Tyler Elsbury's versatility, leadership result in ‘vital’ role on offensive line

Editor’s note: Eighth in a nine-part series looking at each Iowa football position ahead of the 2022 season.

IOWA CITY — Tyler Elsbury was metaphorically a sponge when All-America center Tyler Linderbaum was on campus.

Elsbury was trying to soak everything in while Linderbaum was available.

“Being under him for two years was a great asset to me,” said Elsbury, the sophomore offensive lineman. “I’ve tried to hang around him as much as possible.”

Now in 2022, he’ll have an opportunity to put that knowledge to good use on a young offensive line.

Offensive line coach George Barnett said Elsbury is “vital right now” for the 2022 offensive line, partly because of his versatility.

“He’s important at multiple positions,” Barnett said at media day. “He’s repping at guard, he’s repping at center. Yesterday, he repped a little bit at tackle.”

While it’s more likely to see Elsbury working in games at guard or center, Barnett sees the benefits of having him work at other positions in fall camp.

“You’re always looking to build depth,” Barnett said. “Always. Especially this time of year.”

Elsbury said he’s “pretty comfortable” at guard, center and tackle.

“Not much changes going from position to position,” Elsbury said. “If you can play guard, you could probably be a decent tackle. If you can play guard, you could probably be a decent center.”

He’s not the only one playing multiple positions in fall camp. Former Cedar Rapids Kennedy prep Connor Colby has worked at guard and tackle, and Barnett said he’s built “for probably every position on the offensive line.”

Redshirt freshman Michael Myslinski has worked at center and guard. The reigning Solon Beef Days hay bale toss champion, Gennings Dunker, also a redshirt freshman, has worked at guard and tackle.

“What you’re always trying to do is find your best five,” Barnett said.

A slew of injuries has added a wrinkle to finding the best five 2022 offensive linemen. At the Kids Day practice — Iowa’s only open practice of fall camp — Mason Richman, David Davidkov and Nick DeJong were all out of uniform. Justin Britt is out for the season.

Barnett has stayed patient despite the challenging circumstances.

“Frustrating really isn’t the word for me,” Barnett said. “Job description is more what it is as an offensive line coach. I think you have to embrace those challenges."

Myslinski, Dunker and Beau Stephens are among the other players rotating at guard.

Elsbury went into spring practice listed as the first-team center and went into fall camp as the first-team left guard. He also won a few off-the-field competitions with Colby, who he lived with for most of the spring.

“We just usually would start wrestling in the kitchen for no reason some days,” Colby said. “It’s hard to admit, but he would usually (win). He’s a lot better wrestler than I ever was, so he got me sometimes.”

On the field and away from the kitchen, Iowa’s reliance on Elsbury comes after he played sparingly on the line in 2021.

Most of his snaps came on special teams as part of the field-goal unit, but that also meant more time to learn from Linderbaum.

Elsbury learned much of the “smarts of football” from Linderbaum.

“He knew the game really well,” Elsbury said.

Now that Linderbaum is gone, Barnett has noticed Elsbury’s elevated football IQ.

“He understands the offense, understands the runs and protections very well,” Barnett said. “Always helping the guy next to him.”

Elsbury gleaned some leadership skills from Linderbaum, too.

“With him gone, we need leaders to emerge,” Elsbury said. “So I’m just trying to be one of those guys.”

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