Gennings Dunker

austinbignall07
Dec 29, 2025
3 min read

NFL Draft Profile: Gennings Dunker

Position: Offensive Tackle / Guard | School: Iowa | Class: Senior

Height: 6'5" | Weight: 316 lbs | Archetype: Run Blocker (Power/Gap)

College Career Summary

Gennings Dunker is the quintessential Iowa lineman—tough, technically sound, and a "mauler" in the run game. After a redshirt season in 2021, Dunker became a fixture on the Hawkeye front. He made his first career start at right guard in the 2022 Music City Bowl before transitioning to Right Tackle full-time in 2023.

His 2025 season was a career-defining campaign. As a cornerstone of the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line, Dunker started all 12 games at RT, pushing his career total to 37 starts. He earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors and was a key reason Iowa’s rushing attack surpassed 200 yards in five different games. While he has played exclusively tackle in college, many NFL scouts view his 316 lb frame and limited lateral range as a perfect fit for a move back to the interior at the next level.

Career Stats & Highlights

Career Starts: 37 (36 at RT, 1 at RG)
2025 Sacks Allowed: 1
2025 Holding Penalties: 1 (Game 10 vs. USC)
2025 Honors: First-Team All-Big Ten (Media), Joe Moore Award Winner.

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs UAlbany	A	Paved way for 310 rushing yards; technically perfect opener.
2	at Iowa State	B+	Physical "Cy-Hawk" battle; dominant in short-yardage situations.
3	vs Troy	A-	High motor; multiple second-level pancakes on linebackers.
4	at Minnesota	B	Solid in the run game; one pressure allowed on a speed rush.
5	at Ohio State	C+	Worst Game. Struggled with elite Buckeye EDGE speed; played "catch-up."
7	vs Penn State	A-	Resilient performance against a top-tier front; no sacks allowed.
8	vs Northwestern	A	Controlled the point of attack; erased the defensive end.
9	at Wisconsin	B+	Classic Big Ten trench war; led the way for 210 rushing yards.
10	at USC	B	Great tape until a late holding penalty in the second half.
11	at Nebraska	A	The Apex. Dominant displacement; 213 team rush yards.
12	vs UMass	A	Clinical; paved the way for 435 yards of total offense.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 98/100

Leadership: Elite. Voted to the 2025 Player Council; a lead-by-example veteran.
Mental Toughness: High; famously blocks out social media noise to focus on "hay bale toss" strength.
Competitor: Fierce; known for his "nasty" finish and playing through the echo of the whistle.
Team Player: Epitomizes the "Iowa Way"; puts the unit's success (Joe Moore Award) above solo stats.
Star Power: High on-field impact as a foundational run-blocker.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 92/100

Height/Weight: 6'5", 316 lbs. (Meets both height and 315 lbs benchmarks).
Stamina: Exceptional; heavy-duty stamina typical of Iowa's developmental program.
Durability: High. Started 25 consecutive games across 2024–2025.
Injury History: Missed two games in 2024 (knee), but remained clean in 2025.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 95/100

Run Block: Elite. A powerful displacer who excels at creating vertical push.
Pass Block: Solid; shows a strong anchor but can be vulnerable to elite NFL speed.
Strength: Strength. Elite core strength; converts weight-room power to the field.
Technique: High-level mastery of hand placement and leverage.
High Motor: Relentless; gives 100% effort every single snap.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 84/100

Speed: Decent for his size; effective as a puller and climbing to the second level.
Agility: Average; lateral quickness is the main area for improvement at tackle.
Flexibility: Good knee bend; shows the "elasticity" to sit down in his anchor.
Acceleration: Solid first-step explosiveness on reach blocks.
Footwork: Clean and consistent; wide base allows for a stable platform.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 96/100

Awareness: Elite. High football IQ; excellent at identifying stunts and late blitzers.

Scouting Report

Strengths: Prototypical "Iowa Mauler" power; elite run-blocking fundamentals; massive, dense frame; high football character and intelligence; durable 3-year starter; versatile enough to slide inside to Guard.
Weaknesses: Lacks elite lateral range for a Left Tackle; can be susceptible to inside counters when playing "catch-up" on the edge; arm length is adequate but not elite for the tackle position.
Scheme Fit: Ideal for a Power-Gap or Heavy-Zone rushing system (e.g., Ravens, Lions, Steelers).
NFL Comparison: Trey Smith / Austin Corbett.

Scout's Final Word

"Gennings Dunker is a 'lunch pail' prospect who will be an immediate asset to an NFL run game. While his ceiling at Tackle might be capped by lateral quickness, his floor as an NFL Guard is a decade-long starter. He plays with a mean streak and the technical polish you expect from a Kirk Ferentz product. He won't lose battles of strength. Draft Projection: 3rd Round."