Iowa Right Tackle Gennings Dunker Loves Pancake Blocks

Even his name sounds like an offensive lineman. Gennings Dunker.

“Hey, Dunker, get out there and block #58!”

No doubt ⎯Dunker was born to be an offensive lineman. He’s a throwback who currently plays right tackle for the University of Iowa, and he loves to run block.

26 PANCAKE BLOCKS

“Pancake blocks” is a football term used to describe when an offensive lineman blocks a defender into the ground with brute force.

No doubt, that’s part of Dunker’s charm, and that’s all fine and dandy for him at the college level. However, that’s not what this evaluation is about.

This is about projecting him to the next level, and the NFL is a passing league.

It’s a league where 29 out of 32 teams passed the ball more than 50% of the time in 2024 (teamrankings.com).

Pass Protection

It’s all about footwork for offensive tackles in the NFL.

And this is where I am forced to temper my excitement about Dunker.

While he got the job done a high percentage of the time against college pass rushers, there were too many hiccups on his film.

Too many times he:

• Crossed over his feet when he was sliding out on the perimeter of the pocket
• Was chasing pass rushers
• Got off balance
• Showed an average anchor
• Was susceptible to giving up pressure against delayed stunts and blitzes

Run blocking

Dunker is aggressive.

He’s athletic and fast enough to get down the field. Granted, he has some slight tightness, so it’s hit-and-miss out in space.

Bottom line ⎯

Pro Football Focus gave Dunker an elite-level 90.2 run grade in 2024.

And that’s exactly the way it looked on his film.

The need for improvement

I’m not the only one who thinks Dunker needs to improve.

So does Dunker.

In the video below by The Hawkeye Report, a man’s voice is heard asking Dunker, “Do you feel you’re considered one of the best offensive linemen in the country. Do you feel that way?

Dunker: “No.”

Reporter: “Why not?”

Dunker: “I don’t know. I’m not sure if the people that say that watch the same film that I do. So, I don’t know. I know I don’t think that at all. So, I honestly have no idea what they’re watching.”

Reporter: [What do] You see on film with yourself?”

Dunker: “A lot of stuff that needs to be fixed. You know? I mean, a lot of things I wish I could take back, almost every game from last year, but I guess that’s what this time’s for.

Reporter: Like, what do you need to improve on?

Dunker: “Probably about everything. Most times it’s going to be that first step and then you know when I’m doing pass sets like keeping my left foot straight, striking with my hands and then creating that width of the pocket so if the defender’s going outside I’m going to keep on my right keep pressing that right so I don’t collapse the pockets that kind of thing. Those are like the main things I wish I could take back and fix.”

#67 Gennings Dunker 6-foot-5, 315 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Fall Grade: Third-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a Second Round prospect as of October 30, 2025

2024 game film evaluated: Illinois State, Iowa State, Troy, Minnesota, Ohio State, Washington, Michigan State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, UCLA, and Missouri (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Tough, physical, and scrappy right tackle. Has an aggressive streak. Does his best to compensate for weaknesses with consistent effort (top trait). Good football IQ. Tendency to set up too shallow at times in the pocket in pass pro, and can lose leverage. Average lateral footspeed. Average playing strength. Good at combo blocks. Inconsistent sustain on run plays. Excels with leverage. Can reach the second level and move further downfield. Capable of walling off on inside runs. His guy got in by the pile about half the time.

What to watch for during the 2025 college football season

1. Pass protection footwork?

2. How does he look vs. bull rushers?

3. How does he look blocking in space?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.