Iowa's running back depth chart makes some gains

IOWA CITY -- There's the Yeti and the Lochness Monster and UFOs. And then there's Iowa's No. 2 running back.

Game was essentially over, but there they were in Iowa's 45-24 victory over Indiana. Redshirt freshman De'Andre Johnson got the first call in the fourth quarter. Later, true freshman Jordan Canzeri gave it a go.

Johnson gained 26 yards on five carries. Canzeri gained 26 yards on four carries. Adding further intrigue, true freshman Mika'il McCall was in uniform and warmed up for the first time since suffering a broken ankle in Iowa's opener. At the time, McCall was deemed out for the season.

"He's getting closer, actually," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "He did a little work this week. I've been telling you for a long time that I've been kind of keeping him out of my mind. . . . I think it's realistic to think Mika'il might have a chance to make it back here in the next two or three weeks, somewhere in there."

McCall gained 61 yards on nine carries in Iowa's season-opening win over Tennessee Tech. Those 61 yards stood as the total for Iowa's second-leading rusher until Johnson (76 yards) and quarterback James Vandenberg (70) passed it Saturday.

"They tell us to always be ready, you never know when your number is going to be called," said Johnson, who's now two years removed from a torn ACL that cost him his senior year at Monsignor Pace in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "All this week, I was taking No. 2 reps, so I had an idea."

Sophomore Marcus Coker led the Hawkeyes with 139 yards and two TDs, but the search has been on for a No. 2 since McCall suffered the ankle injury. Coker has averaged 21.4 carries a game. Johnson is the next for running backs with 2.3.

"In the game, I kind of get made because I like to take all the carries," Coker said with a smile. "I'm kind of selfish that way. Definitely, it helped me get my legs under me and catch my breathe a little bit."

Running back could go from Coker and hope to a full cupboard here in the next few weeks. By the way, Ferentz said McCall will travel to Minnesota next week.

"I was really happy with the other guys [Johnson and Canzeri]," Ferentz said. "That's nine carries. That's invaluable. As you know, we're going to need them."