SATURDAy, OCTOBER 10 | Iowa vs. ILLINOIS | KINNICK Stadium
The Thinker Inside: Jordan Canzeri, feature back
The Daily Iowan
PREGAME
22 -- The 9, 2015 The Daily Daily Iowan Iowan -- PREGAME PREGAME -- Iowa Iowa City, City, Iowa Iowa -- Friday, Friday, October September 19, 2014
GUIDE
STAFF Publisher: 335-5788 William Casey Editor: 335-6030 Stacey Murray Pregame Editor: 335-5848 Danny Payne Sports Editor : 335-5848 Ian Murphy Jordan Hansen Copy Chief: 335-5855 Beau Elliot Design Editor: 335-5855 Patrick Pat LyneLyne, Taylor Laufersweiler Photo Editor: 335-5852 Joshua Housing Josh Housing
REMEMBER When WHEN ... Remember Iowa wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos sprints during an11-yard kick return in the third quarter against Illinois in Kinnick on Oct.13, 2007. The Hawks scored the only touchdown of the game during the third quarter and beat Illinois,10-6. (The Daily Iowan/File Photo)
TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents
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Cover Story After playing primarily special teams in his time at Iowa, Cole Fisher finally worked his way into a starting role on defense.
Inside Feature Jordan Canzeri has overcome injury concerns and has shown he’s capable of being a featured running back.
By the Numbers A look at the numbers show how Iowa and Illinois match up.
Roster Full rosters for both the Hawkeyes and Illini. Plus, a totally far-out poster!
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Web Editor : 335-5829 Tony Phan Business Manager: 335-5786 Debra Plath : 335-5784 Juli Krause Circulation Manager: 335-5794 Juli Krause Advertising Manager: 335-5193 Renee Manders
: Bev Mrstik: 335-5792 Cathy Witt: 335-5794 Production Manager: 335-5789 Heidi Owen BREAKING NEWS Phone: (319) 335-6063 E-mail: daily-iowan@uiowa.edu Fax: 335-6297 CORRECTIONS Call: 335-6030 Policy: The Daily Iowan strives for accuracy and fairness in all reporting of news. If a report is wrong or misleading, a request for PUBLISHING INFO The Daily Iowan (USPS 143.360) is published by Student Publications Inc., E131 Adler Journalism Building, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2004, daily except Saturdays, Sundays, legal and university holidays, and university vacations. Periodicials postage paid at the Iowa City Post Office under the Act of Congress of March 2, 1879.
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Around the Big Ten Our weekly conference power rankings, plus some players and this week’s big game to watch.
Stat Leaders Check out the Hawkeye and Illini leaders in various statistical categories.
Roundtable
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CONTACT US Got a question for the pregame staff or a story idea for a future issue? Email us at daily.iowan.newsroom@gmail.com
Part of our Pregame Podcast, featuring Daily Illini sports editor Peter Bailey-Wells.
On the Line Our weekly picks. We made history this week, guys.
GO TO DAILYIOWAN.COM FOR A PHOTO SLIDE SHOW AFTER THE GAME
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Pittsburgh tight end J.P. Holtz (86) is tackled by Iowa linebacker Cole Fisher (36) in Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. The Hawkeyes beat the Panthers, 27-24. (The Daily Iowan/Joshua Housing)
I don’t think, therefore I am Iowa linebacker Cole Fisher is making the most of his first, and last, season as a starter.
By Danny Payne daniel-payne-1@uiowa.edu
Ask Kirk Ferentz about his starting weak-side linebacker, and he’ll be perfectly blunt. “If this was the NFL, he’d probably
never gotten that chance,” Ferentz said. “He would have probably been cut three years ago.” As a veteran coach with both college and NFL experience, he knows most players can only make a living playing solely special teams for only
so long before a more well-rounded player takes his roster spot. Luckily for Cole Fisher, as well as the Hawkeye defense, Iowa isn’t a professional franchise, it’s a Division-I program — one that’s currently reaping the rewards of a lineback-
er starting his first and last season in an Iowa uniform. As Ferentz said, directly, it’s taken Fisher a long time to crack Iowa’s starting lineup. Primarily a speSee COVER, 8
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Canzeri shines as feature back
Hawkeye running back Jordan Canzeri looks like a viable option as the team’s premier rusher, but his mind is solely focused on the win column. By charlie green charles-j-green@uiowa.edu
Jordan Canzeri’s career at Iowa has been characterized by his by demoralizing injuries. Five weeks of 2015 have proven his value to the Hawkeyes’ offense. He might be their feature back, or he might not be. He’s not really concerned about labels. “I don’t really care what other people think about me,” Canzeri said. “But I hope that I’ve just proven to my team that I’ll do whatever I can to help us win or I’ll put my whole body on the line to get it done.” Since his ankle injury on Sept. 12 at Iowa State, Iowa’s No. 1 back coming into the year, LeShun Daniels Jr., has rushed 18 times for 57 yards for an average of just over 3 yards per carry. Lacking the explosion and the ability to drive off that right ankle, he has not been the same back he was in the opener, in which he rushed 26 times for 126 yards against Illinois State. But the Hawks have gotten along just fine leaning on Canzeri. In the three games since the Iowa State bout, he’s rushed 60 times for 289 yards, good for 4.8 yards a pop. He also has 8 rushing touchdowns, tied for the Big Ten lead with Ohio State Heisman hopeful Ezekiel Elliott. “I think his performance speaks for itself, just the numbers that he’s put up,” Hawk center Austin Blythe said. “And the way he’s been carrying it, the way he’s been talking about it is really good. He’s doing it for the team.” The native of Troy, New York, showed his value to Iowa’s offense on Oct. 3 at Wisconsin, as he was essentially the only player the unit could count on to move the ball. The Badgers stifled Iowa’s air attack with a ferocious pass rush and experienced secondary. Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard completed just 9 passes, and the offense turned primarily to Canzeri on the ground. He finished with 125 tough yards, and Iowa escaped what may be the most physically gifted defense it will see all year. “Getting a 100-yard rushing game will help my offense, but it’s not something like, ‘Oh, I got another 100-yard rushing game,’ ” Canzeri said. “I honestly don’t know how many yards I have at the end of the game, people just tell me.” In addition to being its leading rusher, Canzeri also ranks second on the team in receptions (14) and third in receiving yards (159). And he’s not worried about sharing reps whatsoever, being well
Iowa running back Jordan Canzeri catches a kickoff in Kinnick Stadium on Sept.13, 2014. Canzeri returned two kickoffs for 43 yards, but Iowa State rallied to defeat Iowa, 20-17. (The Daily Iowan/Valerie Burke) aware that having Daniels back in the mix at full health only makes the offense more dangerous. “Our offense can do better, and to have that chemistry is awesome and good and just to have more weapons for the offense,” he said. “We just know that we can get it done as a whole offense; it doesn’t matter who is running the ball.” Both backs at full health might combine for a dynamic one-two punch in the run-
ning game as the weather cools and create opportunities in the passing game by luring more defenders into the box. Given that Beathard has taken some heat in the pocket, it’s something that could also help compensate for shaky pass protection. No matter what the case is, the Hawks are in good hands with Canzeri in the backfield. His vision is a quality hard to create, one that comes natural to a lucky few. His selflessness is a microcosm of the
attitude of the team as a whole — one with national recognition in the form of a top-25 ranking for the first time since November 2010. “It’s not like I look forward to getting more carries, it’s not like I look forward to being the main back or anything like that,” Canzeri said. “It’s just whatever all of us as one unit can do to get the win, because I don’t care about the individual stats.”
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COVER Continued from 4 cial-team and scout-team player during his time in Iowa City, the Omaha native didn’t play with the first unit until his final camp as a Hawkeye. Since the end of last season, the Hawkeye linebacking trio this season looked to be some combination of sophomores Ben Niemann, Josey Jewell, and Bo Bower. Fisher, along with fellow senior Travis Perry, figured to be in the rotation to an extent and continue to play prominent roles on special teams. Through the summer and into fall camp, the linebacking situation began to sort itself out, Fisher landed a job because of his consistency, Ferentz said. Through five games this season, the starting trio hasn’t changed. Niemann plays strong side, or “Leo” as it’s called in Iowa’s system, with Jewell in the middle, and Fisher — who finally figured everything out — at the “Will.” Fisher, a 6-2, 236-pounder, doesn’t totally fit the typical “fifth-year, hard-working senior finally getting
his shot” mold we see so often in college sports. He’s a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, but his brainpower hasn’t always translated into success on the field. Fisher will graduate this year with a degree in civil engineering. As one might imagine, a future engineer (Fisher has been accepted into a master’s program in structural engineering at Iowa, and he has plans to pursue a graduate degree once football is finished) thinks about things in a step-by-step, methodical process. After all, that is how engineers work through problems, he says. However, this isn’t always the best way to go about things on the football field, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Yes, defenders have to know where their teammates are at all times — but more so at linebacker than on the line or in the backfield; reading a play and reacting to it in a split second is paramount. “I would say you just have to react,” defensive end Drew Ott said. “You just have to get rid of the steps and react.” Fisher didn’t truly learn to respond until late last season. It took a Perry broken leg in the closing moments of
Hawkeye linebacker Cole Fisher tackles Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli in Camp Randall Stadium on Oct. 3. The Hawkeyes beat the Badgers in a defensive duel, 10-6. (The Daily Iowan/Rachael Westergard) Iowa’s 51-14 loss at Minnesota for a revelation to happen. Following that contest, the Millard North graduate took reps as the second-team Mike
linebacker, giving him at least some exposure to all three linebacker spots See COVER, 24
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GO HAWKS!
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By the Numbers: Iowa vs. Illinois By ryan rodriguez ryan-rodriguez@uiowa.edu
Undefeated No. 22 Iowa will look to defend Kinnick Stadium Saturday against 4-1 Illinois. It’s a battle of two teams on the rise this weekend, and could have big implications in the Big Ten West. With the Illini making their first trip to Iowa City since 2007, the game figures to be entertaining. But how well do these two relatively unfamiliar foes stack up against each other?
