IOWA: Four Days and Counting

Indiana (2-3/0-2) and Iowa (3-3/0-2) both enter Saturday’s match-up with three-game losing streaks, and each is in desperate need of a win to get things turned around. HoosierNation.com continues its day-by-day preview of this weekend's match-up with “Four Names to Know” about the contest…

Shonn Greene, RB – Michigan State’s Javon Ringer is getting all of the national attention for his exploits, but Greene is quietly having an All-Big Ten caliber season as well. Greene has gone over the 100-yard mark in all six games this season, including a season-high 159 against Northwestern two weeks ago. He’s carried 129 times for 822 yards and five touchdowns this season, ranking him sixth nationally in rushing. His two biggest outputs have come in the Hawkeyes’ two Big Ten contests, as Greene is averaging 25.5 carries and 158 yards in losses to the Wildcats and Michigan State. In his first season as the team’s featured back, the 5-11, 235-pound Greene is a bruising runner who has been forced to the sidelines following big hits in games against Pitt and Northwestern. But he dishes out plenty of punishment as well, and keeping him under wraps is priority No. 1 for the Hoosiers.

Andy Brodell, WR/PR –The 6-3, 202-pound senior receiver was little more than an afterthought in the passing game early on, catching a total of seven balls in Iowa’s four non-conference games. But since Big Ten play opened, he’s emerged as the No. 1 target for quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Brodell caught a career-high eight passes for 126 yards and a touchdown two weeks ago against Northwestern, and followed that up with five catches for a team-high 79 yards and another score against Michigan State. Brodell missed most of the 2007 season after suffering a torn hamstring, but has returned this year to factor into the passing attack as well as special teams. He leads the Big Ten in punt returns and is 24th nationally with a 13.9 average, which includes an 81-yard return for a touchdown against Iowa State.

Ricky Stanzi, QB – It appears as if the Hawkeyes have finally settled on this sophomore to be the quarterback going forward. In each of the four non-conference games Stanzi split time with last year’s starter, Jake Christensen. But in the Big Ten opener against Northwestern Stanzi went the distance and completed 21-of-30 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown, and he followed that up with a 15-of-22 effort against Michigan State for 158 yards and another score. Iowa has last both of its Big Ten games with Stanzi under center, but he’s completing 65 percent of his throws on the season (65-of-100) and the offense has been more effective with him on the field compared to Christensen (33-of-56 for 378 yards and two TDs this season).

Adrian Clayborn, DE – the heart of the Hawkeye defense is probably senior defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul, but Clayborn is a sophomore defensive end who is making a big impact as well. A product from the St. Louis area that Indiana targeted a couple of years ago, the 6-3, 282-pounder has been highly productive with 33 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack and a couple of passes broken up. He’ll be lined up opposite IU left tackle Rodger Saffold and will be counted on to provide some pressure on IU quarterbacks Kellen Lewis and Ben Chappell.

What’s coming up:
On Monday - Five Numbers to Note
On Tuesday Four Names to Know
On Wednesday – Three Key Match-Ups
On Thursday – Two Big Concerns
On Friday – One Bold Prediction

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