Iowa looking for best supporting running back

IOWA CITY -- Iowa has a No. 1 running back, but Kirk Ferentz believes the Hawkeyes need a solid second option and so another redshirt came off Saturday.

Jordan Canzeri joined the chase for No. 2 when he rushed five times for 30 yards in second half of Iowa's 45-17 victory over University of Louisiana Monroe. The lineup goes Marcus Coker, Damon Bullock, Jason White and, now, Canzeri.

Or something like that. Coker is for sure No. 1. After that, well, Ferentz liked what he saw in Canzeri, a true freshman from Troy, N.Y.

"We thought he would do OK and I think he did more than OK," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "He really looked aggressive out there, decisive."

Coker rushed 18 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns. His goal was aggressive decisiveness and mission accomplished. In the last two weeks, Coker has lost just 1 yard. Everything else has been going north and/or south.

"That's what I felt like I needed to do better," Coker said. "Last week, I didn't do that as well. That was one of my main goals this week, just hitting the holes harder and faster and getting up field."

Bullock, a true freshman, rushed seven times for 18 yards. He got caught a few times trying to dance. The directive from Iowa coaches is aggressive decisive.

That's Canzeri, a 5-9, 175-pound true freshman. He made one cut and ran to green space.

"He's fast and he can break tackles," Coker said. "It's what I knew -- he's physically ready [to play at this level.]"

Ferentz said he thought Mika'il McCall would be the answer at No. 2, but he was lost for the season with a broken ankle in week 1. The goal is to lessen the load on Coker. Where Canzeri fits remains to be seen, but now he's in.

"You're never quite sure until it's live action," Ferentz said. "He looked decisive, quick and he ran tough. He's not the biggest guy in the world, but he ran tough."