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Iowa football: Best/worst case scenarios for Hawkeyes in 2019

By Ryan Sikes

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 01: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes passes during the 2019 Outback Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 01: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes passes during the 2019 Outback Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Iowa running backs
(Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

Ivory Kelly-Martin is hoping to stay healthy for an Iowa football running back group that is seeking a 4.5 yards per carry average.

To say the Iowa football running back corps underperformed last season is a massive understatement. The group combined to average just 3.95 yards per carry. Offensive line coach Tim Polasek has stated his goal this season is for these guys to average 4.5 yards per carry.

Mekhi Sargent emerged as the starting running back down the stretch for the Hawkeyes. He came into the program as a junior college transfer from Iowa Western Community College via Key West High School. Sargent finished the 2018 season with 745 rushing yards and nine touchdowns and is slated to be the starting running back this season.

Toren Young was the number two back no matter what last season and was often not utilized until the second half of games to physically wear down opposing defenses like he should have been. I specifically recall the Northern Illinois game was close at halftime and Young entered the game in the second half. He really got the offense going in what ended up being a blowout. Young finished the season with 637 rushing yards

Ivory Kelly-Martin figured to be the number one tailback last season, but was hampered by an ankle injury in the opener and was never really the same again for the remainder of the season. He missed four games due to that injury and finished with just 341 rushing yards last season.

Best Case Scenario

Iowa’s running back corps becomes the focus of the offense and returns to form, with both Sargent and Young rushing for close to 1,000 yards each. The corps averages that magical number of 4.5 yards per carry and puts less pressure on Nate Stanley to complete more third and longs.

Worst Case Scenario

The corps underwhelms for the second consecutive season and the ripple effect negatively impacts Stanley who would likely be forced to complete more third and longs than the coaching staff would like. Ivory Kelly-Martin never recovers from the game-ending fumble against Northwestern last season and is replaced by Henry Geil or Tyler Goodson by seasons end.

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