Pass efficiency: Iowa 145.3, Illinois 117.5 One of the biggest story lines is the play of quarterbacks C.J. Beathard and Wes Lunt. While Illinois’ Lunt was more of a known commodity coming out of high school, Beathard has taken the conference by storm in 2015, winning his first five games in 2015 for the Hawkeyes, putting up some pretty gaudy numbers in the process. Beathard, known for his highlight-reel runs, has been one of the most efficient passers in the Big Ten this season, evidenced by a sterling 145.3 pass-efficiency rating. With nearly 100 more passing attempts so far this season, Lunt is one of the most pass-happy quarterbacks in the league, but Beathard’s stellar 64.7 completion percentage really sticks out.
Sacks against: Iowa 9, Illinois 5 Iowa’s defensive line made Wisconsin quarterback Joel Stave miserable last weekend, and they’ll have their work cut out for them again against the Illini. Lunt has a distinct advantage of throwing behind one of the more solid offensive lines in the Big Ten, a group that has allowed the third-fewest sacks of any team in the conference. Injuries have forced a bit of turnover on Iowa’s side of things, and Beathard could very well be under fire again in this one. His ability to scramble and get out of trouble could prove huge as the game wears on and the pressure mounts. Defensive ends Drew Ott and Nate
Iowa defensive back Greg Mabin tackles Illinois wide receiver Mike Dudek in Memorial Stadium on Nov. 15, 2014, in Champaign. The Hawkeyes defeated the Fighting Illini, 30-14. (The Daily Iowan/File Photo) Meier will be called upon to break the stalemate for Iowa defensively.
Third down conversions: Iowa 47.7 percent, Illinois 40 percent Simply put, Iowa has done a much better job of extending drives and keeping the chains moving than the Illini have. Iowa’s 47.7-percent conversion rate is good enough for third in the conference and is just 2.7 percentage points off from league leader Rutgers. Iowa has been much more aggressive in third-down situations — whether
it’s a new confidence between Kirk Ferentz and his players, the ability of Beathard, or whatever else — and has been rewarded for it so far. That said, Illinois boasts the thirdbest third-down defense in the conference. This game could come down to inches.
Red-zone efficiency: Iowa 85 percent, Illinois 68.2 percent The Illini are also overmatched in red-zone efficiency. So far this year, the Hawks have converted an astounding 17-of-20
red-zone appearances into either field goals or touchdowns, compared with 15-of-22 for Illinois. Iowa has a few really nice offensive weapons that have worked well in these short-field scenarios, and if running back LeShun Daniels Jr. is feeling and running better, that 1-2 punch of him and Jordan Canzeri could be a nightmare for the Illinois defense. And considering the quality of the defenses, both teams will need to make good use of their red-zone opportunities if they want to come away with a victory.
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ROS
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Iowa Hawkeyes
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Marshall Koehn Mick Ellis Brandon Bishop Jay Scheel Jacob Black Tevaun Smith Ronald Nash Omar Truitt Emmanuel Ogwo Sean Draper Colten Rastetter Isaiah Kramme Tyler Wiegers Jerminic Smith Jonathan Parker Ryan Boyle Michael Ojemuida Anthony Gair Greg Mabin Desmond King Connor Keane Joshua Jackson Dillon Kidd C.J. Beathard Jacob Hillyer Ryan Schmidt Drew Cook Miles Taylor Andrew Stone Justin Jinning Angelo Garbutt John Milani Eric Graham Akrum Wadley Kevin Ward Jordan Lomax Maurice Fleming LeShun Daniels, Jr. Nick Wilson Jake Gervase Steve Manders Aaron Mends Derrick Mitchell, Jr. Jordan Canzeri Nate Meier Cole Fisher Brandon Snyder Adam Cox Travis Perry Parker Hesse Bo Bower Austin Kelly Macon Plewa Josey Jewell Ben Niemann Eric Grimm Drake Kulick George Kittle Lane Akre Jack Hockaday Melvin Spears Jacob Sobotka Jackson Subbert Drake Dunker Boone Myers Brady Ross Garret Jansen Steve Ferentz Faith Ekaktike Jake Newborg Eric Simmons Ross Reynolds Jacob Giese Kyle Terlouw Austin Blythe Cole Croston
