:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69574729/151227940.jpg.0.jpg)
The universe as a funny way of putting you in the right place at the right time. For the next player on our countdown to the start of Iowa’s 2021 football season, it appeared that another Power Five school would be benefiting from his services for the next several seasons before unforeseen circumstances conspired to send him to Iowa City instead.
Michael Myslinski - Freshman
Jacksonville, FL (Bishop Kenny)
6’3”, 278 lbs.
2021 Projection: Redshirt offensive lineman
Myslinski was a standout offensive lineman from Jacksonville, Florida whose father Tom played on the line at Tennessee before spending nine seasons in the NFL. Myslinski had an outstanding senior season at Bishop Kenny HS in Jacksonville, earning Blue Grey All-American honors and being named to northeast Florida’s prestigious Florida Super 11 team.
Myslinski played his senior season fully expecting to be in Austin, Texas the following year having committed to the University of Texas on August 6. However, with rumors swirling that Texas coach Tom Herman was on the hotseat after failing to compete for a Big 12 title, Myslinski decommitted from the Longhorns in early December. Texas remained a top contender in his recruiting going in 2021, but after Herman was fired in early January, Myslinski gave Hawkeye fans a late Christmas gift when he signed on to join Iowa’s class of 2021 a few weeks later.
— Michael Myslinski (@MMys1inski) January 23, 2021
Texas’ loss appears to be Iowa’s gain, as Myslinski seems tailor-made to play the center position for Iowa. He is an accomplished student who possesses the intelligence necessary to play the most cerebral position on the line, and with a father who spent several years as an NFL strength & conditioning coordinator, it’s difficult to imagine Myslinski being a slouch in the weight room. One can also imagine Myslinski coming to Iowa with something to prove; despite his high school accomplishments, the 247 composite ranking listed him as only the 869th best recruit in the nation and outside the top 100 recruits in his own state even after he received offers from national powers like Texas, Oregon, and Florida State. Add in a free year or two learning behind the best offensive lineman in college football, and it’s easy to get excited about Mylinski’s potential in the black and gold. Myslinski probably will not see the field this season outside of garbage time, but projects as a player who could become a multi-year starter for the Hawkeyes down the road.