Game Notes: Iowa at Purdue

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FIRST-AND-10
1: The Hawkeyes have won eight consecutive road games, tied for the third longest active streak in the nation (19: Ohio State; 9: Alabama; 8: Oklahoma, Iowa, Clemson; 7: UNC). The eight-game road win streak equals the school record, set from 1920-23. Seven of the eight wins have come against Big Ten opponents, the longest streak in school history.
 
2: Senior QB C.J. Beathard started his first career game at Purdue in a 24-10 in West Lafayette in 2014. Beathard, who surpassed 5,000 yards of total offense in his career last Saturday, is 8-0 in road games as a starter and 11-1 in Big Ten regular season games.
 
3: Iowa has won both road games by identical 14-7 scores (Rutgers and Minnesota). It marks the first time since 1928, that the Hawkeyes have won two road contests in the same season scoring 14 or fewer points.
 
4: Junior RB Akrum Wadley topped 100 points and 1,000 rushing yards in his career last week at Minnesota. The Hawkeye tailback totaled 107 yards and one touchdown in Iowa’s win against the Gophers. Wadley enters Saturday’s game at Purdue with 102 points and 1,098 yards.
 
5: Junior LB Josey Jewell ranks fifth in the Big Ten averaging nine tackles per game. Jewell has 231 career tackles, tying Mark Bortz for 44th all-time.
 
6: Senior DB Desmond King has been targeted 22 times this season, allowing 10 receptions for 70 yards. He has allowed 22 yards after catch (2.2 yards after catch per reception).  King ranks among Big Ten leaders in both KO (3rd, 28.6 avg.) and punt (4th, 10.2 avg.) returns.
 
7: Sophomore FS Brandon Snyder has been active in the turnover game, recording four takeaways over the last four weeks: INT vs. NDSU; FF and FR vs. Rutgers; FF vs. NW; FR and INT vs. MINN.
 
8:Senior QB C.J. Beathard has led Iowa to victory five times when the Hawkeyes have trailed or been tied in the fourth quarter, including last week at Minnesota.
 
9: The Hawkeyes are +5 in turnover margin – third best in the Big Ten. Iowa has 10 takeaways — four interceptions, six fumble recoveries — and has turned six of the 10 takeaways into touchdowns.
 
10: Kirk Ferentz has 131 wins in all games played as a member of the Big Ten Conference. He is tied with Illinois’ Robert Zuppke for seventh, who also won 131 games as a member of the Big Ten while coaching at Illinois. Ferentz is five victories from equaling Henry Williams of Minnesota, who won 136 games.
 
     HAWKEYE HISTORY
     Iowa has played 1,213 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 629-545-39 (.535). That includes a 395-215-16 (.641) record in home games, a 234-330-23 (.418) record in games away from Iowa City, a 316-367-25 (.464) mark in Big Ten games and a 278-179-15 (.600) record in Kinnick Stadium.

    SPECIAL TEAMS HAVE BEEN SPECIAL
    The Hawkeyes rank second in the Big Ten averaging 27.3 yards per kickoff return (Ohio State, 30.0). DB Desmond King is third in the league, averaging 28.6 yards per kickoff return (minimum six returns). King had 162 combined return yards against Northwestern in Week 5 (77 punt, 85 kick). It marked the first time since 1998 a Hawkeye had 75-plus return yards on both punt and kickoffs (Khalil Hill). King totaled 107 yards in returns last week at Minnesota (48 kickoffs, 59 punts).
     In addition, senior WR Riley McCarron had a 54-yard kickoff return and a 38-yard punt return versus Northwestern, both career longs.
     P Ron Coluzzi leads the Big Ten in touchbacks. Coluzzi has recorded a touchback on 25-of-32 kickoffs. No other Big Ten kicker has more than 22 touchbacks. He ranks sixth in the Big Ten in punting (42.0).
     Freshman K Keith Duncan has been perfect on all 21 PAT attempts, and all four field goal tries (22, 24, 22, 28).
 
