SATURDAy, OCTOBER 31 | Iowa vs. MARYLAND | KINNICK Stadium | 2:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN2
THE ROAD AHEAD Inside: Backs, back
The Daily Iowan
PREGAME
22 -- The 30, 19, 2015 The Daily Daily Iowan Iowan -- PREGAME PREGAME -- Iowa Iowa City, City, Iowa Iowa -- Friday, Friday, October September 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 Maryland running back Wes Brown leaps into the end zone to score a touchdown in Byrd Stadium on Oct. 18, 2014, in College Park, Maryland. Maryland Terped up the Hawks, 38-31. (The Daily Iowan/ File Photo)
TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents
4 6 10 12
Cover Story Iowa haters will point to a weak schedule. We took a look to see if that is fair.
16
By the Numbers
20
Full rosters for both the Hawkeyes and Terrapins. Plus, a totally sick nasty poster!
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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.
On The Line Contest Want to win a free pizza? Go to dailyiowan.com/ontheline and place your college football predictions
Around the Big Ten Our weekly conference power rankings, plus some players and this week’s big game to watch.
Roundtable/PCP An excerpt from our weekly Pregame Podcast, and two staffers debate if this team is better than the 2009 Hawkeye squad.
A look at the numbers show how Iowa and Maryland match up.
Roster
BREAKING NEWS Phone: (319) 335-6063 E-mail: daily-iowan@uiowa.edu Fax: 335-6297
WEB EXTRAS
Inside Feature Jordan Canzeri is out, but LeShun Daniels Jr. is in. What is his place in Iowa’s backfield?
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
On the Line Our weekly picks, and a behind-the-scenes look at the production of Pregame.
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GO TO DAILYIOWAN.COM FOR A PHOTO SLIDE SHOW AFTER THE GAME
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The Hawkeyes walk onto the field during the Iowa-North Texas game in Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 26. The Hawkeyes made the Mean Green green with envy, 62-16. (The Daily Iowan/Valerie Burke)
Schedule not going to hit weight room Even with the Hawkeyes in the top 10, voters and media likely won’t be sold until the Hawks prove themselves against a quality opponent — but they aren’t concerned. By Charlie Green |
charles-j-green@uiowa.edu
In the past month, No. 10 Iowa has ascended from unranked to one of the nation’s highest-ranked teams. Iowa football players say they don’t place a lot of value in rankings, and they attempt not to think about too much more than the opponent directly in front of them — in
this week’s case, 2-5 Maryland. After grinding through the front end of its schedule undefeated, albeit not unscathed injury-wise, Iowa’s biggest obstacle from here on out may not be any single opponent. Strength of schedule will be the constant theme if coach Kirk Ferentz and Company keep this winning streak going.
“For the strength of schedule, you can only control that to a certain extent,” linebacker Cole Fisher said. “We’re doing what we can with what we we’re given.” But is that ultimately enough? That question figures to be asked and explored more and more in the coming weeks. Not only do the team’s remaining
opponents share a combined conference record of 2-15, but the Hawkeyes already have a firm grip on the Big Ten West. One couldn’t be blamed to assume this team could play in the Big Ten Championship game Dec. 5 against the toughest competition it will face all year. See COVER, 8
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Backs are back and have each other’s back With LeShun Daniels Jr. likely to be back in the mix, the backfield starts to get crowded.