6-0/200 5-10/180 6-9/170 6-1/195 6-0/205 6-0/200 6-2/210 5-11/180 6-0/170 6-0/190 6-2/205 6-3/205 6-4/222 6-1/180 5-8/185 6-2/215 6-2/190 6-2/200 6-2/200 5-11/200 6-1/195 6-1/185 6-2/215 6-2/209 6-4/212 6-5/220 6-5/220 6-0/195 5-11/175 6-2/210 6-2/210 6-1/185 5-9/195 5-11/180 6-1/205 5-10/205 6-0/205 6-0/230 6-2/206 6-2/200 6-1/235 6-0/200 6-1/212 5-9/192 6-2/252 6-2/236 6-1/210 5-11/234 6-3/234 6-3/240 6-1/228 5-11/245 6-2/234 6-2/230 6-3/205 6-2/200 6-1/228 6-4/235 6-0/220 6-1/215 6-2/268 6-3/225 6-3/205 6-2/225 6-5/300 6-1/220 6-2/255 6-2/278 6-3/290 6-3/280 6-2/295 6-4/300 6-3/270 6-4/288 6-3/290 6-5/295
PK K DB WR DB WR WR DB WR DB P DB QB WR WR QB WR DB DB DB WR DB P QB WR QB QB DB WR LB LB DB RB RB DB DB DB RB LB DB LB FB RB RB DE OLB DB FB LB LB LB FB FB OLB LB LB LB TE FB LB DE LB LS LB OL LB DL OL DL OL OL OL DL DL OL OL
SR FR RS FR RS FR SO SR SO FR FR SR FR FR RS FR FR SO FR FR JR JR JR SO RS FR SR JR SR FR FR SO SR FR FR FR FR SO SO SR JR JR FR RS FR SO RS FR SO SR SR SR RS FR SR SR RS FR SO RS FR SR SO SO RS FR SO JR FR FR SR RS FR SO FR SO FR FR JR SO FR SR RS FR FR JR SR JR
Solon, Iowa Allen, Texas Sugar Grove, Ill. Mount Auburn, Iowa Solon, Iowa Toronto, Ontario Sioux City, Iowa Fort Washington, Md. Mesquite, Texas Cleveland, Ohio Guttenberg, Iowa Ankeny, Iowa Lake Orion, Mich. Garland, Texas St. Louis, Mo. West Des Moines, Iowa Farmington Hills, Mich. Plano, Texas Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Detroit, Mich. St. Paul, Minn. Cornith, Texas Deerfield Beach, Fla. Franklin, Tenn. Somerset, Texas Linn-Mar, Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Silver Spring, Md. Cedar Falls, Iowa The Colony, Texas Carrollton, Texas Iowa City, Iowa Prattville, Ala. Newark, N.J. Homer Glen, Ill. Upper Marlboro, Md. Chicago, Ill. Warren, Ohio Granger, Iowa Davenport, Iowa Crofton, Md. Kansas City, Mo. St. Louis, Mo. Troy, N.Y. Tabor, Iowa Omaha, Neb. Larchwood, Iowa Chana, Ill. Urbandale, Iowa Waukon, Iowa West Branch, Iowa Hickory Hills, Ill. Franklin, Wisc. Decorah, Iowa Sycamore, Ill. Damascs, Md. Muscatine, Iowa Norman, Okla. Geneseo, Ill. Forsyth, Ill. Allen, Texas Clearfield, Iowa Williamsburg, Iowa St. Louis, Mo. Webster City, Iowa Humboldt, Iowa Pella, Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Brampton, Ontario Inwood, Iowa Madrid, Iowa Waukee, Iowa West Branch, Iowa Sully, Iowa Williamsburg, Iowa Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
IOWA VS. ILLINOIS • SATURDAY, 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 97 98 98 99
Jordan Walsh Levi Paulsen Jaleel Johnson Landan Paulsen Keegan Render Lucas LeGrand Brett Waechter Brant Gressel Ryan Ward Mitch Keppy Ike Boettger Dalton Ferguson Daniel Gaffey James Daniels Sean Welsh Henry Krieger Coble Jon Wisnieski Adrian Falconer Riley McCarron Andre Harris Nate Vejvoda Peter Pekar Jake Duzey Jake Hulett Matt VandeBerg Sam Brincks Miguel Recinos Brady Reiff Jameer Outsey Terrence Harris Michale Slater Drew Ott Matt Nelson Tyler Kluver Darian Cooper Anthony Nelson Nate Wieting Nathan Bazata
6-4/290 6-5/290 6-4/310 6-5/290 6-4/305 6-5/280 6-5/275 6-2/280 6-5/290 6-5/300 6-6/300 6-4/307 6-2/260 6-4/285 6-3/288 6-4/250 6-5/247 6-1/180 5-9/186 6-0/185 6-5/215 6-4/245 6-4/248 6-3/265 6-1/185 6-5/260 6-1/173 6-3/226 6-3/235 6-3/252 6-2/265 6-4/272 6-8/270 6-0/220 6-2/282 6-7/220 6-4/225 6-2/284
OL OL DL OL OL OL OL DL DL OL OL OL DL OL OL TE TE WR WR WR TE TE TE DL WR DE K DL TE DE DE DL DE LS DL DE TE DL
SR FR JR FR RS FR RS FR FR SO JR JR SO RS FR RS FR FR SO SR RS SO FR JR SO FR FR SR SO SO RS FR RS FR FR RS FR RS FR FR SR RS FR SO SR FR FR SO
Glendale Heights, Iowa Moville, Iowa Lombard, Ill. Moville, Iowa Indianola, Iowa Dubuque, Iowa Hartley, Iowa Centerville, Ohio Homer Glen, Ill. Port Byron, Ill. Cedar Falls, Iowa Solon, Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Warren, Ohio Springboro, Ohio Mount Pleasant, Iowa West Des Moines, Iowa Leesburg, Fla. Dubuque, Iowa Kirkwood, Mo. Homer Glen, Ill. Greendale, Wis. Troy, Mich. Springville, Iowa Brandon, S.D. Carroll, Iowa Mason City, Iowa Parkston, S.D. Somerset, N.J. Englewood, N.J. St. Louis, Mo. Trumbull, Neb. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Marshalltown, Iowa Elkridge, Md. Urbandale, Iowa Rockford, Ill. Howells, Neb.