     I’LL TAKE THAT
    FS Brandon Snyder has four takeaways over the last four weeks. He recorded his first career interception in Week 3 vs. NDSU, caused and recovered a fumble that led to the winning touchdown at Rutgers in Week 4, and had two takeaways at Minnesota in Week 6 (one interception, one fumble recovery). He also forced a fumble against Northwestern in Week 5 that led to an Iowa touchdown.
 
     MAKING HAY IN THE RED ZONE
     The Hawkeyes have scored points on 19-of-20 trips in the red zone, including 15 touchdowns (6 pass, 9 rush) and four field goals. Iowa turned it over on downs in its only failed red zone appearance (at Rutgers). Its .950 red zone success rate ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten.
     Eight different Hawkeyes have scored red zone touchdowns. Iowa’s rushing touchdowns include five by RB Akrum Wadley, two by RB LeShun Daniels, and one each by RB Derrick Mitchell and QB C.J. Beathard. The receiving touchdowns have gone to WR Matt VandeBerg (3), WR Jerminic Smith (1), WR Riley McCarron (1), and TE George Kittle (1).
 
     THE LONELY ISLAND
     Through six games, opposing quarterbacks have attempted 170 passes. DB Desmond King has been targeted 22 times, allowing 10 receptions for 70 yards. He has allowed 22 yards after catch (2.2 yards after catch per reception). The average depth of route ran against King is 3.2 yards.
     King has recorded 16 solo tackles and nine assists, along with five pass breakups and a forced fumble.  He averages 86 all-purpose yards per game, most among Hawkeyes and most among Big Ten defensive players. He has 173 yards in punt returns and 343 yards in kickoff returns. He averages 28.6 yards per kickoff return, third in the Big Ten (minimum six returns), and 10.1 yards per punt return, second in the Big Ten among players with at least 10 returns. He returned seven punts last week at Minnesota, which ties Rutgers’ Janarion Grant for the most by a Big Ten player in a single-game this year.
     King, the Jim Thorpe Award winner and unanimous consensus All-American in 2015, announced on Jan. 4 he would return to Iowa for his senior season. King is the only Thorpe winner ever to play a college season after winning the award. He led the Big Ten and ranked second in the country with eight interceptions in 2015, tying a school record. He was named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Conference Defensive Back of the Year and a finalist for Walter Camp Player of the Year.
     The last time Iowa took the field with a national award winner was 2003, when senior PK Nate Kaeding was the reigning Lou Groza Award winner, presented to the nation’s top kicker.
 
     STREAKING ON THE ROAD
     The Hawkeyes have won eight consecutive road games (the final road game at Illinois in 2014, all five road games in 2015, and both road games in 2016). It is the longest road winning streak of the Ferentz era and equals the school record, set from 1920-23.
Seven of Iowa’s eight straight road victories have come against Big Ten competition. The seven-game Big Ten road win streak is the longest in program history.
 
     FERENTZ CATCHES ZUPPKE, CLOSES ON CARR
     Head coach Kirk Ferentz has 131 wins in all games played as a member of the Big Ten Conference. He is tied with Illinois’ Robert Zuppke with 131 wins as a member of the Big Ten. Ferentz is five victories from equaling Henry Williams of Minnesota, who won 136 games.
     Ferentz has 78 Big Ten wins, seventh among the conference’s all-time winningest coaches in Big Ten games. Lloyd Carr is sixth with 81 Big Ten victories.
 
     THE SERIES
     Purdue holds a 46-37-3 advantage in the series that began with a 16-0 Iowa win in 1910. The Hawkeyes have won eight of the last 10 and 20 of the last 27 meetings. Purdue owns a 27-16-1 advantage in games played in West Lafayette. Iowa has won its last three trips to Purdue (2011, 2013, and 2014).
     Iowa and the Boilermakers battled to a 21-21 tie at West Lafayette in 1994. That game marks the last tie game for Iowa before the college football tie-breaker system was put in place.  
 