By Jordan Hansen jordan-hansen@uiowa.edu
Over the first game-and-a-half, Iowa’s running-back rotation was simple. Since then, however, things have become much more complicated. Injuries to the preseason 1-2 punch of LeShun Daniels Jr. and Jordan Canzeri have given Akrum Wadley and Derrick Mitchell Jr. a chance to shine in recent weeks. Canzeri is unlikely to return to the lineup in the near future after being knocked out early in Iowa’s game against Northwestern with an ankle injury. Both Wadley and Mitchell have played well in relief. Now, with Daniels back on the two-deeps this week, the backfield is getting crowded. “We all know it’s going to be tough getting all of us some carries,” Wadley said. “Me, LeShun, Derrick Mitchell, we’re all some great backs and we are competitive on the field. Off the field, we’re best friends; we’re like brothers.” In limited action this season, Wadley has 239 yards, almost all of which came in his 204-yard, 4-touchdown performance against Northwestern after Canzeri went down. Mitchell has rushed for 131 yards on just 17 carries in two blowouts and has looked impressive in those small doses. Iowa’s depth at running back has been a twist to the season, though any of the backs will say they saw it coming. “We’re all capable of breaking a long one,” Wadley said. “We’re all pretty much natural with it. I feel that any one of us gets in there, we’re going to do our thing. All four of us are good.” Daniels, who injured his ankle in Iowa’s win over Iowa State, has carried the ball just 18 times for 47 yards since that game. He was shut down against Illinois and Northwestern, but with the bye week now in the rear-view mirror, the coaches hope he will be effective against Maryland. Daniels was listed as the co-secondstring back along with Mitchell in the latest two-deeps. This means Wadley will start, but it’s clear Iowa offensive coordinator Greg Davis wants to get Daniels in the mix. “Hopefully, this week will give us a chance to get LeShun back and get him rolling,” Davis said. Once Daniels is fully back, however, it remains to be seen just how he will be used. The junior is still a relatively unknown commodity and has run
Iowa running back LeShun Daniels Jr. runs during the Iowa-Illinois State game in Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 5. The Hawkeyes netted the Redbirds, 31-14. (The Daily Iowan/Margaret Kispert) the ball only 103 times for 417 yards during his first three seasons at Iowa. As a source of comparison, Wadley — a sophomore — has 67 carries for 425 yards during his short time at Iowa. Mitchell is also a sophomore and will compete for more playing time in the next two years. While neither of the three will be ignored in the offense, figuring out what to do with the sudden glut of talent has to make Davis’ and running-game coordinator Brian Ferentz’s head spin. Even with the injuries, mismatched
offensive line, and different backs, the Hawkeyes still have the second-best rushing offense in the Big Ten. They’re winning games handily and opening up things for quarterback C.J. Beathard when he has to throw. “All four of them are good backs, and all four of them are helping us win games,” Beathard said. “Guys are just stepping up, and it’s helping us win games.” Stepping up, however, goes beyond just playing well in the moment. Iowa’s backs will need to maintain their current level of play.
Whether Daniels, Wadley, or someone else gets the bulk of the carries, Iowa’s newfound depth should pay dividends in the long run. There’s a sense that everyone needs to carry a bit of the weight, but if someone is having a huge day, it’s time to defer to him. “It would be nice if one person could do it, but this year you saw the early season 1-2 punch with Jordan and LeShun,” Wadley said. “Now, it’s whoever’s in, whoever’s up. You just have to pick up the slack. “We’re all good, we’re all talented.”
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COVER Continued from 4 And as long as the Hawks keep adding to the win column and maintaining their goose egg in the loss — which many deem possible given its remaining schedule — it will continue to ascend in the polls. “If other unbeatens lose — and they will, because some of them play each other — Iowa will rise like helium,” Yahoo Sports’ Pat Forde said. “Why? Because poll voters are fixated more on record than on strength of schedule.” Of the teams in front of the Hawkeyes, according to the Associated Press, every one except No. 3 Clemson plays someone else in the top 10 in the next month. No. 4 LSU will play No. 8 Alabama on Nov. 7. No. 1 Ohio State will take on No. 6 Michigan State on Nov. 21. Fifth-ranked TCU will play second-ranked Baylor on Nov. 27, and No. 9 Notre Dame will battle No. 8 Stanford the following day. November will be a huge month in the distinction between college football’s good and its great. Although it’s not certain a loss would move any one of these teams out of the top 10, it is quite possible Iowa finds itself in the AP’s top five by the end of the regular season.
