Tyler Goodson: Decline in numbers, not skill or effort for Iowa football

Iowa’s Tyler Goodson, when given the chance, is a really good running back.

That’s not opinion. We’ve seen it over and over in his Iowa career. He was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection last season and was on everybody’s preseason All-Big Ten team.

Goodson has 2,213 career yards. With at least 15 college games remaining assuming he returns for his senior season and stays healthy, he would almost surely be one of Iowa’s top three in career rushing yards.

But this year’s numbers don’t entirely support Goodson’s case as a great running back, mainly because he has so often been put in unenviable positions. It’s not a him thing.

He has 188 carries for 813 yards. That’s 4.3 yards per carry, the lowest of the nation’s top 74 players in rushing yards. He averaged 5.1 yards over his first two seasons.

Goodson has gained 898 yards of positive yardage, but has 85 yards in losses. Fourteen players in the nation have more carries than Goodson. None have more than 60 yards in losses.

National-leader Kenneth Walker of Michigan State (1,473 yards) has 56 yards in losses, and with 39 more carries than Goodson. Iowa State’s Breece Hall has 216 carries for 1,229 yards. He has 57 yards in losses.

Michigan’s Hassan Haskins has 196 carries for 985 yards. He has a mere 6 yards in losses. Wisconsin freshman Braelon Allen has 118 carries for 834 yards. He has 8 yards in losses.

Perhaps Iowa’s offensive line will gel next year, and Goodson can close his career in grand style. When the guy has openings, he usually seems to get a lot out of them.