UW'S OPPONENT AT A GLANCE: IOWA
OFFENSE
So which unit, coordinated by Brian Ferentz, will show up at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday? Will it be the unit that scored a combined 39 points in losses to Penn State (21-19), Michigan State (17-10) and Northwestern (17-10)? Or will it be the one that rolled up 487 yards and six touchdowns in a 55-24 victory over Ohio State last week? The key is how well the line, which features redshirt freshman Alaric Jackson at left tackle and freshman Tristan Wirfs at right tackle, handles UW’s front. If Iowa’s line can protect quarterback Nathan Stanley and open holes for tailback Akrum Wadley, the Hawkeyes will be able to move the ball. Stanley is a sophomore from Menomonie, Wis. Then-UW coach Gary Andersen didn’t recruit Stanley, who committed to Iowa before Andersen left UW and Paul Chryst returned. Chryst, who was at Pittsburgh when he first began recruiting Stanley, renewed that work after returning to UW, but Stanley maintained his commitment to Iowa. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Stanley has 22 touchdown passes and only four interceptions and is averaging 214.3 yards per game. He passed for 226 yards and five touchdowns against Ohio State. Wadley can run between the tackles, but his strength is eluding defenders, particularly in the open field, by changing direction quickly and using spin moves. He rushed for 118 yards against the Buckeyes and is sixth in the Big Ten in rushing at 84.6 yards per game. Junior wide receiver Nick Easley has emerged as Stanley’s favorite target with 39 catches for 406 yards, both team-high marks. UW has the cornerbacks to slow Iowa’s wide receivers. But can the linebackers and safeties slow Wadley (22 catches, 308 yards) and tight ends Noah Fant (23-353-7 TDs) and T.J. Hockenson (19-272-3)? Ohio State could not and its defense was embarrassed. Of the combined 42 catches by Fant and Hockenson, 37 have resulted in either a first down or touchdown.
DEFENSE
Linebacker Josey Jewell is lauded week after week, which is deserved given that the senior leads the Big Ten and is No. 4 nationally in tackles per game at 11.3. Jewell has a team-best 91⁄2 tackles for loss. The line features two active ends in Anthony Nelson (six sacks) and Parker Hesse (nine tackles for loss, one interception). Yet the star power resides in the secondary that has 31 passes defended. Junior cornerback Joshua Jackson has five interceptions and 20 passes defended and had three of the team’s four interceptions against Ohio State. Safety Amani Hooker had the first one and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown just eight seconds into the game. The Hawkeyes have limited opposing quarterbacks to a completion rate of 55.2% and have more interceptions (13) than touchdown passes allowed (11).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Iowa’s coverage units have been outstanding, limiting foes to an average of 4.9 yards on punt returns and 16.5 yards on kickoff returns. Miguel Recinos has made 9 of 11 field-goal attempts, including 4 of 4 from 40 to 49 yards. Iowa has used two punters — Colten Rastetter and Ryan Gersonde. Rastetter, who hits rugby-style punts, is averaging 40.3 yards per attempt. He has placed eight of his punts inside the 20. Gersonde is averaging 42.5.