But because of the abundance of programs in the sport and the relatively few opponents each team plays, basing a ranking primarily on its record has flaws. Of the nine squads ranked ahead of the Hawks, they only have the opportunity to see one of them in action before a bowl game — which would probably be either Michigan State or Ohio State in a conference-title bout. Football is a game of matchups and variables, and the AP rankings tend to
Rice — places a high value on conference championships, head-to-head competition, comparative outcome of common opponents, and perhaps most of all: strength of schedule. When its first poll is released next week, the public will get a first peek at what the “experts” think of the Hawkeyes, a possible indication of how much the outlook of their schedule could hold them back. “That’s the biggest obstacle,” Forde
‘If other unbeatens lose — and they will, because some of them play each other — Iowa will rise like helium.’ — Pat Forde, Yahoo Sports oversimplify what many believe should be a more complicated and well-thoughtout process. It leaves room for the human error the Bowl Championship Series’ computer-driven rankings were designed to eliminate. The College Football Playoff Committee is the latest attempt to select the very best teams in the country, weighing carefully a variety of factors. The committee — comprising 13 members from Barry Alvarez to Condoleezza
said. “That and the absence of much domination until the Northwestern game. I’d say the schedule to date has been mediocre, but it will get worse over the final five games.” It’s possible the overall assessment of Iowa’s opponents could change by season’s end. No. 23 Pittsburgh is undefeated aside from its last-second loss at Kinnick on Sept. 19. The Panthers’ continued rise would give committee members a legitimate opponent to point to, especially if
they earn a spot in the ACC Championship and play a competitive game or even beat, say, Clemson. Hey, anything can happen. Wisconsin and Northwestern, Iowa’s other premier wins on the year, also received votes in this week’s AP poll, though the Wildcats have a lot to prove after their considerable hiccup, which sounded more like a belch. But, Forde said, even if those teams finish strong, it might not matter much. “It would definitely help if Pittsburgh wins its division and — dare to dream — wins the ACC title game,” Forde said. “Northwestern and Wisconsin somewhat don’t matter, because it’s a zero-sum game from here on out: They’d simply be beating other Big Ten teams.” That’s where things get tricky — when the committee looks past the record of opponents into the kind of teams they have defeated, lost to, and whom their opponents have played as well. The Hawks might not be undefeated if they didn’t play in the Big Ten West — no one can say for sure. But what is clear is the division is viewed as one of the weakest groupings in college football. The Sagarin ratings, a system designed to account for strength of schedule, ranks See COVER, 18
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By the Numbers: Iowa vs. Maryland By Danny Payne daniel-payne-1@uiowa.edu
Coming into this game, No. 10 Iowa is expected to pummel lowly Maryland. Some stats tell that story, and some don’t; read on to see a numbers-based look at Iowa’s matchup with the Terps on Saturday.
Iowa rushing yards per game — 214.4, Maryland rushing defense — 175.5 Tuesday, a reporter asked Iowa’s nowNo. 1 running back, Akrum Wadley, what he saw from the Maryland defense on film. Wadley was blunt with his answer, saying, “It could be a good day.” He’s not joking. Maryland has been one of the worst teams against the run in the Big Ten this season and also hasn’t been good on the national scale, ranking No. 84 overall. Iowa’s success on the ground against Illinois and Northwestern, in particular, should leave no doubt in the minds of Hawkeye fans. Even though the Hawkeyes are without Jordan Canzeri for at least this week, Wadley’s and Derrick Mitchell’s production against Northwestern should be enough to gash a bad Terrapin defense.
Maryland sacks per game — 3.4, Iowa sacks allowed per game — 1.71 If there is one thing Maryland defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski could do this week, it would be to get a good night’s sleep as Iowa can be susceptible to the sack. While it has performed well in the Hawks’ last two games, Iowa’s young offensive line is still an area opposing defenses wouldn’t mind attacking. Maryland blitzes on a frequent basis, and using two of the Hawkeyes’ opponents that like to bring the pressure — Pittsburgh and Wisconsin — can give us some context. Against the Panthers, the offensive line did a good job, as C.J. Beathard was only sacked one time for 11 yards. Head coach Paul Chryst’s Badgers, however, managed 4 sacks for 25 yards.
Likely combined punt and kick return yards — 792 Ask anyone with knowledge of Maryland football, and they’ll tell you William Likely is the team’s best player. In the 20 punt returns this season, he’s managed 409 yards and 2 touchdowns. He has also amassed 391 yards on 18 kick returns.
Iowa running back Akrum Wadley celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the Iowa-North Texas game in Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 26. The Hawkeyes schooled the Mean Green in the meaning of the Mean Black & Gold, 62-16. (The Daily Iowan/Valerie Burke) The Hawks have given up only nine punt returns this year (bravo, Chris White and company), and allowed 100 yards and a touchdown. Nineteen opponent kickoff returns have totaled 387 yards. The Hawkeyes’ coverage teams have been much improved over last year’s (Nebraska seems like a log time ago, doesn’t it?), part of which is because of the Hawkeyes’ playing more starters on special teams and part of which is because Dillon Kidd’s and Marshall Koehn’s strong play.
If Iowa can keep Likely in check, it will neutralize Maryland’s most explosive player.
