Iowa’s backfield is starting to look a lot less patched together heading into Week 4.
Running backs coach Jay Norvell said L.J. Phillips Jr. will be “available” for Saturday’s game against Michigan, a notable development for a Hawkeyes group that has been working through injuries at the position. Norvell did not say what kind of role Phillips Jr. will have, but just getting him back gives Iowa another option as it prepares for a much tougher test than last week.
The timing matters because Kamari Moulton’s status is still uncertain. Moulton missed Iowa’s Week 3 game against Northern Iowa after getting hurt late in Week 2, and while Kirk Ferentz has sounded optimistic, Moulton was not listed on the depth chart. Ferentz has called Moulton their “No. 1 guy,” and said that if he can go against Michigan, he will be out there.
Even with Moulton and Phillips Jr. sidelined against Northern Iowa, Iowa’s ground game barely skipped a beat. The Hawkeyes rolled up 422 rushing yards, and three backs topped the 100-yard mark: Xavier Williams with 153, Braeden Jackson with 125, and Nathan McNeil with 111. That kind of production is a reminder of how deep this room has become.
Now the question is how much of that depth will be available when Michigan arrives. Norvell’s update means Phillips Jr. is in line to return, though it would not be surprising if his workload is limited after missing time. The Hawkeyes may not need to lean heavily on him right away, especially after the way Williams, McNeil and Jackson handled business against UNI.
Still, Michigan is a different animal. Its defense is far stronger than Northern Iowa’s, and Iowa would love to have as many healthy bodies as possible.
If Moulton is ready, he should be the lead option. If not, Phillips Jr. could be in position to make his first start and add another layer to a backfield that also includes O’Lantae Dean.
Iowa has at least five backs it can turn to with Phillips Jr., Williams, McNeil, Jackson and Dean, and that doesn’t even count Moulton if he’s able to play. Ferentz isn’t going to push either injured back onto the field before they’re ready, but having both available would be the ideal setup as Iowa tries to establish the run early against a stout Michigan front four.
Phillips Jr. has been building toward this moment since arriving from South Dakota in the winter. After an offseason that drew plenty of attention, he finally has a chance to show why.
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Iowa heads into week four at 3-0 and No. 17 in the AP poll, but the trip to Michigan looks like a different kind of measuring stick for a defense that has been excellent on both levels. The Hawkeyes are preparing for a Wolverines team built around a strong defense and a rushing attack, which makes this one feel like the sort of Big Ten game that can turn into a grind long before it turns into a shootout.
Cornerback Deshaun Lee said the key for Iowa is simple: slow down Michigans run game and give itself a real chance to win. Michigans offense has had its own problems through the first three weeks, especially through the air, but Iowas defense will be tested in a way it has not been yet this season, with the Hawkeyes trying to prove their early ranking is backed by more than just a fast start. [Read more 🡒]