas get their chance outside of practice and in a game to try to deliver better for Iowa.

After all, as many in the Iowa echo chamber would pass along, right now, it doesn’t feel like it can get any worse. So, why not give those other two a chance and see if it can provide a spark?

It will get sold and painted as a positive that Iowa won the game 7-3 over South Dakota State despite offensive struggles. It’s not. It’s a negative that Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz and offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz were able to stick with Petras for the game’s entirety and win.

It sets up for the Hawkeyes to stay with a quarterback that means this team’s ceiling isn’t a Big Ten championship or maybe even a return appearance in the Big Ten Championship game. Today was the day to try out and see what it looked like once again with backup quarterback Alex Padilla or redshirt freshman Joe Labas.

Instead, the moment came and passed and now it’s on to Iowa State where tinkering at the quarterback position in-game could mean losing to your biggest rival for the first time in the past seven meetings. Obviously, the Iowa coaching staff hopes it doesn’t come to that.

The results versus the Jackrabbits indicate that it’s probably a matter of time before it does. Like the frustrating play that has defined Petras’ career at Iowa in the past, the San Rafael, Calif., native overthrew targets with regularity, struggled against pressure to identify where his open receivers were, he was intercepted on a pass behind his intended target in tight end Sam LaPorta, and missed a deep shot to wide receiver Alec Wick that could have helped sealed the game.

To be fair, Petras deserves a pass in this regard: like the subpar play that defined the back half of last season, it truly isn’t and wasn’t all his fault. The offensive line showed some serious weaknesses in game one.

Petras was under regular duress and the offensive line never could establish the Hawkeyes’ patented run game. Leshon Williams ended his day with 24 carries for a hard-earned 72 rushing yards, though he even had a costly fumble on Iowa’s lone offensive drive that seemed destined for the end zone. As a team, Iowa averaged just 1.6 yards per carry.

It’s week one, so overreactions are a dangerous game, but this was wildly uninspiring offensively from a program that needs improvement on that side of the football in the worst way.

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Week 1 Iowa Hawkeyes offensive depth chart versus the South Dakota State Jackrabbits

The Iowa Hawkeyes

The season-opening week for the Iowa Hawkeyes is upon us and that means it’s almost time for Iowa to lock horns with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes released an offensive depth chart ahead of Big Ten Media Days, but, now that kickoff is this week, the Hawkeyes have revealed an updated offensive depth chart.

Fans suspected that Spencer Petras would remain as Iowa’s No. 1 quarterback. That is the case in the season-opening depth chart. What other surprises await Hawkeye fans in the first in-season depth chart reveal? Let’s take a look at the full Iowa offensive depth chart for South Dakota State.

Just like his predecessor, Logan Jones is taking command of Iowa’s center job following switch

Like his predecessor, Logan Jones has made the switch from defensive line to center and the early returns sound like a perfect match.

It almost sounds way too good to be true. Surely, the Iowa Hawkeyes aren’t going to be able to pull off this defensive line to center stardom swap all over again this swiftly, right?

The early returns sound like that’s exactly what might be in store for Logan Jones. After making the switch from heralded defensive line recruit to offensive line during the spring, Jones has ascended to the top of the depth chart at center.

It’s a familiar tale to the man he will be replacing in former Hawkeyes center Tyler Linderbaum. Iowa offensive line coach George Barnett says that Jones is settling in nicely for the Hawkeyes.

“Well, he’s a natural, gifted athlete. He’s smart. He’s tough, so he just needs reps. The more he gets, the more comfortable he is in those situations. He’s up for a challenge, which you have to do if you’ve never snapped a football before. Now, it’s time to snap a ball and he’s been running with the ones for a couple weeks. He just brings a lot to the table. Now, the challenge is getting him enough reps to see as many different looks and things as we can,” Barnett said.

After arriving as a four-star defensive lineman, it doesn’t sound or feel like lip service when Jones says he thinks Iowa’s offensive line is the perfect fit for himself.

“I definitely feel like I’m better at this position, or I like it more than I did defensive line. Although I love the defensive line like coach (Kelvin) Bell and all them and I’m still super close to those guys, I just feel like center is just more natural I’d say. The guys in the room, I love to play with,” Jones said.

The redshirt sophomore was part of the Hawkeyes’ 2020 class and he’s happy to be joining several players that he came in with.

“Oh, absolutely. I know Mason (Richman) was in my class, (Tyler) Elsbury was in my class and then Connor (Colby) was one below me. So, I mean, we’re all, I’d say we’re pretty close. Just being able to play with them and go out there (is fun). They really helped me with my transition and everything, just making calls. They really helped me adjust to the position, so it’s just been a lot of fun,” Jones said.

