Bye week volcano

IOWA CITY - Iowa could use a bye week to relax from its sort of tumultuous bye week.

First, during practice last week, sophomore running back LeShun Daniels was lost for the regular season after suffering a foot/ankle injury. Coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday the school will petition the Big Ten for a medical hardship waiver, which will be iffy because Daniels played after the midpoint of the season.

Then, sophomore linebacker Reggie Spearman was arrested for an OWI Saturday morning after being stopped on his moped with an expired registration and no safety flag. Ferentz said that Spearman, who's started every game this season, will be suspended for two games.

And then redshirt freshman wide receiver Derrick Willies told Ferentz on Monday night that he plans to transfer. Willies, a 6-4, 210-pounder from Rock Island, Ill., caught four passes for 71 yards and a TD in his first and only year at Iowa.

Surely compounding a volcanic bye week was how Iowa left things, losing 38-31 at Maryland on Oct. 18.

On scale of importance, Spearman's absence should rate No. 1. He is a starter and has contributed even though he's split time with redshirt freshman Josey Jewell, who'll be inserted in the starting lineup when the Hawkeyes (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten) play host to Northwestern (3-4, 2-2).

The topic of the day, however, was Willies. Outside of the program, it went down as opportunity lost and/or warning sign. It wasn't easily brushed off on the inside, either.

Ferentz said Willies' transfer 'came out of thin air.” Willies told Ferentz that his father, Derrick Willies Sr., has some ongoing medical issues and that he'd like to be closer to his dad, who lives in Arizona. Ferentz said that Willies didn't express dissatisfaction in the amount of playing time he's received.

Ferentz was asked if Willies could change his mind.

'If he has a change of heart in the near future, that would be fine,” Ferentz said, 'but I'm not counting on it. It kind of came out of thin air last night. Derrick's had some health issues himself that have kept him off the field for a significant amount of time this year, but we'll see how it goes. He's a young person, and we'll certainly honor his wishes if he chooses to leave.”

Willies was held out of the Indiana game on Oct. 11 with a muscle strain. The next week against Maryland, he suited up but didn't play. Willies caught one pass in the last five games.

The family thing was part of it. Frustration with playing time also was a part of it, said quarterback C.J. Beathard, who talked to Willies on Monday night.

'I guess he wasn't getting the reps he wanted to get and maybe that was one of the reasons,” Beathard said. 'There was a lot of stuff that went into it, I think ... I don't agree with him leaving in midseason. You still have five games left. Anything can happen.”

Iowa doesn't have a lot of 6-4 receivers who can run and jump like Willies just sitting around in the equipment room.

'I think it's a huge loss, he's a good athlete, a good player,” Beathard said. 'He's the type of receiver that you draw up. He's huge, he can jump. I think it's a big loss.”

Beathard, who was close with Willies, said the midseason transfer surprised him. He also tried to talk him out of it.

'Last night, I said, ‘Is it for sure? There's no chance of getting you back?'” Beathard said. 'He said no. He was pretty firm with his decision.”

So, yeah, we've just spent the greater part of the Tuesday story talking about a redshirt freshman wide receiver who's caught four passes and his transfer.

There are five games left. Anything can happen.

Iowa is going into a November that includes all border games against Big Ten West Division opponents. Running back Jordan Canzeri's status was termed 'dicey” by Ferentz. Canzeri suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter during Iowa's loss at Maryland.

Iowa's offseason mantra of keeping senior running back Mark Weisman fresh is out the window. As it stands now, running back is Weisman, senior Damon Bullock and redshirt freshmen Jonathan Parker and Akrum Wadley.

'We're going to do whatever we think gives us the best chance to win,” Ferentz said. 'There's no pitch count right now for anybody, and that includes special teams. Whoever can help us win football games, that's what we've really got to be focused on.”

Linebacker Quinton Alston politely talked Willies on Tuesday. He praised him as a physical receiver who can really go up and get the ball. He wished him well anywhere he goes except if where he goes ever bumps up against Iowa.

And then he kind of had enough of the bye week volcano talk.

'As a captain, I will not let this team be gloom and doom,” Alston said. 'I will not let the clouds be over our heads. It's not all over. We still have five weeks left, we're still growing as a team. The bye week wasn't all negative. We still learned a lot about ourselves. The guys on the field continued to grow.

'Regardless of the speed bumps, it doesn't mean the wall is set in front of us.”

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