Third-down conversion rate — Iowa 44.4, Maryland 32.3 Iowa’s offense did a good job in this department early in the season, finishing with a 52 percent clip in September. However, October has been a different story, with the Hawks converting only 36.7 per-
cent of their third-down attempts. Maryland is a decent team to improve that mark against; the Terrapin defense has allowed opponents to convert at a 37.1 percent clip, good for 10th in the Big Ten. In October, Terrapin opponents have converted 31.7 percent of the time. For what it’s worth, Iowa’s defense has allowed opponents to convert on third down 35.7 percent of the time, a mark that ranks ninth in the league, sixth in the Big Ten West.
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ROS
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Iowa Hawkeyes
1 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 10 11 11 12 13 14 14 15 16 16 17 17 18 19 20 21 22 22 23 25 26 27 28 29 29 30 30 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 39 40 41 41 42 43 44 45 45 46 47 48 49 50 50 51 52 52 53 54 56 57 58 59 60 61 63 64
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. MARYLAND • SATURDA 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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Maryland Terrapins
AY, OCTOBER 31, 2015 • 2:30 P.M. 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 6 6 7 7 8 9 11 11 12 13 14 15 16 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 24 25 26 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35
Moore, D.J. Cockerille, Shane Collins, Milan Barry-Pollock, Milan Greene, Adam Likely, William Brown, Wes Johnson, Ty Morton, Zac Ngakoue, Yannick Rowe, Caleb Jacobs, Levern Burke, Tyler Conyers, Denzel Hills, Perry Jacobs, Taivon Lane, DeAndre Shaffer, Gage Craddock, Brad Foreman, Dexter Rubinowicz, Nicholas Woods, Josh Garman, Daxx Hendy, A.J. Nixon, Anthony Davis, Sean Davis, Isaiah Carter, Jr., Jermaine Ezeagwu, Daniel Ventura, J.T. Carter, Antwaine Savage, Jr., Darnell Hill, Alvin Riddle, Joe Goins Jr., Kenneth Egbuaba, Nnamdi Ross, Jarrett Stefanelli, Andrew Ashiru, Jefferson Smith, Marcus
WR QB DB DB PK DB RB RB WR DL QB WR LB DB QB WR WR QB PK QB P DB QB DB DB DB ILB LB DB DB DB DB DB RB RB LB DB RB LB RB
5-11 6-2 6-1 5-10 5-11 5-7 6-0 5-10 5-10 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-3 6-3 6-2 5-9 5-7 6-7 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-1 5-10 6-0 6-1 5-9 6-0 5-9 5-9 6-1 5-9
205 235 200 203 185 175 210 184 175 255 220 188 245 212 210 165 175 212 195 220 216 202 205 208 205 202 225 240 207 205 190 192 200 210 233 224 198 244 235 200
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Philadelphia, Pa. Baltimore, Md. LaPlata, Md. Baltimore, Md. Arnold, Md. Belle Glade, Fla. Baltimore, Md. Cumberland, Md. Bethesda, Md. Bowie, Md. Landrum, S.C. Temple Hills, Md. Coatesville, Pa. St. Petersburg, Fla. Pittsburgh, Pa. Camp Springs, Md. Catonsville, Md. Short Gap, W. Va. Adelaide, Australia Manvel, Texas Wellington, Fla. Baltimore, Md. Southlake, Texas Bowie, Md. Pittsburgh, Pa. Washington, D.C. Temple Hills, Md. Fort Washington, Md. Stafford, Va. Hollidaysburg, Pa. Waldorf, Md. Newark, Del. Locaust Grove, Ga. Frederick, Md. Baltimore, Md. Baltimore, Md. Newark, Del. Rockville, Md. Powder Spring, Ga. West Friendship, Md.
