The Hawkeyes enter Saturday’s Homecoming matchup at 5-1, and as the #19 ranked team in the AP poll. Let’s take a position by position look at the surprise Iowa Hawkeyes.
QB #4 Nathan Stanley-
Stanley enters Saturday off of a career day against Indiana last week where Stanley starred throwing for a career high 6 TD’s. This season Stanley has taken over the focal point of the offense after the graduation of star RB Akrum Wadley. So far it has been a smooth transition with over 1400 yards passing, 15 TD’s, and a passer rating 155.9. While this season has been an absolute improvement for Stanley, it hasn’t been all good as he is already pushing his interception total from last season (5 so far this season, 6 total last year).
Running Backs-
Iowa is known for pounding the rock. However, this season they haven’t been as dominating as in years past, they feature three main backs.
#28 Toren Young-
Toren Young has taken the most carries this season with 73 car for 382 yards and 2 TD’s the sophomore from Madison, WI has been good this year but hasn’t gotten the run of a normal Iowa back with Stanley being the focal point of this edition of Iowa Football.
#10 Mekhi Sargent-
Mekhi Sargent is new to Iowa City this season after transferring from JUCO last year, so far so good for Sargent who has 63 car for 243 yards and 4 TDs.
#21 Ivory Kelly-Martian
Kelly-Martian was used heavily before two separate injuries derailed his season, the most recent of which was a concussion that put him out against Indiana and has him listed as probable this week. Kelly-Martian has 50 carries for 181 yards along with a TD this year.
Overall the Hawkeyes have 237 carries for 934 yards and 9 TDs with a relatively short Long rush of 40 Yards.
Receivers-
The two top receivers for the Hawkeyes are actually tight ends: Noah Fant (#87) and T.J Hockenson (#38) with combined totals of 45 Rec for 668 yards and 9 Td’s. T.J Hockenson is a unique player standing at 6’5 a weighing in at 250 pounds. With over 300 yards receiving he could be a big problem for the Terps come Saturday. Fant, on the other hand, is more known also standing at 6’5 is just as good, Fant had near 500 yards last season he is currently nursing a hand injury and is probable for the game on Saturday.
As far as Wideouts the leader is Nick Easley #84 the senior from Newtown, IA has 212 yards and has not reached the end zone in his Hawkeye career
O-Line
Iowa has given up only 6 Sacks this year giving the Terps D-Line a big challenge this game to both stop the run and get to Stanley. They have received high praise from the Iowa media and are considered one of the better groups in the conference.
DB’s-
The past two weeks Iowa gave up 263 yards through the air to Indian QB Payton Ramsey on 31-42 passing with 1 TD and 2 INTs. The week before Minnesota’s Zack Annexstad threw 3 TD’s and 3 INT’s. Despite some heavy talent losses in the draft over the last two years (see Josh Jackson, Desmond King, Greg Maybin) this unit is holding up well.
LB-
Iowa lost a lot here as well, however, this unit is also holding up well, the LB’s are looking good this year lead by leading tackler Kristian Welch and Jones Amani.
D-Line
Iowa only has 6 sacks this but the Hawkeyes D is only giving up 2.3 yards per carry to opponents’ and has playmakers on the field this is a heavy rotation group two guys to look at here are AJ Epenesa who has 5 Sacks and Anthony Nelson who also has 5 sacks this year the Hawkeyes have 20 sacks this season for 140 yards
Iowa 2018 Schedule
Iowa v Northern IL 33-7 W
Iowa v Iowa St 13-3 W
Iowa v Northern Iowa 38-14 W
Iowa v #18 Wisconsin 28-17 L
Minnesota V Iowa 48-31 W
Indiana v Iowa 42-16 W
Iowa 5-1 (Homecoming) v Maryland 4-2