As Jones mentioned, one of those pieces is likely left guard Tyler Elsbury. While there is still growing and learning to do, Jones said he and Elsbury work well together so far.

“Yeah, I’d say so. I mean, we get stuff down, but we obviously mess things up. It’s just part of the game, but I’d say we work pretty well together. We communicate just like we should,” Jones said.

Ultimately, he’s just thrilled to be alongside this entire unit for Iowa.

“Four other guys on the offensive line. We’re like a team within a team, so getting close to those guys and playing with them is so much fun. I really enjoy it,” Jones said.

Asked if perhaps things might have played out differently had he not gotten hurt early last season, Jones isn’t worried about looking back and wondering what if.

“Yeah, that is a tough question. I don’t know what would have happened. Maybe I would have played and got switched. I don’t know, but God works in mysterious ways and I think this was his plan for me,” Jones said.

At a position that 247Sports tabbed as one of the Big Ten’s top 10 position battles, Jones seems at peace, even enthused about the move. Given how he’s impressed the coaching staff, it looks like it just might be another match made in offensive line heaven for the Hawkeyes.

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Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Connor Colby flexing his versatility

Iowa offensive lineman Connor Colby has been working at both guard and tackle, showcasing his versatility for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa offensive lineman Connor Colby has been showcasing his versatility, working at both offensive guard and tackle during the Hawkeyes’ 2022 training camp.

It’s already been important and figures to remain that way, too. Unfortunately, the Hawkeyes lost guard Justin Britt for the season, and while these aren’t season-ending injuries and don’t seem particularly serious listening to the Iowa coaching staff, both Mason Richman and Nick DeJong sat out during the Hawkeyes’ open scrimmage at the Kids’ Day at Kinnick.

After a season in which Colby started each of Iowa’s final 11 games at right guard, the ideal destination is probably to keep the 6-foot-6, 308 pound offensive lineman right there on the inside. Still, his versatility is something the Hawkeye coaching staff has to love.

Listening to Colby at Iowa Media Day, he’s fine so long as he’s got a spot on the field.

“I mean it’s been fun, anything I can do to be out there and play football. It’s a change up every now and then, keeps me on my toes,” Colby said.

Ultimately, Colby is keeping any inherent differences between guard and tackle pretty simplistic.

“You have to be ready no matter what, because no matter what there’s going to be a good guy across from you and you have to be ready to handle them,” Colby said.

In terms of bright futures in Iowa City, Colby’s would have to be right toward the top of the list. As a true freshman, Colby garnered All-America status from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the Maxwell Football Club.

Thanks to his standout true frosh campaign, Colby has been picking up recognition before this 2022 season boots off. Phil Steele named Colby a preseason second-team All-Big Ten selection, while Athlon Sports handed out preseason third-team All-Big Ten status to the sophomore.

With plenty expected of Colby, he’s just happy to be fully settled into what Iowa offensive line coach George Barnett and the Hawkeyes are asking of him.

“This year I have a better understanding of what’s going. I need to keep improving my fundamentals in order to make a big difference from this year to last year,” Colby said.

The Hawkeyes head into 2022 as one of the favorites in the Big Ten West. As the defending West division champion, there’s a laundry list of games that could fit the billing as one of the Hawkeyes’ most important.

Colby isn’t ready to iron down which one he’s looking forward to the most.

“I am excited for all of them, but I think the first time back in Kinnick Stadium will be fun. Coming out of the tunnel again, experiencing the atmosphere of all the fans. And they are all sold out this year, which is a testament to our loyal fan support,” Colby said.

As Iowa looks to get more out of its offense in 2022, one of the reasons for optimism is the man from Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Colby epitomizes a lot of the Hawkeyes’ hopes along their offensive line.

Similar to several of his teammates, the hope is his inexperience from last season morphs into seasoned play in 2022.

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Can year two under George Barnett yield an OL breakthrough for the Iowa Hawkeyes?

Can year two under Iowa Hawkeyes offensive line coach George Barnett yield a return to form and more impressive results?

Stop us if you’ve heard and seen this song and dance before. Iowa struggled to move the football and put up points in 2021. The Hawkeyes finished 99th in scoring offense and 121st in total offense.

At this point in the offseason, it’s like Beauty and the Beast’s “Tale As Old As Time.”

