3 of Iowa's 'Four Deadly Horsemen' score against Terps

IOWA CITY, Ia. — They’re the “Four Deadly Horsemen” — that’s the name injured Jordan Canzeri gave Iowa’s quartet of talented running backs early in the season.

Canzeri was out during Saturday’s 31-15 win over Maryland with a high-ankle sprain, but he made sure his teammates shared the term in postgame interviews.

“He’s been saying that since Week 2,” Saturday’s No. 1 guy, Akrum Wadley, said. “So he told us to make sure we mention it today.

“Shout-out, Jordan Canzeri.”

Wadley was one of three different Hawkeyes to rush for touchdowns Saturday, all coming in the first half. He led Iowa with 67 yards, all but 8 coming in the first half, on 19 carries. LeShun Daniels Jr. added 60 yards on 13 attempts. And Derrick Mitchell Jr. scored on his only carry, a 2-yard run 9 seconds before halftime, and caught two balls for 24 yards as the third-down back.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Canzeri, along with right tackle Ike Boettger, might get back into the lineup “in the next week or two.” Canzeri leads the Hawkeyes with 698 rushing yards (plus 193 receiving) and 10 total touchdowns.

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As Mitchell put it, teams have to prepare for different types of backs. Wadley got the early touches Saturday, and Daniels helped grind out enough yardage late.

“You can’t just focus on one running back,” Mitchell said. “You’ve got to focus on all four of us.”

Wadley, who broke through with 204 yards two weeks ago at Northwestern in relief of Canzeri, broke down the attributes.

Himself: “More shifty.”

Daniels: “Shifty and he can pound you.”

Mitchell: “Outstanding hands.”

Canzeri: “Can do it all.”

That was true of Canzeri on Saturday.

“Every step of the way, he’s right there. He was helping me clean my visor,” Wadley said. “He was guiding me. Just a great leader.”