36 37 38 38 39 41 42 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 56 57 58 59 59 60 61 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 74 75 76 77 78 79 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 92 93 95 95 96 97 99
Dennah, Elvis Thompson, Avery Shrader, Lee Zanotto, Brett Walker, Cavon Aniebonam, Jesse Dean, Brock Miles, Tehuti Brooks, Jalen Isaacs, Andrew Ross, Brandon Logan, Abner Keihn, Melvin Hayward, Derrick Franco, Ruben Little, Gus Mulrooney, Evan Oliveira, Matt Jones, Malik Boulware, Quarvez Dulaney, JaJuan Doyle, Ryan Adams, Nate Gillespie, Matt Opara, Kingsley Prince, Damian Carpenter, Christian Howard, Keiron Grommer, Stephen Tanyi, Mbi Minter, Mike Moore, Brendan Zimmerman, Mason Zeller, Andrew Shaw, David McKennie, Ellis Marchese, Joe Christie, Sean Donahue, EJ Smith, Tyler Gray, Derwin Dunn, Michael McClain, Will Tucker, Ty Shelton, Maurice Bekoe, Josh Edwards, Avery Culmer, Malcolm Etta-Tawo, Amba Davenport, Jahrvis Gray, Andrew Cornwell, Michael Gallo, P.J. Roca, Eric Braglio, Roman Burkett, Chandler Saine, Oseh Pritchard, Nicolas Ukandu, Azubuike Kulka, Brett Sutton, Daniel Jefferson, Quinton
DB LB P ILB DL DL LB RB LB TE RB LB DE TE DL ILB OL LS DL OL OL OL LS LB DL OL LS DL OL OLB OL OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL WR TE WR WR WR TE WR TE TE DL DL DL P/PK DL DL PK/P DL
6-2 6-2 6-1 5-10 6-2 6-3 6-0 5-10 6-1 6-2 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-5 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-0 6-1 6-3 6-3 5-11 6-3 6-4 6-1 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-5 6-5 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-4 5-11 6-1 5-9 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-2 5-10 6-0 6-4 6-0 6-3
212 228 215 220 260 260 225 210 232 240 210 242 211 240 249 235 300 212 275 304 302 307 220 241 305 328 217 289 309 280 305 295 310 316 307 315 281 310 320 310 328 312 305 285 304 191 234 185 200 193 230 215 250 230 262 240 286 220 307 254 165 289
So. Sr. RFr. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. So. Jr. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Sr. So. RFr. So. RFr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. RFr. Fr. Sr. So. Fr. So. RFr. Fr. Fr. RFr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. RFr. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Jr. RFr. So. RJr.
Lanham, Md. Chesapeake, Va. Newport News, Va. Murrysville, Pa. Washington, D.C. Silver Spring, Md. Harrisburg, Pa. Hammonton, N.J. Suwanee, Ga. Manchester, Conn. Newark, Del. Cambridge, Mass. Towson, Md. Salisbury, Md. Montgomery, TX Fredericksburg, Va. Wilmington, Del. Watchung, N.J. Baltimore, Md. Washington, D.C. Powder Springs, Ga. Wake Forest, N.C. Phoenix, Ariz. Towson, Md. Jacksonville, Fla. Washington, D.C. Brentwood, Tenn. Fort Washington, Md. Spartanburg, S.C. Houston, Texas Severna Park, Md. Austin, Texas Whitehouse, Ohio Red Lion, Pa. Spring Grove, Pa. McSherrytown, Pa. Vernon Hills, Ill. Medford, N.Y. Monrovia, Md. Clarksville, Md. Washington, D.C. Bethesda, Md. Middletown, Md. Walkersville, Md. Greenbelt, Md. Alexandria, Va. Raleigh, N.C. Willingboro, N.J. Powder Springs, Ga. Tampa, Fla. Chardon, Ohio Owings Mills, Md. Holland, Pa. SanJuan,PuertoRico Owings Mills, Md. Panama City, Fla. Worcester, Mass. New Egypt, N.J. Towson, Md. Edinboro, Pa. New Hope, Pa. Pittsburgh, Pa.
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AROUND THE BIG TEN Ryan Rodriguez ryan-rodriguez@uiowa.edu
power rankings
Offensive Impact
1) Ohio State (8-0): The defending national champs and odds-on favorites to win the Big Ten East, Ohio State is riding high off of a 49-7 thrashing of lowly Rutgers in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Buckeyes recently have looked like we all thought they’d be at the start of the season.
8) Illinois (4-3): If you thought Wes Lunt was going to lead the Fighting Illinis to anything more than a mediocre season in an average conference, hi, I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.
2) Michigan State (8-0): If Ohio State is the favorite in the East, the Spartans have been a close second for pretty much all of this season. A 52-26 win at home over Indiana has set them up nicely as the Spartans enter their bye.
9) Minnesota (4-3): Have to feel for Jerry Kill and the Gophers. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t a Kill fan.
3) Iowa (7-0): The 7-0 Hawkeyes enjoyed their bye week and even got a nice little bump in the rankings because of it. Florida State’s last-second loss to Georgia Tech pushed the Seminoles out of the Top 10, allowing Iowa to slide in.
10) Nebraska (3-5): The Cornhuskers are 3-5, but at least Youngstown State isn’t doing much better.
4) Michigan (5-2): The Wolverines had a week off to think about their heartbreaking loss to Michigan State, a loss Jim Harbaugh has insisted is behind them. And with a trip to struggling Minnesota on the horizon, the Wolverines will attempt to get back on track in a big way this weekend.
