Quarterbacks

Senior quarterback Drew Tate has been the Hawkeye’s general on offense, but he was not listed on Iowa’s depth chart Monday. Tate injured the thumb on his non-throwing hand in a loss to Michigan Saturday.

Hailing from Robert E. Lee High School in Bayton, Tex., Tate had completed 138 passes on 233 attempts for 1,678 yards and 11 touchdowns, but had also thrown six interceptions.

If Tate doesn’t go Iowa can turn to senior Jason Manson or red-shirt freshman Jake Christensen.

But whoever starts will have a tough task ahead. The Hawkeyes haven’t met expectations this season. Iowa has fallen to 5-3 overall, and 1-3 in the Big Ten, losing three out of its last four.

And with only three Big Ten games remaining, Iowa’s conference title hopes are finished.

Running backs

Junior Albert Young was tabbed to be one of the top tailbacks in the country this season.

After all, Young ran 249 times for 1,334 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Those numbers were good enough to lead the Big Ten in rushing at over 125-yards per game.

But this year Young has 89 carries for 353 yards and four scores as fellow junior Damian Sims has split the load with Young.

A great athlete, Sims saw time as a true freshman before moving to defensive back before the start of 2005. Since then, he’s returned to offense and carried the ball 90 times for 473 yards and five scores this fall.

Offensive line

Tabbed in the preseason by The Sporting News to have one of the most dominating interior lines in college football, it is up for question as to whether Iowa’s line has carried it’s weight.

Senior Mike Jones, a Richards high school product, anchors the line.

Iowa’s offensive line has allowed Tate to be sacked 18 times on the year.

Also, now eight games into this season, neither running back has rushed for over 500 total yards. Although, Sims is averaging 5.3 yards per carry.

But if one thing is for certain, it’s that every member of the Hawkeyes line outweighs even the heaviest NIU defensive lineman.

Receivers

Senior tight end Scott Chandler led Iowa in receptions last year, and has continued to live up to expectations.

At 6-foot-7 and 257 pounds, Chandler has 32 catches for 376 yards and four touchdowns. Last fall he had two scores throughout the whole season.

The wide receivers are led by true freshman Dominique Douglas. Out of Detroit, Douglas has 29 grabs for 436 yards and one score in his first year.

Tate has found 15 different receivers this year. Four players have over 200 receiving yards while Young has 22 catches for 182 yards.