Interview: Gennings Dunker on NFL draft, Iowa football, Kirk Ferentz

The time for Gennings Dunker's NFL dream to become a reality is upon us, and the Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman is eagerly awaiting his turn to hear his name called during the 2026 NFL Draft. After spending five years with the Hawkeyes, Dunker is a fan favorite heading into the NFL draft for his standout hair and even better personality, but above all, his dominant offenisve line play that he displayed at Iowa . As he gets ready for the draft, he is partnered with Casey's to host his draft party and talks with Hawkeyes Wire about his future, Iowa's future, and what this program means to him.

As Gennings Dunker awaits his name to be called, find out a bit more about the future NFL talent. Iowa's NFL offensive linemen lineage Tristan Wirfs, Tyler Linderbaum, and others. What is it about Iowa linemen going to the NFL with so much success?

Gennings Dunker: It's how Kirk Ferentz runs his program with the standard and the discipline that he sets. When you show up, you are expected to be the same guy every day, have the same energy every day, and not come in looking like you just woke up and give great effort every day. We do the same stuff every day.

Nothing about it is sexy. It's not like we saw something on Twitter and decided to try a new drill. It's the same drills every day, and I think that's what makes a lot of these guys so good.