IOWA CITY, Iowa – – University of Iowa senior running back Akrum Wadley was named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll following Iowa’s 44-41 overtime win at Iowa State Saturday. Wadley is one of five players nationally to earn the recognition. The Hornung Award is presented annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in major college football.
Wadley (5-foot-11, 195-pounds), a native of Newark, New Jersey, accounted for 260 all-purpose yards as the Hawkeyes won the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series contest in Ames, defeating Iowa State for the third straight season. He is averaging 203 all-purpose yards per game, second best in the Big Ten and fourth nationally.
Wadley rushed for 118 yards and one touchdown on a career-best 28 attempts, and had four receptions for 72 yards and one touchdown. He also added three kickoff returns for 70 yards. Wadley scored on a one-yard run to give Iowa a 21-10 advantage in the third quarter. He later hauled in a short pass from quarterback Nate Stanley and turned the play into a 46-yard scoring play that tied the game in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. That play ranks as Wadley’s longest career reception.
Wadley has rushed for 100-plus yards in four straight games and has 11 career 100-yard rushing games. His 1,997 career rushing yards rank No. 15 in program history and he has 144 career points to tie for 19th in career scoring.
Along with ranking among career leaders in rushing yards and scoring, Wadley has totaled 2,577 career all-purpose yards to rank 19th in that category. Wadley is averaging 25 yards on four kickoff returns through two games in his first season on special teams. He leads Iowa with 117 rushing yards per game.
The Hawkeyes (2-0) host North Texas (1-1) on Saturday (2:30 p.m., ESPN2) in their final nonconference contest.
Tickets for Iowa’s six remaining home games are available online at hawkeyesports.com or over the phone at (800) IA-HAWKS. A $25 youth ticket is available for Saturday’s North Texas game.