11) Rutgers (3-4): This season has gone from bad to worse in just about every way imaginable for Rutgers, which has continually looked overmatched and outplayed by even the most marginal of teams. But hey, at least the Big Ten Network finally has the New York/New Jersey market covered.
5) Wisconsin (6-2): A lot would have to go right at this point for Wisconsin to win the Big Ten West and have a shot in the title game. The Badgers have a relatively weak schedule coming up and could earn back some respect with a few blowout wins against Purdue and Rutgers.
12) Maryland (2-5): Things haven’t exactly gone swimmingly for the Big Ten’s other sophomore squad, either. Head coach Randy Edsall was fired a few weeks back, and the Terrapins lost a shootout in Happy Valley by just a point. Great helmets, though.
6) Penn State (6-2): Penn State might be the worst six-win team I’ve ever watched. The Nittany Lions have a real shot at eight wins and could play spoiler when they host Michigan in a few weeks. It would be the team’s only impressive win this year after barely squeaking by Maryland, 31-30.
13) Indiana (4-4): There’s a lot to be ashamed off if you’re an Indiana fan right now. Frat hazing, violence against police officers, Islamaphobic students, Brian Knorr’s defense, the list really goes on and on.
7) Northwestern (6-2): I guess a 30-28 win over Nebraska is impressive, right? It was in Lincoln after all. That matchup against Penn State next week is going to be ugly to watch.
14) Purdue (1-6): Just … wow.
Name: J.T. Barrett, Ohio State Position: Quarterback Year: Sophomore Barrett’s participation on offense has given the team a bolt of energy and has transformed hope the offense plays almost overnight.
defensive Impact Name: Desmond King, Iowa Position: Cornerback Year: Junior One of the Big Ten’s biggest interception threats is about to go up against a Maryland team that has thrown more interceptions than anyone else in the conference by a pretty wide margin.
GAME TO WATCH Minnesota at No. 15 Michigan When: 6 p.m. Saturday Where: Ann Arbor, Michigan Watch: ESPN
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COVER Continued from 8 Iowa at No. 14 in the country with the 35th toughest schedule to date. As the season unfolds, the schedule ranking will likely drop. They also put the West as the eighthbest conference/division in the country. In terms of the Power-5, only the ACC Atlantic — of which the Panthers are members — rates lower. The Big Ten East ranks just above it at seventh, and the SEC West stands at No. 1. Even the AP rankings reflect that to some extent at this point. It doesn’t take advanced metrics or intense analysis to figure it out. The Big Ten is soft relative to other Power-5 conferences, particularly on Iowa’s side of the league. Be as it may, it’s not something the Hawks can afford to concern themselves with. “I don’t really think about it that much because I don’t make the schedule,” guard Jordan Walsh said. “We just go out there, play each game we can, and try to win each game.” Again, it’s no given Iowa runs the table on the rest of its schedule, even as it has done so against the seemingly “tough” part. Indiana is a potential trap game,
and recent struggles against Nebraska and Minnesota certainly linger heavily in the memories of the Hawkeye faithful. In the Ferentz’s mind, there’s far too much football left to even dream of playoffs, conference titles, or even finishing at the top of the West. “Right now, we still have 42 percent of our season left and close to 63 percent of our Big Ten season left in terms of scheduling,” Ferentz said. “… As much as everybody wants to think they know what’s going to happen or what should happen, football is pretty unpredictable.” But Iowa can lose one game, possibly two, and still earn a berth in the conference title game. A win there would be undeniably huge regardless of the opponent, but if the Hawkeyes go into it with a loss, it still might not be enough to impress voters of the committee. In all likelihood, it will require a 13-0 campaign for the Hawks to have a real shot at the playoff. If the team’s record remains unblemished as the weeks go by, more and more members of the national media will echo this sentiment — especially with what would be an inevitable climb in the AP rankings. “I suppose what you can say about the strength of schedule is if you finish out the season and win every one,” Ferentz said. “I guess they can’t really
The Iowa student section shouts the “I” for an I-O-W-A chant during the Iowa-North Texas game in Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 26. The Hawkeyes defeated the not-so Mean Green, 62-16. (The Daily Iowan/Valerie Burke) say much if you just keep winning.” The skepticism, however unfortunate for the Hawks, is legitimate. Iowa’s defense and running game have made it one of the surprise teams of the season. But as of now, it’s not a team that meets the criteria of what is considered elite. Time will tell if that changes. There’s only so much the Hawkeyes can do to in-
fluence voting other than win games. Cracking the top 10 might not mean much, but it could be a start. “It’s a pretty crazy concept, honestly; it’s definitely not something I would’ve predicted at the beginning of the season,” Fisher said. “It’s just one of those things where you can’t get too wrapped up in it; there’s still a lot of season left to go.”