     ALL IN THE FAMILY
     Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has two of his three sons involved in the Iowa program again in 2016. Brian, a former Hawkeye letterman and captain (2003-05), is in his fifth season as Iowa’s offensive line coach and second year as running-game coordinator. Steven is an offensive lineman who is in his fifth season as a redshirt senior. James Ferentz was a three-year starter on the Hawkeye offensive line and a team captain before graduating in 2013.
     Kirk and Steven are one of seven father-son head coach-player duos in FBS. The others include Mike and Jay Macintyre (Colorado), Mark and Gunner Hudspeth (UL-Lafayette), Rick and Brent Stockstill (Middle Tennessee), Bobby and Derek Wilder (Old Dominion), Butch and Alex Jones (Tennessee), and Kyle and Alex Whittingham (Utah).
 
     FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS
     Iowa has nine players on its 2016 roster whose father played for the Hawkeyes. WR Brandon Bishop (Willie in 1986), QB Drew Cook (Marv in 1985-88), OL Cole Croston (Dave in 1984-86), OL Mitch Keppy (Myron in 1986-87), LS Tyler Kluver (Todd in 1986-87), TE George Kittle (Bruce in 1977-80), DE Anthony Nelson (Jeff in 1990-92), TE Peter Pekar (Jim in 1980-81), and QB Ryan Schmidt (Rick 1984-85).
 
     VANDEBERG TO MISS GAMES DUE TO INJURY
     Senior WR Matt VandeBerg is out of action indefinitely, due to a foot injury sustained in practice on Sept. 26. VandeBerg (6-1, 190), played in the first four games of the season, leading the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns (19-284-3 TDs).
     VandeBerg has 106 career receptions, tying Quinn Early for 19th in program history. He has 1,302 career receiving yards, 27th in program history. Should he miss the entire season, the fourth-year senior could be granted a medical redshirt and return for a fifth season in 2017.

     COLUZZI EARNED BIG TEN HONOR
     Senior Ron Coluzzi was named Big Ten Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his play in Iowa’s 14-7 win at Rutgers.  The weekly honor is the first for the graduate transfer who is in his first season with the Hawkeyes.  Coluzzi (5-11, 182-pounds) is a native of Naperville, Illinois, who previously played at Central Michigan.
     In Iowa’s win over Rutgers, Coluzzi averaged 42 yards on seven punts, with a long of 55 yards.  Four of his kicks were placed inside the 20, as Rutgers recorded zero yards on just one return. Coluzzi also had recorded touchbacks on all three of his kickoffs, allowing no returns.
     Through six games, Coluzzi is averaging 42.0 yards on 32 punts, with Hawkeye opponents recording just three returns for 47 yards.  Coluzzi has also recorded a Big Ten-best 25 touchbacks on 32 kickoffs.
     Coluzzi is the second Hawkeye to be honored in 2016, as redshirt freshman Anthony Nelson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week following Iowa’s opening win over Miami, Ohio.
 
     BEATHARD EARNS COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS WEEKLY AWARD
     QB C.J. Beathard was named College Sports Madness Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week following his performance against Iowa State in Week 2. Beathard accounted for four first half touchdowns — three passing and one rushing — to lead Iowa to a 42-3 win in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. He completed 19-of-28 passes for 235 yards and matched his career best with three touchdown passes.
 
     REMOVE THE REDSHIRT
     Ten true freshmen have seen action in 2016, including RB Tokes Akinribade, K Keith Duncan, TE Noah Fant, DB Amani Hooker, LB Amani Jones, DE Cedrick Lattimore, DB Manny Rugamba, QB Nathan Stanley, LB Kristian Welch, and WR Devonte Young.
     Stanley has played in four games. He is the first true freshman to play quarterback since Drew Tate in 2003. Tate appeared in six games (no starts) and was 6-of-11 for 55 yards and one touchdown (no interceptions).

