10 rookies -- OG Adam Gettis

No. 4 -- OG Adam Gettis

There's not much book on Adam Gettis.

He's a fourth-year junior who's listed at 6-4, 280 and that might be generous on both counts. He started one game last season, against Northern Iowa. He played some against Arizona. He didn't play meaningul minutes after those appearances.

Gettis was part of the 2007 recruiting class and was listed at 235 when he signed, so the last few years have been a weightroom buildup for him.

He's been mentioned by coach Kirk Ferentz and offensive line coach Reese Morgan as a player they've liked for the last couple years.

If it all comes together, Iowa coaches believe they have something in Gettis.

Situation

Last year's opener was perhaps the O-line's worst performance of the season. Bryan Bulaga was in the midst of the thyroiditis that took him out for three games. Kyle Calloway was suspended. Julian Vandervelde was still on his way back from pectoral surgery.

With Gettis and Dan Doering at the guards, QB Ricky Stanzi was sacked four times. Three of the four allowed were busts on the inside.

"The best five are going to play, regardless of who it is," said Gettis, who made his first start last week. "As long as we know we have our best five on the field, that should make everybody happy."

Again, if the natural progression is there, Gettis should be ready for this promotion. A fourth-year junior has had plenty of weightroom and video sessions to know what to do.

But there's some competition here.

Outlook

Gettis is in a battle with converted D-lineman Cody Hundertmark (6-4, 285) for right guard. Hundertmark switched from defensive end going into the Orange Bowl practices last December.

Ferentz talked this spring about how Iowa's O-line wouldn't have a 320-pounder this season. Coming out of that quote , he said, “Same thing about Gettis, Hundertmark. We moved over (Hundertmark) in December, I think it is going to be a great, great move and he seemed to learn very, very well, very quickly.”

Guard has also been a position where freshman have been broken in. Bulaga started at guard as a true freshman. Mike Jones did it before him in 2003 (and eventually stayed at guard). Redshirt freshman Nolan MacMillan (6-6, 288) could be a candidate for this, but he needs to get healthy. He suffered a sports hernia late last fall and sat out Orange Bowl practices and also sat out spring.

It's Gettis' time, but he's going to have to grab the position by the facemask.