LeShun Daniels Jr. will likely return against Maryland. What will his role be?

By Jordan Hansen
[email protected]

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-second-string 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 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.”