     HOME GROWN HAWKEYES
     Iowa’s roster of 117 players includes 53 players from Iowa.  The roster includes 18 players from Illinois; seven from Michigan, six from Maryland, five from Missouri and Texas, four from Wisconsin, three from Ohio and South Dakota, two from Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, and New Jersey, and one from Canada, Indiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
 
     BAND OF BROTHERS
     The Hawkeyes have five sets of brothers on the 2016 roster. In the season opener against Miami (Ohio), C James Daniels and RB LeShun Daniels became the first Hawkeye brothers to start in the same game since SS Kent Ellis and CB Kevin Ellis in 1980.
     No other school in the country has more sets of brothers than Iowa. OL Ryan Ward and younger brother OLB Kevin return for their fourth and final season together. Twins OL Landan and Levi Paulsen are back after redshirting their freshman year in 2015. They are the sixth set of twins to play football at the University of Iowa. LB Ben Niemann welcomes younger brother LB Nick Niemann to the team this year, as does SS Miles Taylor, whose younger brother LB Kyle is in his first year on campus.
 
     MORE THAN ONE
     Seventeen high schools have contributed more than one player to the current Iowa football roster. Dowling Catholic HS in West Des Moines, Iowa; East English Village HS in Detroit, Michigan; and Providence Catholic HS in Homer Glen, Illinois all graduated three current Hawkeyes. The schools with two current Hawkeyes include Davenport Assumption (Davenport, Iowa), Cedar Falls HS (Cedar Falls, Iowa), Gonzaga College HS (Silver Spring, Maryland), Harding HS (Warren, Ohio), Kennedy HS (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Naperville Central HS (Naperville, Iowa), Pella HS (Pella, Iowa), Regina HS (Iowa City, Iowa), Solon HS (Solon, Iowa), Sycamore HS (Sycamore, Iowa), Waukee HS (Waukee, Iowa), West Branch HS (West Branch, Iowa), West Lyon HS (Inwood, Iowa), and Woodbury Central HS (Moville, Iowa).
 
     THE HAWKEYES, SIZE WISE
     Freshman PK Keith Duncan is the lightest Hawkeyes player at 165 pounds. Freshman DB Manny Rugamba is the lightest position player at 172 pounds. Senior DL Jaleel Johnson and sophomore OL Dalton Ferguson are the heaviest Hawkeyes at 310 pounds. A total of 10 Hawkeye players are listed at 300 pounds or more. The tallest player, at 6-8, is sophomore DE Matt Nelson. The shortest player, at 5-8, is junior WR Jonathan Parker.
 
     GLANCE AT THE SCHEDULE
     The Hawkeyes opened 2016 with three straight home games against Miami, Ohio (W, 45-21), Iowa State (W, 42-3), and North Dakota State (L, 23-21).
     For the first time in program history, Iowa will play a nine-game conference schedule. Iowa plays five Big Ten road games and hosts four conference schools, including Northwestern (L, 38-31), Wisconsin (Oct. 22), Michigan (Nov. 12) and Nebraska (Nov. 25).
     The Hawkeyes do not face Big Ten opponents Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, or Ohio State, during the regular season.
     Seven of Iowa’s 12 opponents played in the postseason. Six Big Ten opponents participated in bowl competition (4-2). North Dakota State has won the FCS national championship five consecutive years.
     Iowa has four trophy games on its schedule in 2016. The Hawkeyes defended the Cy-Hawk trophy with a 42-3 win against Iowa State and Floyd of Rosedale with a 14-7 triumph at Minnesota; Iowa will defend two more rivalry trophies against Wisconsin (Heartland) and Nebraska (Heroes) this season.
     For the second straight year, and second time in program history, Iowa will play more than one night game at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa defeated Iowa State, 42-3, on Sept. 10 in a game that kicked off at 6:42 p.m. The Hawkeyes host Michigan Nov. 12 at 7 p.m., and also play under the lights at Penn State on Nov. 5 (6:30 p.m.).
  
     IOWA LEADERSHIP GROUP
     The University of Iowa football program has 16 players in its 2016 Leadership Group, including nine seniors and seven juniors.  The purpose of the group is to assist in formulating policies, and being involved in team decision-making matters regarding the upcoming season.  Players are selected by a team vote.
     The seniors are QB C.J. Beathard, OL Cole Croston, RB LeShun Daniels, Jr., DL Jaleel Johnson, DB Desmond King, TE George Kittle, DB Greg Mabin, WR Riley McCarron, and WR Matt VandeBerg.  The junior class is represented by DL Nathan Bazata, OL Ike Boettger, LB Bo Bower, LB Josey Jewell, OL Boone Myers, LB Ben Niemann, and OL Sean Welsh.
 
