Game Notes: Iowa at Illinois

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1st and 10

1: Three Hawkeyes earned B1G Player of the Week recognition following Iowa’s 14-13 win over No. 2 Michigan.  Senior DT Jaleel Johnson earned defensive honors, freshman K Keith Duncan earned special teams honors, and DB Manny Rugamba shared freshman of the week honors.
 
2: QB C.J. Beathard is 19-6 in 25 career starts. His .760 winning percentage is No. 1 among Iowa quarterbacks with at least 20 career starts. He has six career game-winning drives in the fourth quarter, including Week 10 against No. 2 Michigan.
 
3: DB Desmond King is a Jim Thorpe Award, Bednarik Award, and Lott IMPACT Award semifinalist. King in the only Big Ten player in the last 20 years with 12+ career interceptions and  1,500+ combined kickoff/punt return yards. King has 12 career interceptions and 1,749 career KO/P return yards.  He has 251 career tackles.
 
4: LB Josey Jewell is a Butkus Award Semifinalist and leads the Big Ten with 95 tackles. Jewell matched his career high with 16 stops in Week 8 against Wisconsin. He has 272 career tackles, 20th all-time. He blocked his first career field goal Week 9 at Penn State.
 
5: RB Akrum Wadley is Iowa’s leading rusher (779 yards) and second leading receiver (28 receptions).  Wadley has combined for 17 catches, 156 yards receiving, and two receiving TDs the past three weeks. His 11 touchdowns (8 rush, 3 receiving) rank fifth in the Big Ten. 
 
6: DT Jaleel Johnson is tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 6.5 sacks (44 yards). Johnson recorded a safety and a sack against Michigan in Week 10, raising his season total to a career-best 6.5. He entered the year with five career sacks.
 
7: Iowa leads the Big Ten in kickoff returns (25.2), fourth-down conversions (8-11, .727), and red zone offense (29-31, .936). 
 
8: Iowa’s .936 red zone success rate ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 4 nationally. The Hawkeyes have scored points on 29-of-31 trips to the red zone, including 21 touchdowns (9 pass, 12 rush) and eight field goals.
 
9: Iowa is bowl eligible for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons. The Hawkeyes have clinched bowl eligibility in Game 10 five times under Kirk Ferentz (2013 Outback, 2008 Outback, 2005 Outback, 2001 Alamo).
 
10: Kirk Ferentz is one win shy of tying Lloyd Carr for sixth place in all-time conference wins. Ferentz has won 80 Big Ten games since 1999, seventh among the conference’s all-time winningest coaches.
 
     FERENTZ CLOSES ON CARR, WILLIAMS
     Head coach Kirk Ferentz has 80 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.
     Ferentz has 133 wins in all games played as a member of the Big Ten Conference, seventh most all-time. He is three victories from equaling Henry Williams of Minnesota, who won 136 games.
 
     BACK ON CAMPUS
    Head Coach Kirk Ferentz has four former players on the 2016 staff. His son, Brian Ferentz, was a three-year letterman from 2003-05 and is in his fifth year as Iowa’s offensive line coach. He is also Iowa’s run game coordinator.
     LeVar Woods, a three-year letterman from 1998-2000, is in his ninth year on the Iowa staff. He is in his second season coaching tight ends after coaching linebackers for three seasons. He also assists with special teams. Woods rejoined the program as an administrative assistant in 2008.
     Kelvin Bell joined the Iowa program as a defensive lineman in 2000, but had his career cut short due to injury. He returned to the program as a graduate assistant and recently served as director of on-campus recruiting (2012-13) before being named recruiting coordinator and defensive assistant coach in February, 2016.
     Broderick Binns, a four-year letterman from 2008-11, was named director of player development in April, 2016. Binns previously served as a graduate assistant in 2014 and 2015, working with the Hawkeye special teams.

    HAWKEYES ARE BOWL ELIGIBLE
    K Keith Duncan kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired to help Iowa beat No. 2 Michigan 14-13, and become bowl eligible for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa clinched eligibility in Game 10 for the fifth time under Kirk Ferentz (2013 Outback, 2008 Outback, 2005 Outback, 2001 Alamo).
     Iowa made its 29th Bowl game appearance (14-14-1) at the 102nd Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 1, 2016. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Rose (six times), Outback (four), Alamo (four), Holiday (three), Orange (two), Peach (two), Sun (two), Insight (two), Gator/TaxSlayer (two), and the Capital One, and Freedom bowls once.
•   Iowa has played 13 bowl games under Kirk Ferentz (6-7), including nine January bowl games (4-5).
•   Iowa has been bowl eligible 15 of the last 16 seasons under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa’s 13 bowl appearances since 2001 tie as the 11th best total in the nation.
•   Iowa ranks third in Big Ten bowl appearances. Ohio State has received a conference-best 46 bowl bids, followed by Michigan (44), Iowa (29), and Wisconsin (27).
 
