1-on-1 with Gennings Dunker - May 6, 2026

Missi Matthews speaks with G Gennings Dunker about being drafted by the Steelers and more

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
With the ninety six pick in the twenty twenty six
NFL Draft, the sixth time soon to be seven time,
So the bucks Hapi select Jennings Dunker guard Iowa, big God,
let's go.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Welcome to Pittsburgh. First of all, you know you were
just here recently.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
But what has it this experience been like being in
front of Steelers fans going to the draft stage and
just being welcomed.

Speaker 4 (00:38):
I mean, it's kind of been surreal. It's like the
amount of love the fans show and the energy that
they have and just how fired up they are. You know,
it kind of gets you fired up. It's like, let's Rocker,
let's Floyd today. It's just been awesome.

Speaker 3 (00:49):
What has your experience been like getting to know members
of the Steelers staff and throughout the process of the
pre draft, with the Senior Bowl and different things like that.

Speaker 4 (00:58):
I mean, it's you know, you just want to play
for him today, Like you know, he just was like
an offensive lineman. You love playing for your coach, you
love playing for your quarterback, Like what's rock and roll?

Speaker 1 (01:07):
You know?

Speaker 3 (01:08):
And in terms of your game, what do you want
Steelers fans to know what you're going to bring?

Speaker 4 (01:14):
Just so I like to run and hit.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, pretty simple.

Speaker 3 (01:18):
And in terms of any of the offensive line guys,
have they reached out to you at all?

Speaker 4 (01:23):
May Yeah, Mason shot me text yesterday, so I didn't
realize the players weren't in today. So I was like, hey,
I'm coming up right now, but I guess he's not here.
And I call it logan on the right from the
airport to here. Yeah, I was awesome to talk to him.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
So what did he tell you about Pittsburgh?

Speaker 4 (01:36):
I mean I've talked Hi about it before, you know,
because he was back at I would training for a
little bit, and just how awesome it is and how
much he loved it. And you know, he's a great guy.
You know he was he's what two years old than me,
two three years old than me, I can't remember exactly.
I mean he grew up an hour and a half
from me. Oh okay, I've known him for a long time.
So it's just kind of cool to be able to
be on the same team as him. And I know
his parents and his wife and his you know son,

(01:58):
And so.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah, when did you start are playing football?

Speaker 4 (02:00):
So?

Speaker 1 (02:01):
I started.

Speaker 4 (02:01):
I played in seventh grade for my for my hometown,
and then I played like fifth grade, like a youth league,
but probably like seventh grade, i'd say.

Speaker 2 (02:07):
And was this always your favorite football?

Speaker 1 (02:10):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (02:11):
Definitely, Like I played baseball and I liked it, but
I wasn't that good. I wrestled also, wasn't that good.
I'm self aware, So yeah, like I always love football,
and like my hometown is like a football hometown, right,
So coach is probably one I don't even know, maybe
eight state championships the past.

Speaker 3 (02:28):
Fifteen years or so. So, and how do you feel
like IOWA prepared you for coming here to Pittsburgh?

Speaker 4 (02:33):
Yeah, I mean I think it's just like you know
how coach Parents and Coach Burnett do things, like just
the way they set the standard in the example, and
you know, we do the exact same things every day.
It's not flashy, it's not sexy. It's literally the same
drills every single day, which is what gets guys here.
And like IOWA was my only offer.

Speaker 3 (02:50):
So in the mullet, I have to ask about it.
In Pittsburgh, people love mullets. What was the reaction being
amongst Dealers fans to.

Speaker 4 (03:01):
I could tell they were fired up in general or
fired up for the mullet, but they're firing up. So
it was awesome to see.

Speaker 3 (03:07):
And I know this started you kind of copied a teammate.
Can you take me through that? And is it staying?
What are we doing with the hair?

Speaker 1 (03:13):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (03:14):
So Connor Colby was my guard, not this most recent year,
but the past two. We played together for two years.
He was my guard. So he had it freshman year
as a freshman All American and then he cut it
and he still played good and then not as good though,
and then he grew it back out. So I kind
of ran my own little case study on him. And
he was my guard, so I had to rock with him.
So then he got drafted by the Niners. Not this draft,

(03:35):
but the most draft before that. I was like, well,
I guess I'm keeping it so.

Speaker 3 (03:40):
And how long did it take to get to where
it is now?

Speaker 2 (03:43):
Lengthwise?

Speaker 4 (03:44):
I mean it grows fast, like I have to cut
it pretty decently often otherwise, like when I'm cooking supper
or something, I'll get in my mouth and it's disgusting.
So I got to keep it like pride this length.
Otherwise when I'm eating it's just a mess.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
And is there anything else you want Steelers fans to
know about you.

Speaker 4 (04:00):
MH just said, I'm ready to you know, start playing
in practicing and getting ready to rock.

Speaker 2 (04:04):
All right, Thank you very much, it's great to meet you.

Speaker 1 (04:06):
Thank you.