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DI Pregame Roundtable Danny Payne, Pregame editor: Got the whole crew together today back after a pretty relaxing bye week for all of us. I know I enjoyed it to the fullest extent possible, so let’s get started.
Iowa surprises of this season Ryan Rodriguez, football reporter: I didn’t think we’d be covering a top10 team, and I definitely didn’t think we’d be covering a team that’s 7-0. Jordan Hansen, football reporter: I thought we’d be covering the firing of Kirk Ferentz this year, honestly. I thought this year was the last one for his program. I kid you not; I thought this was the end.
On Iowa’s running game so far Charlie
Green,
football
re-
porter: I think they’re going to lean pretty heavily on Akrum Wadley against Maryland this week, because Maryland is a team that has given up almost 175 rushing yards a game, and that’s second worst in the Big Ten. So the Terps haven’t won a lot and have given up a lot of points, and given the way Iowa has been able to run the ball recently, I honestly think the Hawkeyes should feel good with anyone back there. Payne: I think the same could be said about LeShun Daniels Jr. this week, too. I’d really like to see them break him in against Maryland. Whether that’s early in the game or whether that’s after what I think we can all agree will be a fairly sizable lead, at least by halftime. I’d really like to see how he’d do.
On Maryland Ryan Baillargeon, Diamondback football columnist/sports editor: These last two weeks have been quite different since Randy [Edsall] left. They’ve taken the program and really tried to spice things up a bit, especially on offense. They went back to Perry Hills for the Ohio State game, which was Coach Edsall’s last game, and they’ve really started to try to use him as a dual-threat quarterback as opposed to just a strict pocket passer.
On the outside opinion of Iowa Baillargeon: You know, it’s interesting. I haven’t watched a ton of Iowa this year, so I can’t comment too too much. But I would say, I don’t think they’re a top-10 team, but they’re defi-
nitely a top-20 team. I’m very interested to see the game this weekend and see how they stack up, because I haven’t gotten to watch them a ton. But good for Iowa. It’s cool to see a team that had its struggles kind of make a case for itself.
If Iowa can hold Maryland to fewer than 100 yards rushing Hansen: I think they can, and I think they will. They’ve done a good job facing dual-threat quarterbacks all year and not giving up a ton, so I think they’ll do well and do the same thing against Perry Hills this week. Rodriguez: They’re so vastly improved at stopping the runs to the outside that I don’t think it will be a huge concern. We’ve talked about it before, but that area has really improved.
Point/Counterpoint
Is this team better than the 2009 Hawkeye squad?
Two DI staffers debate if the 2015 Iowa team is better than the 2009 team, the last one that finished the season ranked in the top 10. Yes Believe the hype. Jump on the bandwagon. This train isn’t stopping. Iowa is better than it has been in 13 years. Yes, that means this year’s Hawkeyes are a better team than the 2009 squad. You can point out all the draft picks you want from 2009 (not that this year’s team isn’t loaded with them, too), but the moral of the story is that this season, Iowa is playing better as a whole unit than it did in 2009. This season, Iowa did not have to rely on two blocked field goals to get past an FCS school. (Remember the UNI game in 2009?) In games against UNI and Arkansas State, the 2009 team won by a total of 4 points. The Hawkeyes this year have not made it close at all with worse than mediocre teams, winning by a minimum of two touchdowns in every one of those games (Illinois State, Iowa State, and North Texas). And let’s not forget this season’s 30-point victory over a Northwestern squad that defeated No. 9 Stanford. The strength of schedule for the Hawkeyes in 2009 was ranked 50th, and they lost two games. This season, Iowa has the No. 44 strength of schedule and has zero losses.