     THE BEST DEFENSE IS A RIVALRY TROPHY DEFENSE
     The Hawkeyes have won six consecutive rivalry trophy games, claiming the Cy-Hawk Trophy (Iowa State), Floyd of Rosedale (Minnesota), Heartland Trophy (Wisconsin), and Heroes (Nebraska) in 2015. Iowa successfully defended the Cy-Hawk Trophy against Iowa State (W, 42-3) and Floyd of Rosedale (W, 14-7) in 2016. By sweeping the series in 2015, Iowa owned all four trophies for the first time in program history (the Heroes Trophy was introduced in 2011).
 
     WE’LL GO FIRST
     In 18 seasons as Iowa’s head coach, Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes received the opening kickoff in 174-of-220 games (105-69). Iowa has started the game on defense in 45-of-220 games under Ferentz (25-20). Iowa has won the toss four times this season (3-1), and contrary to its previous history, has elected to defer to the second half and start the game on defense each time.
 
     FERENTZ TOPS IN LONGEVITY
     Kirk Ferentz is in his 18th season as Iowa’s head football coach. He is tied with Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops as the longest active FBS head coaches. Ferentz was named Iowa head coach on Dec. 2, 1998, one day after Stoops was named head coach at Oklahoma. Stoops was a Hawkeye letterman from 1979-82.
 
     IOWA AT THE HEAD OF CLASS IN COACHING LANDSCAPE
     The University of Iowa has produced four active FBS head coaches, tied with Alabama for most in the country. Bret Bielema (Arkansas), Bob Diaco (UCONN), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), and Mark Stoops (Kentucky) all earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Iowa. Bielema, Diaco, Bob Stoops, and Mark Stoops played for former UI head coach Hayden Fry. All four head coaches served as assistants under Fry. Bielema was an assistant coach on Kirk Ferentz’s staff from 1999-2001.
 
     KIRK FERENTZ RADIO SHOW
     Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz is featured on “Hawk Talk with Kirk Ferentz” each week during the regular season. The radio call-in show is hosted by Gary Dolphin, the play-by-play voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes.  The show airs live each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. from Applebee’s in Coralville.
 
     IOWA PROGRAM NOTES
•   The Hawkeyes have earned bowl eligibility in 14 of the last 15 seasons.
•   Iowa played in the Big Ten title game for the first time in program history on Dec. 5, 2015. Iowa earned Big Ten Conference championships in 2002 and 2004 and placed second in 2009. Iowa (8-0, 2002; 8-0, 2015) is one of three Big Ten teams to post a perfect mark in conference play since 1998 (BCS era), joining Michigan State (1) and Ohio State (5).
•   Iowa has ranked in the top 10 in the final Associated Press and CNN/USA Today coaches polls five times since 2002, including a ranking of seventh in both polls at the conclusion of the 2009 season. Iowa ranked eighth in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The Hawkeyes finished 2015 ranked ninth in the AP poll and 10th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. In the Big Ten, only Ohio State has more top 10 finishes since 2002.
•   Since 1936 when the first AP poll was released, Iowa has appeared in the poll 310 times, the fifth highest total in the Big Ten (Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and MSU). Iowa has been the top-ranked team in the country 11 times.
•   Iowa set a school record with 12 wins in 2015. The Hawkeyes won 11 games in 2002 (11-2), and 2009 (11-2).  In 2009, Iowa started 9-0 and won 10 regular season games for just the fourth time in school history.
•   Iowa won 10 or more games in three consecutive years (2002-04) for the first time in school history.
•   Kirk Ferentz has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year four times (2002, 2004, 2009, 2015) and was named National Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2015. Only Michigan’s Bo Schembechler (6) has more conference coach of the year. Iowa’s Hayden Fry and Penn State’s Joe Paterno both won the award three times. 
•   Desmond King became the seventh Hawkeye to earn a national player of the year award under Kirk Ferentz. He won the Jim Thorpe award in 2015, honoring the nation’s top defensive back. Iowa has had national award winners in: Robert Gallery (2003 Outland, Top Lineman); Brad Banks (2002 Davey O’Brien, Top Quarterback; 2002 Associated Press National Player of the Year); Dallas Clark (2002 Mackey, Top Tight End); Nate Kaeding (2002 Groza, Top Kicker); Shonn Greene (2008 Doak Walker, Top Running Back); Brandon Scherff (2014 Outland, Top Lineman), Desmond King (2015 Jim Thorpe).
•   Iowa’s football record in the 2000 decade was 80-45 (.640), a record that ranks as the best decade in Iowa football history, based on total wins.  Iowa posted a record of 77-40-4 (.652) during the 1980’s and the Hawkeyes were 62-53-2 (.538) in the 1990’s.
•   Part of the Hawkeyes’ long term success is due to the stability in the program. Iowa has had just two head coaches since 1979. Hayden Fry took over prior to the 1979 season and coached through the 1998 season, posting a record of 143-89-6. Current coach Kirk Ferentz replaced Fry, leading the program for the 18th season. Ferentz also served as Iowa’s offensive line coach from 1981-89 under Fry.
 