    HAWKEYES JOIN UPSET PARTY, DEFEAT No. 2 MICHIGAN
     Iowa defeated second-ranked Michigan, 14-13, on Nov. 12 at Kinnick Stadium. It was Iowa’s first win over a No. 2 team since it defeated No. 2 Michigan, 12-10, in 1985. In both 2016 and 1985, Iowa upset No. 2 Michigan the same day the third and fourth ranked teams in the nation also lost. It is the only two times in the history of the AP poll that has happened. 
     In 2016, Iowa defeated No. 2 Michigan, 14-13; Pitt beat No. 3 Clemson, 43-42; and USC beat No. 4 Washington, 26-13. On Saturday, Oct. 19, 1985; Rob Houghtlin kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired to help No. 1 Iowa defeat No. 2 Michigan, 12-10. Miami defeated No. 3 Oklahoma, 27-14, and Texas defeated No. 4 Arkansas, 15-13.
  
     LIGHTWEIGHTS DELIVER HEAVYWEIGHT KNOCKOUT
     Freshman PK Keith Duncan, Iowa’s lightest player at 165 pounds, and freshman DB Manny Rugamba, the Hawkeyes’ lightest position player at 172 pounds, were instrumental in Iowa’s 14-13 upset over No. 2 Michigan on Nov. 12. Duncan kicked a 33-yard game-winning field goal as time expired, and Rugamba intercepted a pass and recorded career highs in tackles (4) and pass breakups (3) in his first career start. Both players earned conference recognition following the game. Duncan was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, and Rugamba shared Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. He was also named B1G Defensive Player of the Week by College Sports Madness.
 
    THE SERIES
    Saturday will be the 72nd meeting between Iowa and Illinois. Iowa trails the all-time series, 31-38-2, but the Hawkeyes have won 10 of the last 13 meetings and seven of the last eight.  Iowa is 13-20 in Champaign, but has won three of the last four meetings in Memorial Stadium, including a 30-14 win on the last visit in 2014.
 
     HAWKEYE HISTORY
     Iowa has played 1,217 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 631-547-39 (.535). That includes a 396-216-16 (.641) record in home games, a 235-331-23 (.418) record in games away from Iowa City, a 318-369-25 (.464) mark in Big Ten games and a 279-180-15 (.600) record in Kinnick Stadium.
 
     KING LANDS ON AWARDS LIST
     DB Desmond King is one of 16 semifinalists for the 2016 Jim Thorpe Award, (best defensive back in college football), one of 18 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award (most outstanding defensive player), and one of 10 semifinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy (Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity).
     King has started all 10 games at cornerback in 2016 and has 48 career starts.  This season he has recorded 35 solo tackles and 16 assists, leads Iowa with seven pass break-ups, and had a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown in a win at Purdue.
     King also leads Iowa’s special teams through 10 games.  He leads the Big Ten averaging 27.3 yards per kickoff return, 15th in the nation.  He is also averaging 8.7 yards on punt returns, No. 2 in the Big Ten.  King had a career-best 77-yard kickoff return in Week 8 against Wisconsin. It is Iowa’s longest play of the season.
     King is the only Big Ten player in the last 20 years to have 12 or more interceptions and 1,500 or more combined kickoff and return yards. King has 12 career interceptions, tied for sixth most in program history, and 1,658 combined return yards on kickoff and punt returns.
     King won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2015.  Three finalists for the 2016 award will be announced on Monday, Nov. 21, with the winner being announced Dec. 8 at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show airing on ESPN.  The Thorpe Award winner will be honored at a banquet in Oklahoma City on Feb. 7, 2017.
     The Bednarik Award, in conjunction with the NCFAA, will announce three finalists on Nov. 21. Winners of the prestigious award will also be unveiled during the Home Depot College Football Awards.
     The Lott IMPACT Trophy was founded in 2004, and is named after College and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Ronnie Lott.  Four finalists will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 30.  Each school of the four finalists will receive $5,000 for their general scholarship fund, while the school of the winner will receive $25,000.
 
     JEWELL A SEMIFINALIST FOR BUTKUS AWARD
     LB Josey Jewell, the Big Ten’s leading tackler, is a semifinalist for the 2016 Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation’s best linebacker.
     This year’s watch list includes a dozen collegiate linebackers from 10 universities.  Jewell is among four Big Ten student-athletes up for the award, joining Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan of Ohio State and Wisconsin’s Jack Cichy.  Finalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 21, with the winner being announced on or before Dec. 6.
     Jewell (6-foot-2, 230-pounds) has started every game this season and leads the Big Ten with 95 tackles.  Jewell matched his career high with 16 stops in Week 8 against No. 10 Wisconsin.  His 272 career tackles ties Todd Simonsen for 20th in program history.  In 2015, Jewell garnered second team All-Big Ten honors by league coaches and media, the Associated Press, and Phil Steele. 
     Former Hawkeye Larry Station was a finalist for the Butkus Award in 1985, while Chad Greenway was a semifinalist in 2005.
 
