Payday: Iowa Hawkeyes reap awards from comeback at Iowa State

Coming off one nutty weekend in Ames, the Hawkeyes' inbox is full of award emails.

Quarterback Nate Stanley led a fourth-quarter comeback with a giant boost from playmaking running back Akrum Wadley in the Hawkeyes' 44-41 overtime victory at Iowa State.

The honor roll started with a 9 a.m. email.

Wadley earned a spot on the Paul Hornung Award's weekly honor roll, one of five players recognized across the nation. The Newark, N.J., native accounted for 260 all-purpose yards. His 203 all-purpose yards per game is second in the Big Ten and fourth nationally.

Wadley's 46-yard catch-and-run TD tied the game with 1:09 remaining.

'Whenever I see him play, there's anything that can happen, you just have to be prepared because he's all over the place, you know?' Iowa O-lineman Sean Welsh said. 'The way he cuts, I really had no idea what was going to happen (on the 46-yarder). He ran really hard today.

'I try to move that fast in my dreams. It's just unreal some of the things he does.'

Then, Stanley earned Big Ten co-offensive player of the week. Stanley had an otherworldly game directing Iowa's pass offense: He completed 27 of 41 for 333 yards and five touchdowns and no interceptions. Stanley's scoring passes covered 10, 17, 15, 46 and 5 yards. Nine Hawkeyes had at least one reception.

It's only two games — yes, no denying that — but there was zero margin for error at Jack Trice Stadium with the Hawkeyes trailing 31-21 in the fourth quarter.

Here's Stanley's clutch numbers in two games as Iowa's starter:

— In the red zone: 8 of 10 for 78 yards, 5 TDs, no picks, 4 thrown first downs, three passes of 15-plus yards and a 310.52 passer rating.

— In the second half/overtime: 21 of 35 for 304 yards, 4 TDs, no picks. 170.68 rating, 14 thrown first downs, seven 15-plus yard plays and three plays of 25-plus yards.

— Stanley when the Hawkeyes are losing by 8 to 14 points: 4 of 5 (80.0 percent) for 55 yards, 1 TD, 0 picks, 238.40 passer rating, three first downs thrown and two 15-plus passes.

— Stanley in the fourth quarter so far this year: 8 of 15 (53.3 percent) for 133 yards, 2 TDs, 0 picks, 171.81 rating and seven thrown first downs.

— Stanley has led three TD drives within the last two minutes before halftime (vs. Wyoming and Iowa State) and at the end of the game.

'His growth from last week to this week, not that we're done yet, obviously, but he did a lot of good things,' Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. 'The biggest thing is he looked steady out there. Just sitting on the bench, he looked steady and he was right there with the game. That was really good to see.'

Stanley follows senior linebacker Josey Jewell with being named conference player of the week honors. C.J. Beathard was Iowa's last QB to win Big Ten player of the week. He won following Iowa's win at Iowa State in 2015.

Then, the Manning Award announced that Stanley is one of eight quarterbacks nationally named 'Star of the Week.' The Allstate Sugar Bowl Facebook page is open to voting for the Manning QB of the week. Voting closes on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Other stuff happened in Hawkeyes news on Monday:

— Iowa will play host to Penn State under the lights on Sept. 23, the Big Ten announced.

Kickoff will be 6:30 p.m. at Kinnick Stadium. It will be televised on ABC.

The UI reports that 6,000 tickets remain, but the night announcement has tickets moving quickly.

Penn State (2-0) is ranked fifth in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls. The Nittany Lions have an 8-5 record in Iowa City. Last season, Penn State defeated the Hawkeyes, 41-14, at State College, Pa.

— On the depth chart released for the North Texas (1-1) game (2:30 p.m. kick Saturday on ESPN2), Welsh was listed as the starter at right tackle in place of senior Ike Boettger.

Boettger suffered what's feared to be a torn Achilles tendon in the third quarter of the Iowa State game. Ferentz said it appeared to be an Achilles and appeared to be a season-ending injury.

Welsh has played right tackle on and off since 2015. Junior Keegan Render is in Welsh's spot at right guard. Junior Ross Reynolds and senior Boone Myers are listed as starters at left guard. Freshman Alaric Jackson is the starter at left tackle.

Myers, the former starter at left tackle, is nursing an ankle injury and played 36 snaps against ISU mostly at left guard. Reynolds played 10 snaps.

Cornerback Manny Rugamba is listed as the starter despite being replaced by sophomore Michael Ojemudia in the second quarter. Rugamba still played a lot in the second half, with Iowa using a dime package that included six defensive backs.

— Not exactly sure what this means, but the Cody Kellner Points Index (CKPI) likes the Hawkeyes. It has them at No. 14 this week.

Here's what the CKPI is: It gives each team a rating that is reflective of their strength of schedule and the success they had within it. This is accomplished by using a least squares regression model which recalculates each formula until all ratings stabilize by use of simultaneous equations. These characteristics are what make the CKPI known as an 'advanced ratings system.'

The CKPI has Iowa State at No. 93.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com