Jan 2, 2017; Tampa , FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Akrum Wadley (25) runs with the ball against the Florida Gators during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Only one college football team in the country has two running backs who each ran for 1,000 yards last season. That would be Iowa.
The Hawkeyes bring back senior Akrum Wadley (1,081 yards and 10 touchdowns) and added Nevada graduate transfer James Butler (1,336 yards, 12 touchdowns) over the summer. Butler ran for 3,313 yards, averaging 5.5 per carry, while playing in the Wolf Pack’s run-tilted Pistol offense.
With new Nevada coach Jay Norvell installing the Air Raid offense, Butler looked for other options after spring ball, landing at Iowa, known for its physical, ground-based attack.
“Everything about it since we got the release has been very impressive,” coach Kirk Ferentz said of Butler at the team’s media day Saturday.
“He did a tremendous job academically at Nevada. His statistics in football are impressive. But certainly to have him here on campus and have an opportunity to work with him, I think all of us are enjoying that, really pleased. Anytime you can add a good player, a good person, a high-caliber guy to your roster, that’s a positive.”
Butler is the 1,000-yard replacement for graduated Leshun Daniels Jr., who ran for 1,058 yards and 10 scores last season for the Hawkeyes, who went 8-5. Wadley, at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, isn’t built like a workhorse, so there will be ample opportunities for him and Butler, running behind a typically stout Iowa offensive line and helping ease the transition to a new starting quarterback.
“Akrum is one of our best football players. We’ve seen him, we’ve witnessed him … boy, he’s right on task right now,” Ferentz said. “But like last year, we were better when we had two guys that could help us there. If we have three, that would be great too.”
–Oregon State quarterback Marcus McMaryion, who lost out on the team’s starting quarterback job last week, will transfer and be immediately eligible as a graduate, the school announced Sunday. McMaryion has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Coach Gary Andersen picked junior college transfer Jake Luton as his starter early in camp over McMaryion and Darell Garretson. McMaryion started six games last season as an injury replacement, completing 101 of 170 passes for 1,286 yards, with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.
–Offensive lineman Khaliel Rodgers, who joined North Carolina this summer as a graduate transfer from USC, announced on social media that he is retiring from football. Rodgers started nine career games on the offensive line for the Trojans, but none last season, when he played sparingly after being moved to the defensive line. The Tar Heels were trying to use him at offensive guard.
