Daniels in line for the Weisman workload

IOWA CITY — Mark Weisman averaged nearly 17 carries a game for the last three seasons of Iowa football. For now, those touches have been bequeathed to junior LeShun Daniels.

Let's get right into the fact that Daniels, who has 51 career carries, didn't participate in Iowa's media day on Saturday because he was 'nicked up' during morning practice and head coach Kirk Ferentz wanted to keep him off his feet.

Ferentz said it wasn't serious and expects Daniels to participate in next weekend's open scrimmage at Kinnick Stadium. That's just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to expectations for Daniels in 2015.

Running backs coach Chris White said Saturday Daniels, who missed five games last season with an ankle injury, is in line for Weisman's workload.

Weisman was a fullback playing running back. Everyone knew that. Weisman is in the Cincinnati Bengals training camp trying to earn a spot at fullback. Daniels, who cut around 10 pounds to 225 this offseason, has a different set of expectations.

'We want LeShun to take Mark's carries,' White said. 'He's more of a natural running back than Mark was.'

Now, that isn't the end of the conversation. Senior Jordan Canzeri will get carries, too.

'It's so close right now and it's a reflection that we're really pleased with both players,' head coach Kirk Ferentz said.

Canzeri also is in line for the role of third-down back, which means pass blocking and pass catching.

'When Jordan is healthy, he's a really good back,' White said. 'He has his own niche. We need him to take over the third-down role, for sure.'

Sophomores Akrum Wadley and Derrick Mitchell aren't out of the race, either. Their situations are tied to how they perform in camp. Wadley fumbled twice in 33 carries last season. He also fights swings in his weight that make him susceptible to physical errors like fumbles. Mitchell, who White calls an instinctive, natural athlete, made the move from wide receiver in the spring. He's fighting a knowledge gap.

'The depth that we have at running back this year is an awesome thing,' said Canzeri, who missed time with ankle and heel injuries last season. 'We have guys behind LeShun and I who people might not mention, but they are great athletes. If they get on the field, it'll be great for our offense. This pushes us in practice and helps our team.'

White said Iowa likely will rotate backs into the game, but, just as it did last season, expect any rotation to shrink to the back who's making things happen. Right now, the staff believes it could be Daniels.

'A guy like LeShun, we want to get him 20 or 25 carries like Mark did and see if we can break some runs instead of a 10- 12-yarder, let's get a 30- or 40-yarder,' White said. 'We think LeShun has that kind of ability. Jordan showed that in the bowl game, he can make some explosive runs, too.'

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