No kidding around about Dillon
NEW YORK — Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz will encounter two phenomenal freshman All-America tailbacks in one season.
The best first-year ballcarriers in the FBS were Jonathan Taylor of Big Ten rival Wisconsin and Boston College’s punishing AJ Dillon of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Containing Dillon will be the top defensive priority of Ferentz’ defense when the Hawkeyes (7-5) take on the Eagles (7-5) in the eighth New Era Pinstripe Bowl today at Yankee Stadium.
Taylor torched the Hawkeyes for 157 yards on 29 carries in Wisconsin’s 38-14 home victory on Nov. 11. Ferentz knows Dillon can duplicate Taylor’s numbers, especially if the anticipated cold and blustery weather conditions force an emphasis on the ground game.
“They are not exactly the same in their running styles, but they are somewhat similar,” Ferentz said during a joint press conference with BC coach Steve Addazio yesterday in the media room at Yankee Stadium. “What is similar is the production and the impact they both have had on their football teams. Wisconsin had, I think, one of the better football teams in the country, and that has been proven out now.”
Taylor played in 13 games with 12 starts and rushed for 1,847 yards on 273 carries with 13 touchdowns. Dillon started 12 games and rushed for 1,432 yards, the second-most by a freshman in ACC history.
Boston College closed the season by winning five of its final six games, and Dillon ran for 1,099 yards in that stretch. Dillon was an All-ACC firstteam performer and conference Rookie of the Year.
“You look at the impact this young guy had on their team, and you look at the way they played in the last six ballgames, his production during that time,” Ferentz said. “So I think my sister could figure out that we have to find a way to slow him down a little bit, or at least try and contain him, for us to have a chance to win this football game.”
The Hawkeyes ground game is led by senior Akrum Wadley, an outside threat who rushed for 1,021 yards on 230 carries with nine touchdowns.
Wadley has scored 34 career touchdowns, two shy of the Iowa record established by Tavian Banks from 1994-97. A dual threat, Wadley has 2,784 career rushing yards and 737 receiving yards.
“He has been tremendous, and he’s always been in good spirits, and he loves competing and he loves playing football,” Ferentz said. “He was skinny when he got here, and he is still pretty skinny, but what production he has had. The most impactful thing for me is his being a back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher, and as good as all his numbers are, that one really grabbed me a little bit.”
The Hawkeyes are directed by quarterback Nate Stanley, who recorded a 135.38 passer rating in 12 starts. He completed 188-of-336 passes for 2,238 yards and 25 touchdowns with six interceptions.