Iowa’s offense is far more efficient now than it was then. In terms of points for, the Hawkeyes offense was ranked 86th in the nation in 2009. This year? 49th. Defense is obviously more prominent in the Big Ten than offense, though. This year’s team is allowing fewer points per game than the 2009 team. Say what you will about how impressive the 2010 Orange Bowl victory was; this year Iowa has not lost a game and is looking at a very reasonable chance for a college football playoff berth. 12-0 will happen, so before Iowa has a chance at losing the Big Ten Championship, it will have won more games than the 2009 team did the entire season. — by Mason Clarke
No Look back at the roster from the 2009-10 Iowa football team. Seriously, I looked up and down that roster and count more than 40 guys that either played in the NFL or made a training camp. That might be the most talented roster in Hawkeye history. This year’s Iowa team doesn’t get enough credit for the schedule they have played thus far, but the 2009 team had a much tougher road. Wins against Arizona
and Michigan at home in the first half of the season, along with a win on the road in Happy Valley against No. 5 Penn State trumps wins against Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, and Northwestern this season. The 2009 Hawkeyes went into the Horseshoe and took No. 11 Ohio State to overtime with a backup quarterback. For comparison’s sake, raise your hand if you think this year’s team could go on the road to the 11th-ranked team’s stadium (Florida) and take it to overtime with Tyler Wiegers under center. That’s not a knock against Wiegers. James Vandenberg was a really good backup quarterback. The 2009 team also featured two receivers that ended up with their names all over the Hawkeye record books. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt ranked second and third in school history in receptions, first and second in yards, and first and fourth in touchdowns. Ricky Stanzi ranks top four in completions, yards, and touchdowns for the Hawkeyes. The 2009 Hawkeyes also saw five players drafted in the first four rounds of the 2010 NFL draft: Bryan Bulaga, Pat Angerer, Amari Spievey, Tony Moeaki, and A.J. Edds were all taken before the fifth round started. — by Blake Dowson
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- The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa
ON THE LINE Danny Payne
Ryan Rodriguez
IOWA This is not the trap game you are looking for.
IOWA No offense to Terrapins, I just don’t think turtles make much of a mascot.
IOWA I guess putting this game on at 2:30 is what happens when you’re undefeated.
IOWA There’s no way Maryland can go up against Iowa’s defense.
IOWA Can’t wait to go to Pasadena.
IOWA (80%) 2-5 Terrapins vs. 7-0 Hawks, you do the math.
notre dame All copy is due Tuesday before we leave the office, and pages are designed Wednesday. We send to the printer Thursday.
NOTRE DAME It’s so, so tempting to pick Temple at home. I’ll probably regret this.
NOTRE DAME Because it’s Notre Dame..and it’s Temple.
NOTRE DAME I can’t believe this is a game at this point in the season.
Notre dame Their running backs are unstoppable.
notre dame Per usual.
notre dame (71%) Fighting Irish spoil Temple’s historic start.
Georgia at No. 11 Florida
florida Timeout. Remember when Mark Richt sent his whole team on the field after an opening touchdown in, like, 2007?
florida The Gators have to be juicedup for this rivalry game.
georgia Georgia has the same logo as the Packers; Greyson Lambert channels his inner Aaron Rodgers against the Gators.
Florida The game that inspired the most annoying musical act of the last 20 years.
Florida Give me a D for defense.
FLORIDA If we’re being honest, Florida Georgia Line has some jams.
florida (66%) Bulldogs chomp gators.
Illinois at Penn St.
penn state Back in the day, technology made designing hard, so Pregame wasn’t started until the daily paper was sent to print.
illinois Why not?
penn state Penn State’s defensive line wins this game by itself.
penn state The incompletion bowl.
penn state Sure, let’s go with this.
PENN STATE
penn state (75%) Nittany Lions have this one in the bag.
Oregon vs. Arizona St.
arizona state I cannot confirm or deny the rumor the Pregame staff would indulge in a few pops while working that late.
arizona state Oregon is a hot mess. Arizona State is too, though.
arizona state I’m only picking the Sun Devils because they’re at home. I refuse to put any more thought into either of these teams.
arizona state “LOL Defense” - both of these teams.
arizona state Unfortunately Oregon doesn’t have their swagger anymore.
OREGON Again, who knows.
PREGAME EDITOR (24-11)
Maryland at No. 10 Iowa
IOWA Bad slate of games, so you get an inside look at the production of Pregame.
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 21 Temple
Jordan Hansen SPORTS EDITOR (24-11)
FOOTBALL REPORTER (23-12)
FOOTBALL REPORTER (26-9)
Taylor Brooks
Patrick Lyne
Charlie Green
MATCHUPS
DITV SPORTS DIRECTOR (21-14)
DESIGN EDITOR (25-10)
Who knows.
Fan Picks
arizona state (60%) Sun Devils come out on top in this battle of underachieving teams.
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