Iowa Hawkeyes: Inside The January Depth Chart – Offense

Running backs/Fullbacks

RB: 1st: LeShun Daniels (Sr.) 2nd: Akrum Wadley (Jr.) 3rd: Derrick Mitchell (Jr.)

FB: 1st: Drake Kullick (Jr.) 2nd: Bradley Ross (Fr.)

At running back, we see a familiar theme of depth. Daniels was the Hawkeye coaching staff’s pick to be the starter before this season but was eventually derailed by ankle injuries, finishing the year with 646 yards on 145 carries. Wadley was perhaps the Hawks most impressive back in 2015, averaging six yards per carry for the year and rushing for 391 yards and 6 touchdowns over an electric three game stretch in late October/early November. However, Wadley also did not see the field in six of the Hawkeyes’ fourteen games, per coaches’ decision.

Conventional wisdom would say this is a classic thunder and lightening situation. After losing leading rusher Jordan Canzeri to graduation, one would expect Daniels and Wadley to share time in the Hawkeyes’ backfield. Daniels doing most of the power running between the tackles and Wadley and handling tosses and stretch plays. That idea only holds weight if Akrum Wadley can stay in the coaches’ good graces.

Wadley is notably underweight for an Iowa running back at 185 pounds, something Kirk Ferentz expressed concerns about in his press conference last week. Wadley is too talented of a back not to see the field, but he is going to have do some trust building exercises with the coaches in the offseason to pass Daniels on the depth chart and be more than a change of pace.

Mitchell, a converted wide receiver, will likely slide right back in where he left off last year, as the Hawkeye’s primary 3rd-down back and occasional slot receiver. As for Kullick and Ross, they have the unenviable task of replacing Adam Cox and Mecon Plewa, two of college football’s best fullbacks.

Next: Wide Receivers