Who is Jennings Dunk? Meet the mullet-wearing Iowa OT known for crushing blocks and slick locks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
There were a lot of highlights at the 2026 NFL Combine.
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Sonny Styles, Eli Stowers and Taylen Green all impressed with their dazzling performances on the artificial turf at Lucas Oil Stadium over the weekend. On Sunday, another standout took the stage and left his mark in a completely different way.
Iowa State offensive lineman Gennings Dunker was one of the nation’s top trench talents during his final two years in college. The 22-year-old thrust himself into conversation as the most interesting person in the draft class at Sunday’s combine, becoming a media darling with his hair dancing in the wind after a mesmerizing 40-yard dash.
This isn’t the first time Dunk has made waves in the draft. He went viral a few weeks ago when he did an interview with NFL Network during the Senior Bowl. During that chat, Dunk waxed lyrical about his love for coffee—especially Culver’s coffee.
So, who is the man behind this hairstyle? What is Dunk’s actual future in the NFL?
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Who is Jennings Dunk?
Dunk is a 22-year-old offensive tackle who played at the University of Iowa. Dunk, a Des Moines native who grew up in Iowa, starred at Leiner-Winslow High School in Leiner, Ill., earning a three-star rating from 247 Sports in the process. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound tight end appeared in 12 games in 2022 after redshirting as a freshman.
He became a starter in 2023, starting all 13 games for the Hawkeyes at right tackle. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2024 and first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2025, becoming one of the top offensive linemen in the country during his final two years in Iowa City.
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Gennings Dunker Mullet
Dunk is probably best known for his mullet, which billows in the wind as he walks on the pitch. He has a fiery red mane draped in amber light. It matched his equally distinctive beard.
The reason for Dunk’s hairstyle is simple. He believes it will help him get to the NFL.
“I did copy [former Iowa guard Connor] Colby, because he had a season without players and a season with players. You know, he plays better with it,” Dunk told The Daily Iowan in 2025. “It’s relatable. “
Colby was selected by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Dunk seems likely to join the pro ranks, with most mock drafts listing him as a Day 2 pick. He performed well at the 2026 Senior Bowl and continued his career with a dynamic performance at the combine on March 1.
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Gennings Dunker draft predictions
Dunker didn’t appear in TSN’s Vinnie Iyer’s latest mock draft, which was released after the first draft combine practice. Other publications have him drafted in the late first or early second round, with NBC Sports’ Kyle Dvorchak projecting Dunk to go to the Rams with the 29th overall pick in a post-Super Bowl mock draft.
International Year:Latest post-merger NFL mock draft
Gennings Dunker NFL Comprehensive Score
Here’s how Dunker will fare at the 2026 NFL Combine.
|
high |
weight |
hand size |
Arm length |
40 yard dash |
vertical jump |
long jump |
|
6’5 |
319 pounds |
10″ |
33 1/2 inches |
5.18 |
Dunk’s 40-yard dash was particularly eye-catching, his bird’s-nest hair billowing in the warm breeze at Lucas Oil Stadium.
More:Why is the NFL Combine always held in Indianapolis?
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Gennings Dunker Iowa Highlights
Dunk captivated crowds during his time at Kinnick Stadium. Let’s take a look back at his finest moments in Black and Gold.
Where does Gennings Dunker come from?
Dunk is originally from Des Moines and grew up just a stone’s throw from the Iowa State University campus. Even though he lives so close to school, his family is dyed-in-the-wool.
“We took family photos; [I’m wearing] Hawkeye shirts and stuff like that,” Dunk said. “I have a picture of me and my brothers wearing Hawkeye shirts. “
Dunk moved to Lena when he was a child. There were no youth leagues in his hometown, so he took his talents to nearby Dakota as a kid. There, he was drawn into the trenches, finding his footing while crashing into opposing defenders. What started as a hobby quickly turned into an obsession, captivating audiences as he went from a lanky 6-foot-1 freshman entering Lena Winslow College to a 6-foot-4, 240-pound phenom as a senior.
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