Offensive line play has been a staple for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and the group in 2026 is featuring some new faces alongside veterans. The group will be asked to be a strength of this team, just as it has been for the first two years of Tim Lester's tenure as Iowa's offensive coordinator.
With a few position battles working themselves out and some guys moving to new spots, Lester gave some insight into what this group looks like entering the 2026 season and how he feels about the group's depth.
"TBD. I'm happy with where we're at. We've had a rotation in there. We've probably had six, seven, eight guys play center, but Pieper moving was a big story. He's done a really good job. We moved him back and forth. Cael Winter has really come along. He's had a great spring. He could play guard or center, but I think he's more comfortable at center.
"Mike Myslinski, he was doing really well. He got hurt. We got Jano back. Was happy to have him out there in pads again. He was out there flying around, and he looks comfortable. It's really who plays guard is probably secondary to who plays center. Once we figure out the center, the guard will be easy.
"Trent came in here, and he's learning our system. He's a guy who came from JMU. He rolled an ankle, and he was out for a week or two. He did some really good things the other day.
"There's going to be a lot of options there. We put Allgeyer in there at guard a little bit. I think he could also play tackle. I really like the numbers we're at. I don't think anything is solidified yet, but the way those guys are working, and it's just unbelievable when you have a guy like Leighton Jones. Leighton has had an unbelievable spring. He doesn't even stick out. That's a compliment. You don't even notice him. It's just like Beau is there.
"Even the new guys have been in the system for two years now, so they're very comfortable with what we're doing. That group has done a great job. I think the key is to get not so much five. It's do we have six, seven, or eight? This is a physical game. It's a physical league.
"I like where our numbers are at right now. It will be interesting to see how it all falls, but I've been very proud of some of those guys that are in year three and how they played. They've really got themselves into the fight, which will be decided obviously in August," Lester said of the Hawkeyes' offensive line depth.
Iowa is handling a good problem along the offensive line. With departures of Logan Jones, Gennings Dunker, and Beau Stephens to the NFL, the Hawkeyes are fortunate to have the luxury of choice in letting this group of linemen battle it out, with the cream rising to the top.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire : Iowa football feeling confident in offensive line depth ahead of 2026