STER
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Illinois Fighting Illini
Y, OCTOBER 10, 2015 • 11:00 A.M. 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 19 19 20 21 21 22 23 23 24 25 26 26 27
V’Angelo Bentley Reggie Corbin Taylor Barton Jeff George, Jr. Darwyn Kelly Dionte Taylor James Crawford Ke’Shawn Vaughn Josh Ferguson Carroll Phillips Chayce Crouch Caleb Day Geronimo Allison Dillan Cazley Sam Mays Kenny Nelson B.J. Bello Jimmy Fitzgerald Chunky Clements Malik Turner Chris James Wes Lunt Ryan Frain Caleb Reams Eric Finney Alex Mussat Jevaris Little Tyrin Stone-Davis Rob Bain Marchie Murdock Jihad Ward Taylor Zalewski Mike Dudek Justin Hardee Frank Sumpter Clayton Fejedelem Man Berg Patrick Nelson LaKeith Walls Henry Enyenihi Davontay Kwaaning Darius Mosely Kendrick Foster Cedric Doxy Cameron Tucker Dre Brown
DB RB DB QB DB WR STAR RB RB LEO QB DB WR DB WR DL LB QB DL WR DB QB PK/P TE STAR QB DB WR DL WR DL PK WR WR DB DB WR DB LB RB DB DB RB STAR RB RB
5-10/190 5-10/185 6-1/215 6-3/205 6-1/210 6-0/190 6-2/220 5-10/205 5-10/200 6-3/240 6-4/225 6-1/205 6-4/200 5-10/190 6-3/200 6-6/250 6-3/225 6-3/220 6-3/290 6-3/205 5-11/190 6-5/225 6-2/220 6-3/240 6-0/220 6-2/205 6-0/190 6-3/200 6-3/305 6-1/195 6-6/295 6-3/225 5-11/185 6-1/195 5-10/175 6-1/200 6-2/200 6-0/205 6-2/235 5-11/215 5-11/190 5-11/190 5-9/200 6-2/220 5-8/200 5-11/205
Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. So. Jr. So. Fr. Sr. Jr. R-Fr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. So. R-Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. So. Fr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Fr.
Cleveland, Ohio Upper Marlboro, Md. Orlando, Fla. Indianapolis, Ind. Upper Marlboro, Md. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Deerfield, Fla. Antioch, Tenn. Naperville, Ill. Miami, Fla. Granville, Ohio Hilliard, Ohio Tampa, Fla. Charleston, Ill. Missouri City, Texas Detroit, Mich. New Lenox, Ill. Champaign, Ill. Dayton, Ohio Springfield, Ill. Orange, Texas Rochester, Ill. Indianapolis, Ind. Gurnee, Ill. Riverside, Calif. Troy, Mich. St. Petersburg, Fla. Philadelphia, Pa. Bolingbrook, Ill. Arlington, Texas Philadelphia, Pa. Orland Park, Ill. Naperville, Ill. Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland, Ohio Lemont, Ill. Sherman Oaks, Calif. Chicago, Ill. Cleveland, Ohio Lawrenceville, Ga. Chicago, Ill. O’Fallon, Ill. Peoria, Ill. Calumet City, Ill. River Forest, Ill. DeKalb, Ill.
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Eaton Spence Jaylen Dunlap Nelson Lugo T.J. Moss Julian Hylton Jim Nudera Leslie Poole Cameron Watkins Justice Williams Tre Watson Mike Svetina Jonathan Milazzo Sean White Austin Roberts Dennis Thurow Samuel Harlib David Reisner Nathan Echard Jason Goldsmith Ryan Tucker Jimmy Marchese Joe Fotu Chris Royer Mason Monheim Julian Jones Henry McGrew Luke Nelson Ikjot Wahi Sean Adesanya Tim Clary Jack Clark Chase McLaughlin Conner Schmidt T.J. Neal Adam Solomon Nick Allegretti Zach Hirth Chris Boles Jamal Milan Michael Martin Austin Schmidt Mike Parisi Jack Broeker Ryan Walton Jordan Fagan Christian DiLauro Matt Long Ted Karras Max Marietti Joe Spencer Gabe Megginson Chris O’Connor Connor Brennan Pat Flavin Zeke Martin Harry Black Zach Heath Ainslie Johnson Raphael Barr Kameron Fry Bobby Walker Jordan Hahn Brandon Roberts Desmond Cain Tyler White Zach Grant Andrew Davis Altan Aldemir Dawuane Smoot Teko Powell Tito Odenigbo Max Loeb
DB DB STAR DB DB TE WR DB STAR LB LB PK LB LB DB DB PK/P TE LB P LB DL TE LB LB LEO P DE LEO TE LB PK STAR LB OL OL LS OL DL LS OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL TE WR WR TE WR DL WR TE WR TE OL/DL LEO DL DL DL
6-0/190 6-1/190 5-11/200 5-11/195 6-0/205 6-1/240 5-11/185 6-0/185 6-3/210 6-2/240 6-2/235 5-10/170 6-0/230 6-2/230 6-1/205 6-0/180 6-0/195 6-2/245 6-2/215 6-3/185 6-2/205 6-3/285 6-0/215 6-1/235 6-2/215 6-3/250 6-1/205 6-3/225 6-3/230 6-2/245 6-1/215 6-1/170 5-11/195 6-1/235 6-5/315 6-4/305 6-4/220 6-4/320 6-2/310 6-4/225 6-6/300 6-4/275 6-4/265 6-6/260 6-6/295 6-5/300 6-4/290 6-4/310 6-5/315 6-4/300 6-5/300 6-5/300 6-5/295 6-7/300 6-5/285 6-5/285 6-4/300 6-2/230 6-2/200 6-1/200 6-4/215 6-2/195 6-3/265 5-11/185 6-5/255 6-0/195 6-6/230 6-3/240 6-3/265 6-3/300 6-3/290 6-0/300
Sr. So. Jr. R-Fr. R-Fr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Fr. R-Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. R-Fr. So. So. Jr. So. R-Fr. R-Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. R-Fr. Jr. Fr. So. Sr. Fr. R-Fr. So. Jr. Fr. R-Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Fr. So. So. So. Fr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Fr. So. So. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Jr. R-Fr. So.
