Canzeri scores Big Ten honor; Hawks turn to freshman Daniels at RT
- Canzieri honored as Big Ten player of the week
- Senior rushed for 256 yards on school-record 43 carries
IOWA CITY, Ia. – Jordan Canzeri demolished the notion that his best 15 carries are his first 15 carries, and in doing so has become Iowa’s fourth Big Ten player of the week this season.
The 5-foot-9, 192-pound senior from Troy, N.Y., was honored as the conference’s offensive player of the week Monday after rushing 43 times for 256 yards and scoring two touchdowns in the No. 17 Hawkeyes’ 29-20 home win over Illinois on Saturday.
The third-highest rushing total in school history was almost entirely assembled from carries 17 through 43. Canzeri netted 30 yards on his first 16 carries against the Illini (1.88 average); he gained 226 on his final 27 (8.37 average).
On Iowa’s statement drive of the game, after Illinois cut the Hawkeyes’ lead to 23-20 with 10 minutes, 13 seconds to go, Canzeri carried the ball on 11 straight play calls – netting 59 yards, 6:53 of possession time and a Marshall Koehn field goal.
“That last drive in particular, he never even looked at the bench – even giving an inkling that he wanted to come out,” Ferentz said during his weekly Sunday conversation with the university’s website. “He had 11 carries in that possession. That, to me, was maybe as big a series as we had in the football game. He got good blocking there, but a big, big part of that was his effort and determination.”
Hawkeyes have been honored by the Big Ten in four of the last five weeks. Joining Canzeri on this list are quarterback C.J. Beathard (offense, after his 292 total yards keyed a 31-17 win at Iowa State); Koehn (special teams, after his 57-yard field goal beat Pittsburgh, 27-24); and cornerback Desmond King (defense, after his two interceptions led a 10-6 win at Wisconsin).
Canzeri's 43 carries broke Sedrick Shaw's school record of 42, which came as a surprise to Ferentz who doesn't believe in pitch counts in baseball, either.
“I would’ve guessed somewhere maybe in the low 30s,” Ferentz said.
+++
MONDAY'S DEPTH-CHART NEWS
True freshman James Daniels has been elevated to No. 1 right tackle on Iowa's latest depth chart, released Monday. Daniels slid to that position during Iowa's 29-20 win over Illinois after sophomore Ike Boettger injured his leg in the third quarter. Neither Boettger nor Boone Myers, Iowa's No. 1 left tackle to start the season, are listed in the two-deep in advance of Saturday's 11 a.m. game at Northwestern. Myers (stinger) hasn't been in uniform for Iowa's last two games.
The shuffling puts Indianola native Keegan Render in two places on Iowa's second-team line, at right guard and right tackle.
It's unlikely Daniels' older brother, running back LeShun Daniels Jr., will be available against Northwestern. Daniels' right ankle was in a boot for the Illinois game, and it was indicated on the pregame radio show that Daniels would be shut down through the bye week. Iowa lists sophomores Akrum Wadley and Derrick Mitchell Jr. as sharing the role of backup running back to Jordan Canzeri.
+++
THIS WEEK FOR IOWA
Matchup: No. 17 Iowa (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at No. 20 Northwestern (5-1, 1-1)
When, where: 11 a.m. Saturday at Ryan Field, Evanston, Ill.
TV: ABC (in Big Ten footprint), ESPN2 (otherwise)
The line: Iowa is favored by 1
Tickets: Available through the Northwestern ticket office, priced from $45 to $60.
Injuries: DE Drew Ott (knee) and WR Tevaun Smith (knee) are out. RB LeShun Daniels (ankle), LT Boone Myers (neck; stinger), RT Ike Boettger (lower leg) have not been ruled out.