Gennings Dunker OT Iowa | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Gennings Dunker OT Iowa
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: Right Tackle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/16/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.30 seconds (42%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.0 DOB: 05/08/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: Right Tackle | |
| Last Updated: 05/16/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 5.30 seconds (42%*) | |
| Age: 22.0 DOB: 05/08/2003 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 86.6 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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82% |
| Run Blocking: |
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88% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Early
Overall Rank:
#36
Position rank:
#5
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| College Games: 31 College Snaps: 1435 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
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247 RATING: 88/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Marcus Mbow - Purdue |
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90% |
| Sean Rhyan - UCLA |
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82% |
| Logan Bruss - Wisconsin |
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80% |
Draft Profile: Bio
When you first see Gennings Dunker walking off the Iowa team bus, you'd swear Terminator decided to put on pads and play football. The 6'5" mullet-wearing mauler from Iowa emerged as one of college football's most dominant offensive linemen during his time with the Hawkeyes. Born with raw strength and cultivating a mean streak that defensive linemen fear, Dunker transformed from a three-star recruit into a second-team All-Big Ten selection by 2024. His trajectory at Iowa has been meteoric – from spot duty in 2022 to earning starts at right guard before settling in at right tackle where he's developed into a force of nature.What makes Dunker fascinating isn't just his on-field nastiness but the dichotomy of his personality. Beneath the intimidating exterior and wild hair lies a voracious reader who counts Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" among his favorite books. This intellectual curiosity translates to exceptional football intelligence, particularly evident in his zone blocking assignments. His development under offensive line coach George Barnett has been remarkable – improving from a raw prospect into the highest-graded tackle in the Big Ten according to PFF metrics (90.0) in 2024, surpassing even consensus All-American teammate Kaleb Johnson.
Dunker's collegiate career culminated with 25 starts at right tackle across 31 games, paving the way for an Iowa rushing attack that averaged 197.2 yards per game in 2024 – the program's best mark since 2002. He helped the Hawkeyes eclipse 200+ rushing yards in seven different contests during his redshirt senior campaign, all while allowing minimal pressure in pass protection. The former Solon High School standout established himself as a cornerstone of an Iowa offensive line that earned semifinalist recognition for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation's top offensive line unit.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Absurd play strength that jumps off the tape – consistently creates movement at the point of attack and finishes blocks with vicious intent that leaves defenders checking their chinstraps.
- Exceptional run blocking technique with tremendous leg drive and hand placement that allows him to dominate smaller EDGE players and linebackers when climbing to the second level.
- Shows surprising foot quickness for his size when executing zone blocks – takes precise angles and understands leverage points that make him lethal in Iowa's scheme.
- Brings authentic nastiness that can't be taught – plays with a snarling demeanor through the whistle and seeks to punish defenders with bone-crushing pancake blocks.
- Football intelligence grades through the roof – recognizes stunts, blitzes and defensive alignments pre-snap and rarely appears confused by complex defensive fronts.
- Consistently creates gaping run lanes with his power base and powerful initial punch – when he locks onto defenders, they're typically going where he wants them to go.
- Exhibits excellent recovery skills when initially beaten – uses strong hands and a wide base to re-anchor against bull rushers even after losing the initial battle.
- Plays with relentless motor that wears down opponents – maintains intensity from opening whistle to final gun, showing the same energy on play 70 as on play 1.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Moderate arm length and suboptimal height (6'5") by NFL tackle standards could push him inside to guard, limiting his versatility and value at the next level.
- Hand timing in pass protection remains inconsistent – too often allows defenders to establish leverage before he can deliver his punch, particularly against speed rushers.
- Can get overextended when facing elite quickness off the edge – leans forward and loses balance against defenders with exceptional first-step explosiveness.
- Lateral agility is just adequate when mirroring in pass protection – speed rushers with bend can turn the corner on him by attacking his outside shoulder.
- Lacks ideal knee bend and ankle flexibility that would allow him to maintain leverage against NFL-caliber athletes who can exploit his high pad level.
Scouting Report: Summary
Dunker has legitimate NFL talent with a ceiling that will depend entirely on where teams decide to play him. At Iowa, he dominated as a road-grader in the run game with overwhelming power and finishing ability, but the transition to the pros will require positional clarity. When facing elite speed rushers, his footwork occasionally betrays him, and technical refinements in his pass protection will be necessary regardless of position. His hand usage needs polish – too often he's late with his punch, allowing defenders into his chest before he can establish control.While his nastiness and play strength jump off the tape, NFL defenders will exploit his occasional high pad level and limited lateral agility. Teams must decide whether his future lies at tackle where his length is questionable or inside at guard where his mauling style seems tailor-made. What makes Dunker intriguing isn't just the physical tools but the football intelligence that shows up when diagnosing stunts and blitzes. The cerebral side of his game – perhaps influenced by his off-field intellectual curiosity – manifests in excellent zone blocking angles and second-level targeting.
When the pads come on, Dunker transforms into a tone-setter whose presence elevates the entire offensive line's mentality. He brings the same ferocity whether leading the way on power runs or anchoring in pass protection. There's undeniable starter potential here for zone-heavy offensive systems, but he'll need coaching to maximize his toolkit at the next level. The intangibles – toughness, competitiveness, football character – are all there in spades. In a league where physicality still matters, Dunker's game has staying power, even as technical refinements remain ongoing.
How other scouting services rate Gennings Dunker (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
57.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
8.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.