While quarterback Spencer Petras has oftentimes been the focal point of the fanbase’s ire, his offensive line left plenty to be desired as well last season. Iowa ranked 68th nationally in sacks allowed and the running game never really found its rhythm, finishing ranked No. 102 after averaging 123.6 rushing yards per game.

Redshirt senior Jack Plumb is part of a group that returns and features 44 career starts. Plumb, Iowa’s projected 6-foot-7, 296 pound starting right tackle, has nine career starts and started each of the team’s final seven games of last season.

Redshirt junior Justin Britt returns at left guard where he started Iowa’s first three games in 2021. At right guard, sophomore Connor Colby brings back 11 consecutive starts at the position to close last year.

At right tackle, Plumb and redshirt junior Nick DeJong split time last season. DeJong started Iowa’s first seven and Plumb the final seven.

Of course, center is where Iowa has to replace All-American and first-round 2022 NFL draft pick Tyler Linderbaum. Redshirt sophomore Tyler Elsbury, redshirt senior Matt Fagan and redshirt sophomore Logan Jones will battle it out during the fall to lock down that starting role.

Jones is trying to follow in the footsteps of Linderbaum as a player that Iowa signed as a defensive lineman and converted to the offensive line. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz touched on his progress during the spring where he said Jones has “transferrable skills.”

Outside of Linderbaum, Iowa really battled the inexperience bug along its offensive line in 2021. Plumb met with the media for the first time since the spring and updated his summer progress and where he feels the group is at heading into 2022 fall camp.

One of the items he touched on jumped out. Plumb was asked about offensive line coach George Barnett.

“He’s pretty mellow, but he’s funny. He’s got a good way of telling stories and I love the way he coaches and everything. He’s big into family and about the room. Just being around us, having the guys be around each other all the time,” Plumb said of Barnett.

Keep in mind, Barnett is entering his second season leading the Hawkeyes’ offensive line. It’s something that Plumb feels has helped his group this offseason.

“It was cool. We know exactly what we’re going to get every day now. We aren’t worrying about the new guy, how is he going to act and everything. We know exactly what he’s going to get and it’s awesome having him around. I love him,” Plumb said.

When thinking about how Iowa’s offensive line can improve in 2022, the continuity with Barnett combined with the Hawkeyes’ offensive line having more collective starting experience seems like a nice recipe for a running game resurgence.

That would certainly be a welcome sight for the Hawkeyes’ quarterbacks in Petras, Alex Padilla and Joe Labas. It’s also great news for running backs Gavin Williams and Leshon Williams who are looking to replace Tyler Goodson’s 1,151 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

There’s still plenty to be sorted out with Iowa’s offensive line throughout fall camp, namely who will start at center, but a second season working with Barnett and plenty of familiar faces should be a terrific starting point.

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6 items with Iowa Hawkeyes offensive tackle Jack Plumb ahead of 2022 fall camp

Iowa Hawkeyes offensive tackle Jack Plumb met with the media, updating his summer progress and where the offensive line is at entering 2022.

Redshirt senior Jack Plumb will be counted upon to help guide Iowa’s offensive line in 2022. There’s hope that he and the rest of the Hawkeyes’ offensive linemen can kiss growing pains goodbye and deliver more of what Iowa fans have come to expect from this group.

In his first meeting with the media since the spring, Plumb spoke with HawkeyeReport‘s Tom Kakert and others to discuss his summer and his early thoughts on Iowa’s group heading into this upcoming college football season.

Let’s take a look below at everything Plumb had to say.

Mason Richman enjoying newfound comfort level, focusing on team mindset

After starting 12 games at left tackle in 2021, Mason Richman is comfortable and taking a team mindset with him into the 2022 season.

Mason Richman started 12 games last season for Iowa at left tackle as a redshirt freshman. Now, he knows what to expect from Big Ten football as he enters his second season of starting work with the Hawkeyes.

The 6-foot-6, 296 pound offensive tackle out of Blue Valley High School in Leawood, Kan., is one of five players with returning starting experience for Iowa. The Hawkeyes also return starting right guard Connor Colby and Jack Plumb. Colby started the final 11 games, while Plumb started each of the final seven games of the season.

Iowa brings back Justin Britt and Nick DeJong, too. Britt started the first three games of 2021 at right guard and DeJong the first seven at right tackle. All of that has to make Iowa offensive line coach George Barnett excited about what his group’s potential could be in 2022.

Richman met with Hawk Central and the Iowa media to discuss his newfound comfort level heading into 2022, his thoughts on the Hawkeyes’ offensive line and what he’s emphasizing for himself this season.

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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