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Iowa football: Three bold predictions for the Hawkeye’s offense

By Andrew Wade

BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 13: Mekhi Sargent #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs with the ball against the Indiana Hossiers at Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 13: Mekhi Sargent #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs with the ball against the Indiana Hossiers at Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 27: Amani Oruwariye #21 of the Penn State Nittany Lions tackles Mekhi Sargent #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 27, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 27: Amani Oruwariye #21 of the Penn State Nittany Lions tackles Mekhi Sargent #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 27, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Nobody will top 1,000 yards in 2019

The rushing attack has not been humming the way Kirk Ferentz wants it to, and Kirk and his son Brian realize this. As we mentioned earlier, the offense is built around the run. Iowa loves to use its’ hogs up front to clear the way for a potent running attack, which is then used to set up the passing game.

Last year though, the Hawks struggled, and if we look back to 2017, despite having Akrum Wadley and James Butler, they struggled then as well.

However, there was a glimmer of hope that emerged from Iowa’s trio of running backs, and that was junior college transfer Mekhi Sargent and came into his own last year towards the tail end of the season.

After that emergence late in the season, Sargent is sitting at the top of the depth chart, which has many expecting a big season for the Doak Walker Award watch list nominee. I do think he is going to do well, but I don’t believe he’ll be the next Iowa running back to rush for 1,000 yards.

In today’s football landscape, teams love to rely on multiple backs to tear a part of the defense, and the Iowa football team is no different. Given their diverse stable of backs, there is a solid reason to believe they will all be used throughout each game with preference given to whichever back is really humming early.

Sargent is likely to start, Young to come in on short-yardage situations and late in the games and Kelly-Martin to find spot opportunities when the offense needs a big, explosive play.

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