IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa’s offensive line was recognized as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award on Tuesday. The award honors offensive line units that display a high level of toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique and finishing.
The Joe Moore Award is named after Joe Moore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history. It is the only major college football award to honor a unit.
Iowa’s offensive line is coached by George Barnett and includes center Logan Jones, tackles Mason Richman and Gennings Dunker, and guards Connor Colby and Beau Stephens. Iowa’s five starting lineman have combined to start 174 career games, including 49 by Richman and 46 by Colby. Nick DeJong, Tyler Elsbury and Kade Pieper have also seen time this season on the offensive line.
The Hawkeyes’ offensive line has gained 200 or more yards seven times in 2024. Iowa has amassed 2,233 rushing yards, the most since 2016, and is on pace to break the program single-season record for rushing yardage. The Hawkeyes have the nation’s second-leading rusher, Kaleb Johnson, who averages 132.8 yards per game. Johnson has already broke school single-season records for touchdowns (21) and points (126). The unit has allowed just 13 sacks in 10 games. Iowa is one of 10 units recognized by the award as the 2024 season enters the final stretch.
These units have gained the attention of the Joe Moore Award voting committee as it moves closer to announcing the selection of its finalists on Dec. 3. Selection of the 2024 Joe Moore Award Winner will be made public after the award’s annual surprise visit to the winning university’s campus in late December.
Iowa (6-4, 4-3) returns to action Saturday, Nov. 23 at Maryland. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. (CT) in College Park, Maryland. The game will be televised on BTN and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.