IOWA CITY, Iowa – Kirk Ferentz just finished doing what no other Iowa football coach has ever done before, which is oversee a 21st consecutive spring practice period.

Iowa held its final spring practice on Friday and Ferentz then met with the media afterwards to discuss the progress made by his team.

He was pleased with the effort for the most part, but wanted to see more consistency on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Ferentz didn't have much news to share, but he stopped just short of saying that redshirt freshman and Solon native Tyler Linderbaum would be the starting center next season.

Linderbaum switched from defensive tackle to center before the Outback Bowl last December and has made steady progress.

"It's going to be tough to beat him out," Ferentz said of the 6-foot-3, 285-pound Linderbaum.

Ferentz also singled out redshirt freshman linebacker Joe Evans for having made substantial progress this spring. Evans is a 6-2, 234-pound walk-on from Ames. 

There were multiple players who didn't participate in Friday's practice due to health reasons, including offensive linemen Tristan Wirfs and Ezra Miller, defensive backs Matt Hankins, Michael Ojemudia and Julius Brents, defensive end Amani Jones, linebacker Jestin Jacobs, receiver Max Cooper and tight end Drew Cook.

Ferentz also said that senior linebacker Colton Dinsdale suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

True freshman receiver Calvin Lockett also was helped off the field late in practice, but Ferentz said his injury was more of a scare than anything else.

Ferentz also congratulated former Iowa tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant for being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday. Hockenson was selected eighth overall by the Detroit Lions, while the Denver Broncos took Fant with the 20th pick overall. 

The 63-year old Ferentz is preparing for his 21st season as the Iowa head coach. He is currently tied with Hadyen Fry in longevity at Iowa as Fry coached the Hawkeyes for 20 seasons from 1979 to 1998.