Welcome back to our countdown to the 2026 Iowa football season! 

Since May 28, we've been counting down the final 100 days until the Hawkeyes swarm out of the Kinnick Stadium tunnel for their season opener against Northern Illinois on Sept. 5. 

Each day of the countdown has primarily, but not always, featured an article profiling one of the 2026 Hawkeyes based on their jersey numbers. If the countdown falls on day 90, we're going to be taking a look at the player who wears No. 90 (you've probably already got the gist by now). 

READ MORE: 53 Days Until Iowa Football: Michael Myslinski 

Today marks 51 days until kickoff, so that means it's time to take a look at No. 51 - defensive lineman Luke Gaffney. 

Get to know him here. 

Hometown: Robins, Iowa

High School: Linn-Mar High School

Year: Senior 

Height: 6-foot-2 

Weight: 285 pounds 

Other notable players to wear No. 51: A recognizable name most of you will know is former linebacker Fred Barr. Barr was a four-year letterman during his Hawkeye career, but is best known for his performance during the memorable 2002 campaign. Barr helped Iowa win 11 games (then a school record) and capture a share of the Big Ten championship, leading the Hawkeyes with 114 tackles. 

Before we even talk about what Gaffney has accomplished in his career, there is something to clarify. For those that don't live around Eastern Iowa and are curious where Robins is, it's a small community just north of the Cedar Rapids area. 

Now that that's out of the way, let's get into Gaffney's career. Though he made an impact for Linn-Mar, recording 66 tackles as a senior, Division I programs weren't interested. Rather than try his chance at a lower program, Gaffney opted to walk-on at Iowa. 

After redshirting in 2022, Gaffney has slowly seen his playing time increase. He's played in 24 games the last two seasons, including all 13 games in 2024. Gaffney even recorded an assistant tackle in the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl triumph over Vanderbilt. 

So where does this leave him going into 2026? With Iowa's defensive line seeing a major overhaul this year, all signs point to Gaffney wiggling his way into the rotation. He was one of eight seniors named to the 2026 Player Council, which means that he was selected by his teammates and coaches to be involved with team decisions throughout the season. 

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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]