     RUN AFTER HANDOFF, RUN AFTER CATCH
     RB Akrum Wadley is Iowa’s leading rusher (779 yards) and second leading receiver (28 receptions).  Wadley has combined for 17 catches, 156 yards receiving, and two receiving touchdowns the past three weeks. He posted career bests in receptions (7) and receiving yards (72) in Week 8 against Wisconsin, and shared the team lead with five receptions in Week 9 at Penn State (32 yards, TD). He led Iowa with five catches, 52 receiving yards, and scored the team’s only touchdown (3-yard reception) against Michigan. Wadley entered the season with seven career receptions (93 yards, TD). His 28 receptions (272 yards) rank third among Big Ten running backs.
     Wadley’s 11 touchdowns (8 rush, 3 receiving) rank fifth in the Big Ten.
 
     LIGHTS, CAMERA, AKSHUN
     RB Akrum Wadley and RB LeShun Daniels, Jr. rank seventh and 10th, respectively, in the Big Ten in rushing yards. The Hawkeyes are the only team in the Big Ten with two players in the top 10. Wadley has 779 rushing yards (77.9 ypg) and Daniels has 696 rushing yards (69.6 ypg). Wadley has eight rushing touchdowns, Daniels has six.  
     Both players topped 100 yards in Week 7 at Purdue, marking the first time since 2008 Iowa had two 100-yard rushers in the same game (Shonn Greene, 115; Jewel Hampton, 114 yards vs. Indiana). It marked the 24th time two players rushed for 100 yards or more in the same game, but the first time two players reached the 150-yard plateau.
     Daniels had two rushing touchdowns (1, 4) against the Boilermakers, his fifth career multi-touchdown game. His 67-yard rush in the third quarter was the longest of his career. He finished with 23 carries for 150 yards.
     Wadley’s 75-yard touchdown rush was a career long rush, and Iowa’s longest play of the season from scrimmage. He finished with 15 carries for 176 yards, his sixth career 100-yard rushing game, second in a row.
     The duo helped Iowa rush for 365 yards against the Boilermakers, tying for the second most rushing yardage total in the Ferentz era (Minnesota, 2002).
     Daniels has 1,536 career rushing yards (24th) and Wadley 1,451 (26th).  Wadley has scored 120 career points (T-24th), Daniels has 92.
 
     I’LL TAKE THAT
     Iowa is plus-seven in turnover margin, fourth in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes have 14 takeaways (six interceptions, eight fumble recoveries) and have turned eight of the 14 into touchdowns, including DB Desmond King’s interception return for a touchdown Week 7 at Purdue. It was King’s third career pick-six. Iowa has at least one interception return for a touchdown in each of the last nine seasons, and 14 of the last 16.
     Iowa has lost just one fumble this year, tying Nevada for the NCAA lead.
 
     MAKING HAY IN THE RED ZONE
     Iowa leads the Big Ten in red zone offense.  The Hawkeyes have scored points on 29-of-31 trips to the red zone, including 21 touchdowns (9 pass, 12 rush) and eight field goals. Iowa turned it over on downs in its only failed red zone appearance at Rutgers, and missed a field goal after reaching the red zone against Wisconsin. Its .936 red zone success rate ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 4 nationally.
     Eight different Hawkeyes have scored red zone touchdowns. Iowa’s rushing touchdowns include five by RB Akrum Wadley, four by RB LeShun Daniels, two by QB C.J. Beathard, and one by RB Derrick Mitchell. The receiving touchdowns have gone to WR Matt VandeBerg (3), Wadley (2), WR Jerminic Smith (1), WR Riley McCarron (1), TE George Kittle (1), and TE Noah Fant (1).

    JOHNSON, DUNCAN, RUGAMBA RECOGNIZED FOLLOWING MICHIGAN UPSET
     University of Iowa senior DT Jaleel Johnson, freshman K Keith Duncan, and freshman DB Manny Rugamba were recognized as Big Ten Conference Players of the Week following Iowa’s 14-13 win over second-ranked Michigan on Nov. 12.
    Johnson was named Defensive Player of the Week, Duncan was named Special Teams Player of the Week, and Rugamba shared Freshman of the Week honors.
Johnson (6-foot-4, 310-pounds) recorded a career-best nine tackles, including six solo tackles and three assists.  His totals included two tackles-for-loss and a sack.  Johnson recorded Iowa’s first points of the game, collecting a safety when he dropped Michigan’s De’Veon Smith in the end zone for a safety to cut Iowa’s deficit to 10-2 in the second quarter.
    Rugamba (5-11, 185) started for the first time in place of senior Greg Mabin, who missed the game due to injury.  Rugamba recorded two solo stops and two assists against the Wolverines. Rugamba also had his second interception of the season in the fourth quarter, and had three pass break-ups as Michigan gained just 103 passing yards.  Along with the Big Ten recognition, he was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week by College Sports Madness.
    Duncan (5-11, 165) provided the winning margin against Michigan with a 33-yard field goal as time expired.  Duncan had given the Hawkeyes an 11-10 advantage with a 25-yard field goal in the third period.