     IOWA FOOTBALL AND THE NFL
•   Since 1999, Kirk Ferentz’s first year as head coach, 120 former Hawkeyes have played in the NFL.
•   At least one Iowa Hawkeye has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1978.
•   Since 2010, Iowa has had 26 players drafted in the NFL. Among Big Ten teams, only Ohio State has had more draft picks in that same time span (39). Nebraska and Penn State have also had 26 players drafted since 2010.
•   Iowa has had four first round picks in the last seven NFL drafts — OL Bryan Bulaga, 2010; DE Adrian Clayborn, 2011; OL Riley Reiff, 2012; OL Brandon Scherff, 2015. Only Ohio State (7) and Wisconsin (5) have more among Big Ten schools.
•   Iowa had 23 players drafted from 2010-16, including four first round picks (OL Bryan Bulaga, 2010; DE Adrian Clayborn, 2011; OL Riley Reiff, 2012; OL Brandon Scherff, 2015).
•   Iowa and Alabama were the only two college football programs to have a first round draft selection following the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons. 
•   Iowa had six players drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft, which tied for the most in the Big Ten and tied for fourth in the country.
•   Former Hawkeye Marshal Yanda (Baltimore OL) is a five-time Pro-Bowler (2011-15) and was named NFL All-Pro in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
•   In NFL 2011 regular season statistics, former Hawkeye linebackers Chad Greenway (Minnesota) and Pat Angerer (Indianapolis) finished third and fourth, respectively, in tackles. Greenway was named to the Pro Bowl in 2012 and 2013.
•   Three former Hawkeyes were involved in the 2012 Super Bowl.  DB Tyler Sash played for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, while LB Jeff Tarpinian was on the injured reserve roster of the New England Patriots.   Former Iowa center Brian Ferentz, now is his fourth year as Iowa’s offensive line coach, was New England’s tight ends coach.
•   Former Iowa DB Sean Considine and OL Marshal Yanda won Super Bowl rings with the 2012 Baltimore Ravens in the 2013 Super Bowl.
•   Former Iowa LB James Morris (injured reserve) earned a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots in 2015. Former TE Tony Moeaki played for the Seattle Seahawks in the same game.
•   Former center James Ferentz was a member of the 2016 Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.
•   Entering the 2016 season, every Iowa senior starting tight end (11) under Kirk Ferentz has been drafted in the NFL or made an NFL team.
•   All 11 members of Iowa’s starting defensive unit in 2008 were either drafted or signed to NFL free agent contracts following the drafts.
•   Over the past 15 years, 140-of-157 (89 percent) of Iowa’s senior starters have been drafted in the NFL or signed NFL free agent contracts.