Pre-Summer Offensive Line Outlook

Pre Summer Offensive Line Outlook


Something that has become a staple in the Ferentz era is quality offensive line play. Even in years where the offensive line isn’t supposed to be good in the end they still end up being a solid unit. Junior Riley Reiff will anchor a unit that boasts 58 career starts. Reiff has started 23 career games already, all in the last two years. The All-American candidate is one of the best in the Big Ten and the NCAA and will have a big decision after the season on whether he comes back for his senior season or not. Joining Riley as the other tackle will be Markus Zusevics, who started every game last season. He is overshadowed by Reiff, but Zus, as he is known as, is another in a long list of solid offensive tackles at Iowa. Joining Reiff and Zusevics as a starter of every game last season is James Ferentz. Let’s be honest, James was born and breed to be a center in this offense. He has learned the ropes from both his dad and his older brother, Brian. From the time that he was born he has been learning the zone blocking scheme and going into his junior season, he has proven that he knows it very well. In the zone blocking scheme the center is the most important position because he makes the line calls and essentially tells every other offensive lineman who he is blocking on that play. Joining the three incumbents will be guards Adam Gettis and Nolan MacMillan, who between them have 9 career starts. Last season both Gettis and MacMillan were hampered by injuries and look to regain their starting spots now that they are healthy. While those two will be the front runners for the guard positions, don’t sleep on Brandon Scherff making his way into the starting lineup. Along with Scherff, the other backups looking for playing time will be tackles Andrew Donnal and Brett Van Sloten, guards Woody Orne and Drew Clark, and center Conor Boffeli. Junior college transfer Dan Heiar would have figured into the mix of offensive lineman; however he is still recovering from a car accident this spring and may or may not be back with the team. If in fall camp Iowa can get a top five and stick with that unit for the majority of the season they will be one of the best units in the Big Ten as well as the nation.