Depth-chart Monday: Akrum Wadley, Mitchell, then Daniels at RB

IOWA CITY, Ia. – LeShun Daniels Jr. and Boone Myers, Iowa football starters at the beginning of the season, have resurfaced on the depth chart -- an indicator they’ll be available for Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. home game against Maryland.

But they were listed as backups Monday -- an indicator that the Hawkeye coaching staff was more than pleased with the offensive units that dismantled Northwestern on Oct. 17.

Daniels was listed as the No. 3 running back, behind new starter Akrum Wadley (who rushed for 204 yards and four touchdowns against Northwestern) and backup Derrick Mitchell Jr. “It’s going to be a while” until previous starter Jordan Canzeri (high left ankle sprain) returns, head coach Kirk Ferentz told HawkCentral.com last week.

Sean Welsh is the new listed No. 1 at right tackle, where he played outstanding in his first career start there against the Wildcats. Welsh held left end Dean Lowry to one tackle in that 40-10 win. Monday, Lowry was named the Big Ten Conference’s defensive player of the week after 10 tackles (six for losses) in a win at Nebraska.

Myers was listed Monday as the No. 2 left tackle behind Cole Croston. Myers hasn’t played since suffering a stinger early in the Sept. 26 win against North Texas, and Croston has held his own in his first three college starts.

Welsh had been Iowa’s starting left guard in the first six games before being shuttled to replace injured Ike Boettger (high left ankle sprain), who remains off the depth chart.

After the Evanston domination, Welsh explained the differences going from inside to outside.

“You’re going against longer guys, they have long arms. You have to use your hands a lot faster -- in the run-game, too,” the sophomore from Springboro, Ohio, said. “There’s a little more space, a little more room for things to go wrong. You’ve just got to be more disciplined with your aiming point.

“But other than that, from center to tackle, the way we play it’s a lot of similar stuff.”

Maybe Welsh has found a new home, especially with how well true freshman James Daniels played at left guard in his first start. Daniels is listed as the starter there this week.

Wide receiver Tevaun Smith, who played part-time against Northwestern but didn’t have a catch, is back on the No. 1 line after spraining his knee against North Texas.

Tight end Jake Duzey is back on the depth chart for the first time this season. The senior, who had surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee in the spring, is listed as a co-backup with George Kittle.

Time to hand out Iowa football's mid-season awards

True freshman Jack Hockaday made his first depth-chart appearance Monday. He played on special teams at Northwestern and is now the co-backup to senior Cole Fisher at weak-side linebacker, along with redshirt freshman Aaron Mends.

The big health question that a depth chart can’t address relates to quarterback C.J. Beathard. The junior hobbled off the field at Northwestern after getting knocked to the ground on his final play. Ferentz and selected players, likely including Beathard, will conduct weekly interviews on Tuesday in Iowa City.