UNI football counting on offensive line to help get the most out of new offense

Editor’s note: Second in a six-part series looking at Northern Iowa ahead of the 2022 football season.

CEDAR FALLS — A lot of the discussion surrounding the 2022 Northern Iowa football team has centered on its new offense.

Whether that’s co-offensive coordinators Bodie Reeder and Ryan Clanton, or returning starting quarterback Theo Day. Maybe it's the depth built in the offseason at wide receiver.

As intriguing as all that discussion is, none of it can come close to a best-case scenario if the Panthers offensive line doesn’t hold up its end of the bargain.

“They’re older and they’re experienced. They’re big and they’re physical,” Clanton said. “A lot of older guys that have been in the system and seen those great players come through here and they’re holding the standard pretty high.”

Despite the loss of All-America left tackle Trevor Penning — who became the program’s highest NFL Draft pick when the New Orleans Saints selected him 19th overall in April — UNI returns three starters and two others with previous starting experience.

Those three returning starters anchor the interior of the line — Jared Penning at left guard, Erik Sorensen at center and Justin Peine at right guard.

“Those guys have been around. They’re developed players. They’re strong football players,” UNI head coach Mark Farley said. “It’s nice to have continuity and an established offensive line.”

Sixth-year senior Nick Ellis continues to build back up after missing more than a year with various injuries. The Aplington-Parkersburg product is battling at right tackle with Tristan Roper, who’s made five career starts.

“(Ellis) just gets out there, just gets healthy, he’s an impact player and then an ankle or shoulder or hip (injury happens),” Farley said. “He’s always been nicked up, right when he really gets good, too. I just hope that he can have the best season of his life, because he really hasn’t had it yet. If he can do that, he’ll bring a tremendous amount to our team.”

At left tackle is another sixth-year senior in Matthew Vanderslice, who’s made five career starts. Vanderslice, who stands 6-foot-8 and is listed at 318 pounds, is the most physically formidable of a unit that averages out to 6-6 and 327.

“Anytime you put this football team out there you ought to think of Jed Smith,” Farley said of the program’s tenured strength and conditioning coordinator. “Jed’s in (the weight room) all summer long with those guys.”

Beyond the top six are a number of underclassmen who have gotten the benefit of an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic. That extra year has proved particularly valuable for UNI’s offensive and defensive linemen, who often need two or three years worth of time in the weight room to meet the physical demands of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Clanton made a point to mention Blake Anderson and Hayden Amos on media day. Those two are among a group of nine redshirt freshmen with impressive measurables.

“Luckily we have a lot of young guys that can play as well,” Clanton said. “So, we’re pretty excited about those other guys that are going to fit in. It creates good competition, which is what we want.”