Belle Glade, Fla. Chicago, Ill. Franklin Park, Ill. Carpentersville, Ill. Tinley Park, Ill. Elmhurst, Ill. Schaumburg, Ill. Madison, Tenn. Frisco, Texas Tampa, Fla. Brunswick, Ohio Orland Park, Ill. Casey, Ill. Rice Lake, Wis. Naperville, Ill. Las Vegas, Nev. Bartlett, Ill. Eureka, Mo. Highland Park, Ill. Chicago, Ill. Vernon Hills, Ill. East Oakland, Calif. Wheaton, Ill. Orrville, Ohio Atlanta, Ga. Overland Park, Kan. Western Springs, Ill. Darien, Ill. Rahway, N.J. Spring Grove, Ill. Hinsdale, Ill. Cypress, Tex. Lincoln, Ill. McKeeseport, Pa. Indianapolis, Ind. Frankfort, Ill. Eureka, Mo. Toledo, Ohio Chicago, Ill. Champaign, Ill. Galena, Ohio Elk Grove Village, Ill. Springfield, Ill. Crestwood, Ill. Chula Vista, Calif. Uniontown, Ohio Coal City, Ill. Indianapolis, Ind. Frankfort, Ill. Mason, Ohio Jacksonville, Ill. Tinley Park, Ill. Sonoma, Calif. Lisle, Ill. Medina, Ohio Orlando, Fla. Penryn, Calif. Anaheim, Calif. Etiwanda, Calif. Urbana, Ill. Golf, Ill. Olney, Ill. Peoria, Ill. Delray Beach, Fla. Kalamazoo, Mich. Springfield, Ill. Marion, Iowa Plainsboro, N.J. Groveport, Ohio Miami, Fla. Centerville, Ohio Lawrenceville, Ill.
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AROUND THE BIG TEN Jordan Hansen jordan-hansen@uiowa.edu
power rankings
Offensive Impact
1. Ohio State (5-0) I’d be more worried about the defense than the offense if I’m Urban Meyer.
8. Penn State (4-1) Nittany Lions get the aforementioned Hoosiers this week. Should be a good game.
2. Michigan State (5-0) Almost losing to Purdue is not a good thing. Good thing Sparty gets the three-ring circus (or 1.5-ring) that is Rutgers this week.
9. Illinois (4-1) Bill Cubit has done well with what he’s got so far this season, but losing Josh Ferguson is going to hurt.
3. Northwestern (5-0) A win over Michigan, and Patty Fitz might find himself with a top-10 team. What a time to be alive.
10. Nebraska (2-3) Shouldn’t have fired Bo Pelini. There, I said it.
4. Iowa (5-0) Sets the stage for a huge game with the Wildcats next week. Like, really big. Like, could decide the West big.
11. Minnesota (3-2) Gophers are trending downward, but they play Purdue and Nebraska the next two weeks. That should ease the pain just a bit.
5. Wisconsin (3-2) The Iowa-Wisconsin game could have easily gone the opposite way. A trip to Nebraska awaits the Badgers.
12. Purdue (1-4) The Boilermakers took Michigan State to the wire. It’s just a moral victory, but it’s something for Darrell Hazell to build on.
6. Michigan (3-1) The “Can Michigan contend for a Big Ten Championship” talk needs to end right now.
13. Rutgers (2-2) The Scarlet Knights’ next four games: Michigan State, Indiana, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. Yikes.
7. Indiana (4-1) The Hoosiers, down to their second-string quarterback, were within a couple plays of beating Ohio State. I’m starting to take Indiana at least a little seriously.
