UNI piecing together 2023 offensive line with veterans to rely on

CEDAR FALLS — Replicating or building on the success of what became a breakout season offensively for Northern Iowa in 2022 will come down to its offensive line in 2023.

The Panthers graduated four starters from last year’s unit that paved the way for 288.5 passing yards and 156.5 rushing yards per game. A total offense average of 444.9 yards per game — UNI’s best mark since 2007.

What’s somewhat unique to those competing to fill the four vacant starting spots is many of them have previous starting experience.

Senior center Chase Arends has four career starts and has played in parts of seven other games. Junior tackle Tristan Roper has made five career starts and played in parts of 11 other games and sophomore guards Blake Anderson and Hayden Amos have played in six and nine games, respectively.

“It’s four new starters, but it’s also four new veterans and people who have played snaps here and started in games here,” UNI quarterback Theo Day said. “They’re also very talented guys, so my confidence is not going to waver and I’m going to sit in (the pocket) and make throws.”

The re-hiring this off-season of former offensive line coach Rick Nelson — whose first stint in Cedar Falls spanned 16 years from 2000-2015 — also has proven valuable.

“I don’t really want to coach anywhere else. I love this place and the only reason I left here is I went and coached with my son, or else I would not have left here,” Nelson said. “My biggest thing is relationships — I care about these kids. Mark (Farley) and I have known each other since probably 1982, so we’ve known each other for a long time.”

Nelson told The Gazette at last week’s media day that Roper is slated to start at left tackle, while Jared Penning has been moved to right tackle. Chase Arends will start at center, but who’s to his left and right at guard seems unsettled.

Nelson mentioned Arkansas State transfer Kyle Kelly, Iowa transfer Josh Volk, Blake Anderson, Gavin Proudfoot and Amos in the thick of a competition.

“Obviously I think there’s some starters, but I think there’s some kids that know what our standards are and we’re just trying to be more physical up front,” Nelson said. “Our defensive front is pretty good, so it’s good that we go against each other all the time (because) we’re getting better and better.”

It’s possible the competition at guard could go into the regular season that starts Saturday at Iowa State with rotations at the position. However, doing so extends the timeline of a regular five finding much-needed chemistry — something that last season’s starters demonstrated early on.

“You can have four of them just really doing well and one guy is not doing so well and the play doesn’t work,” Nelson said. “I haven’t seen any football game where an offensive lineman plays a perfect game.

“I think the biggest thing is just their relationships. I think the bond is pretty dang good in the room. (I’ve) never had a good offensive line if they didn’t care about each other. I think that’s a big plus we have going right now.”