IOWA CITY – Quite a lot has changed for Austin Blythe since he last put on the pads and the Tigerhawk helmet in January.

For starters, Iowa’s fifth-year senior leader on the offensive line got married to high school sweetheart Kiley (Ritchie) Blythe – the daughter of his prep coach, Curt Ritchie, at Williamsburg High School – in May. But don’t expect his status as a newlywed to be a distraction as he shifts back to center after playing at a guard position for much of last season.

“Kiley and I have a unique relationship where we’ve always been kind of grounded and laid back,” Blythe said during Iowa’s media day on Saturday. “She came from a football family, so she’s really supportive and understanding of the time that football takes up.”

Blythe also has plenty of new faces on either side of him and a new starting quarterback, junior C.J. Beathard, to snap the ball to as the Hawkeyes get set to embark on the 2015 season.

Iowa will break in a pair of new offensive tackles, including 2013 Webster City High School graduate Boone Myers, a redshirt sophomore who will take over for 2014 Outland Trophy winner and NFL first-round draft pick of the Washington Redskins Brandon Scherff at left tackle. Cedar Falls native Ike Boettger, also a sophomore, is currently No. 1 on the depth chart at right tackle, a position manned a year ago by Andrew Donnal – a fourth-round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams in May.

Eric Simmons entered preseason camp as the leader at left guard ahead of 2014 starter Sean Welsh, who missed spring drills because of undisclosed personal reasons. Jordan Walsh returns at right guard.

Blythe remembers what it was like to be thrown into the deep end of the pool and he says Myers and Boettger are both capable of assuming the important roles on the outside. But it’s not going to be easy.

“It’s a little bit of learn as you go, but at the same time I think we’ve got to make them understand that they’re going to take their lumps, and that’s true of all young players,” Blythe said. “But football is a game and you’re supposed to have fun, and if you don’t have fun then why play?”

Myers and Boettger both get daily crash courses on what it’s like to compete in the Big Ten while going up against Iowa’s veteran defensive ends Drew Ott and Nate Meier.

“Anytime you’re thrown in there like that against Nate and Drew, you’re forced to improve fast and they have,” Blythe said.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has noticed improvement in Myers during the initial few practices of fall camp.

“He’s worked extremely hard. He’s off to a good start three days into it, one day in pads,” Ferentz said of Myers. “But even in the spring you could see the continued growth … (Myers and Boettger) are pushing hard. They’re not there yet, but they have the right characteristics, the right qualities, and it’s a matter of how fast can you get the guys to grow into the positions we need them to be in. I feel good about it.”

It all leads up to Iowa’s regular season opener against Illinois State on Sept. 5 at Kinnick Stadium. Myers could be lined up across from former teammate Reggie Spearman, who left Iowa and transferred to the reigning FCS national runner-up in January.

“There are still a lot of things to do, but I’m getting excited. I can’t wait,” Myers said.