14. Maryland (2-3) Randy Edsall might need a new job in the near future.
Name: Geronimo Allison, Illinois Position: Wide receiver Year: Senior Allison caught the game-winning touchdown against Nebraska last week and also leads the Big Ten in receiving yardage. It helps, of course, to have Wes Lunt throwing the ball around.
defensive Impact Name: Joe Schobert, Wisconsin Position: Outside linebacker Year: Senior Schobert is a one-man wrecking crew who leads the Big Ten in sacks and tackles for loss, and he is tied for the lead in forced fumbles. He almost beat Iowa by himself and is an early candidate for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
GAME TO WATCH No. 13 Northwestern vs. No. 18 Michigan When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan Watch: Big Ten Network
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stat leaders IOWA vs. ILLINOIS PASSING
C.J. Beathard
PASSING
64.1 Completion Percentage 1,039 Yards 7 Touchdowns 2 Interceptions
RUSHING
Jordan Canzeri
58.1 Completion Percentage 1,107 Yards 8 Touchdowns 2 Interceptions
RUSHING
89 Carries 441Yards 5.0 Yards/Carry 8 Touchdowns
RECEIVING
Matt VandeBerg
Cole Fisher
19 Solo Tackles 28 Assisted Tackles 2.5 Sacks
Josh Ferguson 71 Carries 381 Yards 5.4 Yards/Carry 3 Touchdowns
RECEIVING
31 Receptions 303 Yards 9.8 Yards/Reception 2 Touchdowns
DEFENSE
Wes Lunt
Geronimo Allison 32 Receptions 435 Yards 14.1 Yards/Reception 2 Touchdowns
DEFENSE
Clayton Fejedelem 25 Solo Tackles 21 Assisted Tackles 0 Sacks
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DI Pregame Roundtable Danny Payne, Pregame Editor: Well, Charlie and I were both at Wisconsin last week to watch this one, so Charlie, I’ll start off with you. What were your big takeaways from Madison? Charlie Green, football reporter: Well first off, it was just a great game, great atmosphere. Very defensive game. Pretty ugly game actually, but one of those low-scoring games that might be kind of rare where it was still incredibly entertaining, incredibly fun to watch. Wisconsin’s pass rush got to C.J. Beathard a little bit, So Iowa shifted more to the run, and Jordan Canzeri had a big day. In the end, Iowa’s defense forced Wisconsin to throw the ball a lot, and I think it was that unit that really won the game. Payne: Yeah, absolutely I’d have to say the same thing. Offense didn’t do much; that was a combination of Wisconsin’s defense and some struggles from Iowa. Tackle Boone Meyers was out with an injury and looks like he’ll be out, I think they called him week-to-week and day-to-day. Tevaun Smith probably won’t be back before the bye with a knee injury, and LeShun Daniels Jr, is still not 100 percent.
On turnovers Jordan Hansen, football reporter: It was the most Iowa-Wisconsin game I’ve ever seen. Someone tweeted
earlier, I don’t remember who it was, but the question was what has been the difference between Iowa and Wisconsin games, and former Hawkeye Andy Brodell tweeted back turnover margin, and that’s what really won this game. If you go back and look at the games, it’s usually the team that turns the ball over fewer times wins.
On the offensive online: Ryan Rodriguez, football reporter: Pass blocking, it was kind of ugly at times. That’s the most pressure Beathard has seen all year, and granted that’s probably the strongest defensive unit Iowa will face all season, but it just seemed as if there was nobody that could even kind of stem the tide of onslaught they were facing. Run blocking, they looked good. I thought Canzeri had all kinds of room, but pass blocking, especially when Wisconsin brought two or three guys, Iowa couldn’t handle it.
On hype surrounding Illinois: Peter Bailey Wells, Daily Illini sports editor: Man, what a difference 4-1 makes compared to 3-2. They’ve been 3-2 the last two years, and now they’re 4-1, which has a lot of people maybe dreaming outside of what’s realistic but definitely getting excited about this matchup at Iowa.
Iowa defensive end Nate Meier helps crunch an Illini player in Memorial Stadium on Nov. 15, 2014, in Champaign. (The Daily Iowan/Valerie Burke)
On Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt
Wells: I don’t think he’s a first-round draft pick, but I do think that by the end of his college career, he’s going to be someone who is in a position to play pro ball. The guy he gets compared with a lot is Christian Hackenberg, someone who has a lot of natural talent. I know Hackenberg hasn’t seemed terrific this season, and Wes hasn’t either, but he’s very capable. He can make every throw you need him to make.
