GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Iowa’s challenge this week against Illinois will be to slow down the running game which has made huge strides from last year. The Fighting Illini are averaging 262.8 yards per game, which ranks eighth in the country, after running for just 105.6 yards per game a year ago. RB Reggie Corbin (1,011 yards on 114 carries, 8.9 yards per carry, 9 TDs) is Illinois’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2010. Last week in Illinois’ loss to Nebraska, AJ Bush led the Illini with 187 yards on 25 carries and three touchdowns. This week, Illinois runs into an Iowa rush defense that’s second in the Big Ten and sixth nationally, allowing 96 yards per game. But the Hawkeyes did allow Northwestern freshman RB Isaiah Bowser to rush for 165 yards and a touchdown last week.
DRAFT SLANT
–TE Noah Fant is likely to leave Iowa after his junior season to enter the 2019 NFL Draft. One of the top tight ends in the country, Fant has been used rather curiously by the Iowa coaching staff this season. Last week in the loss to Northwestern, Fant was on the sideline in key moments during the second half. He finished the game with one catch for no yards. Fant’s production also is inhibited by sharing the position with TE T.J. Hockenson. Still, Fant’s 18 career touchdown receptions are the second most in Big Ten history by a tight end. NFLDraftScout’s Rob Rang had Fant being selected as the 30th overall pick in the 2019 draft by the Los Angeles Rams.
ROSTER REPORT:
–QB Nate Stanley has played with an injured thumb on his throwing hand the past two weeks, but Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Stanley showed improvement in practice this week leading up to Saturday’s game against Illinois. “I don’t know if he’s 100 percent, but he’s certainly doing better and doing fine, threw the ball well (Monday) and (Tuesday),” Ferentz said.
–WR Brandon Smith is expected back from a concussion for Saturday’s game against Illinois. Smith did not play last week against Northwestern.
–WR Max Cooper is lost for the remainder of the season after leaving last Saturday’s game against Northwestern in the second half with an injury.
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