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COVER
Continued from 8
in defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s system. This, Fisher said, was key. Understanding the intricacies of playing linebacker has led to better, faster play. “Once you get a look at all three, it really meshes overall. You really get a good look at the defense as a whole,” he said. “Once you see things as a whole and how they fit together, you can play a lot faster.” Playing fast is one of a few keys to Iowa’s leading tackler’s success this season. Once Fisher understood a step-by-step approach may work in engineering but doesn’t always work in football, he was able to play downhill at a higher speed. Take play diagnosis as an example. The quicker a linebacker can read a play and act, the faster he can make a play to the ball. While tackles aren’t always the best indicator of defensive performance, the metric is useful when thinking about it this way. Last year, strong safety John Lowdermilk led the Hawkeyes in tackles, followed by linebacker Quinton Alston. This year, Fisher and Jewell are first and second on the leaderboard with 28 and 22 stops, respectively. Because those two are reading the play quicker, they’re getting to the runner before he gets to the second level or gets outside, where a defensive back is forced to make a play farther downfield. Of course, if you watched a game of Iowa football last year, you know ball carriers getting to the perimeter caused huge problems for the Hawks. “When you start worrying about assignments too early, you start slowing down,” linebacker coach Jim Reid said at the Hawkeyes’ media day in August. “Just go fast; when we meet, we’ll get you where you’re supposed to be.” Through five games, Reid’s philosophy is paying off for Fisher and his teammates. The defense is the only one in the nation that has yet to allow a rushing touchdown and is ranked second behind Michigan in the Big Ten giving up only 84.4 yards per game on the ground. While Fisher and his teammates have been good against the run, don’t think everything has been perfect. There’s still room to progress, most notably in pass coverage. A fourth and 15 late in the fourth quarter
Iowa linebacker Cole Fisher tackles North Texas running back Jeffrey Wilson in Kinnick on Sept. 26, 2015. The Hawkeyes rolled over the not-so Mean Green, 62-16. (The Daily Iowan/ Margaret Kispert) against Pittsburgh comes to mind immediately. The senior had coverage on Panther receiver J.P. Holtz, who ran a post from the slot. Fisher was overly aggressive trying to knock Holtz off his route and lost inside leverage. Before he knew it, quarterback Nate Peterman hit his target for 19 yards to bring his team into the Iowa red zone. The Panthers scored
two plays later. Although he did make an obvious mistake, Fisher’s realization he screwed up — “I didn’t want to go to the sideline,” he told reporters the following Tuesday — is another sign the light bulb has finally turned on. Maybe that’s not something new, and he has known how to cover a receiver in that situation all along. Whatever the case, the difference
now, after almost four and a half years, is Fisher has the opportunity to make plays — or mistakes — on the defensive side of the ball. Not just on special teams. “He’s been playing well on special teams, like a starter on special teams for a couple of years.,” Ferentz said. ”Now, the defensive part of it has caught up for him, and that’s fun to watch.”
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- The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa
ON THE LINE Taylor Brooks
Patrick Lyne
DITV SPORTS DIRECTOR (16-9)
DESIGN EDITOR (18-7)
IOWA Iowa has a giant corn statue on campus. Can’t bet against that.
IOWA Too easy.
IOWA Going into Northwestern at 6-0 will feel real nice.
miami I could’ve sworn Everett Golson’s college career ended three years ago.
FLORIDA STATE Because I can’t take another 30 for 30 on the U.
Miami Bounce back kids.
MIAMI Hurricane Life is the only life I know.
northwestern Still don’t buy Captain Khaki Pants and his merry Wolverines.
northwestern Whenever the ‘Cats are playing there’s just something not right in the world. Thanks, Trump.
MICHIGAN Kinda crazy we’re even talking about this game, to be honest.
northwestern Michigan is overrated.
NORTHWESTERN Picked against them last week. That was dumb.
MICHIGAN (55%) Wildcats’ undefeated streak ends at The Big House
OKLAHOMA STATE I hate defense sometimes too, schedulers.
oklahoma state Kinnick would be sold-out eternally if Iowa sold alcohol in the stadium like WVU.
West virginia I’ve narrowed my Halloween costumes down to a mountaineer and a cowboy… and a Jedi.
Oklahoma state The game that defense forgot.
oklahoma state Easy pick.
oklahoma state Going with the majority because my lead is getting way too thin.
OKLAHOMA STATE (64%) Offensive explosion, this one should be fun to watch.
WARTBURG Wartburg will lose to St. Thomas in the Stagg Bowl, probably. Roll damn Toms.
wartburg Wartburg is a national title contender and this probably won’t be pretty.
wartburg Based on deep analysis and film study, I hereby predict the victor to be Wartburg. Good day.
coe I’m not sure why…
WARTBURG From what I hear, Wartburg is pretty dang good.
Danny Payne
Jordan Hansen SPORTS EDITOR (16-9)
FOOTBALL REPORTER (16-9)
IOWA I don’t want a New Kirk vs. Fitz matchup to decide the Big Ten West…
IOWA Hawks bowl-eligible in early October? Pinch me.
IOWA Illinois should stick to, uh, men’s golf. That’s the one, that’s its game.
Miami at No. 12 Florida State
MIAMI Going against anything involving Hurricane Life is a mortal sin and if Pat takes FSU he is soft.
Florida state Al Golden could save his job with a win here. He won’t, though.
No. 13 Northwestern at No. 18 Michigan
NORTHWESTERN …I NEED a New Kirk vs. Fitz matchup to decide the Big Ten West.
MATCHUPS Illinois at No. 22 Iowa
No. 21 Oklahoma State at West Virginia D-III: Coe at No. 7 Wartburg
PREGAME EDITOR (17-8)
Charlie Green
Ryan Rodriguez FOOTBALL REPORTER (17-8)
wartburg Seriously, DIII football is a lot of fun.
Fan Picks IOWA (75%) Hawks stay unbeaten, we’re starting to smell oranges!
FLORIDA STATE (72%) The Seminoles don’t need to fill up on crab legs to take down the Hurricanes.
WARTBURG (66%) Can you believe RB Fred Jackson came out of Coe?
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