Premium ContentClick on Premium Content on the Featured navigation bar for information.
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State running back Alexander Robinson’s status for Saturday’s game against Nebraska is an issue with just about everyone but Alexander Robinson.
The Big 12’s leading rusher insists that he’ll be ready to play against the Huskers in spite of tweaking a groin injury that forced him to leave last Saturday’s 24-10 victory over Baylor in the third quarter.
“I’m a little sore, but I’ll get better,’’ Robinson said. Asked if he was going to play against the Huskers, Robinson emphatically replied, “Yes. We’ll get in the training room and we’ll go after it day by day. We’ll just continue thinking positive.’’
Iowa State also lost quarterback Austen Arnaud for the second half of the Baylor game after he hit his throwing hand on an opponent’s helmet early in the game. Arnaud wasn’t able to come back after halftime, but he, too, said he’ll be in the lineup for the 11:30 a.m. game against the Huskers at Memorial Stadium.
In fact, Arnaud expects to be throwing the ball around today when the Cyclones resume practicing. He did not participate in Sunday’s workout, and Monday is an off day for the Iowa State players.
“My hand is still a little swollen but it is what it is,’’ Arnaud said. “It doesn’t hurt that much, and I’ll be fine.
“I’ll be back tomorrow.’’
Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said he fully expects Arnaud will be ready for the Huskers. He wasn’t quite as sure how effective Robinson might be, but added he expects the 5-foot-9, 187-pound junior will play.
“His status won’t fully be known until later in the week, just as it has been since the Army game,’’ Rhoads said. “I don’t think there’s any chance he won’t play, but I don’t where he is yet. By Wednesday or Thursday, we’ll get a gauge of how strong he is going into this one.’’
Robinson first strained his groin in Iowa State’s Sept. 26 win over Army. The strain didn’t keep him from rushing for 127 yards and scoring two touchdowns rushing and another on a pass reception from Arnaud.
He had a string of three straight 100-yard rushing games snapped in a 24-23 loss to Kansas State on Oct. 3. He came back to rush for 152 yards in a 41-36 loss to Kansas on Oct. 10, and he had 83 yards in the win over Baylor to push his season total to 737 yards, a conference-leading 105.3 yards per game.
Since first suffering the injury, Rhoads said, Robinson has been diligent in doing his best to rehab each week.
“I’m glad he’s not having to pay the bill for the man hours he’s giving the training staff,’’ Rhoads said. “He wears them out.’’
Robinson has tried to maintain a positive attitude about the situation.
“It’s frustrating, but you’re always going to have some bumps in the road,’’ he said. “It’s really about how you deal with the adversity, and I’m just going to keep pushing through it.’’
Robinson’s backup on the depth chart is true freshman Beau Blankenship, but redshirt freshman Jeremiah Schwartz actually has played more. Schwartz is Iowa State’s third-leading rusher with 214 yards, while Blankenship has carried the ball just four times for 11 yards.
“Jeremiah would be the lead back if we had to go forward without Alexander because he’s the most complete back,’’ Rhoads said. “Beau Blankenship and (sophomore) Bo Williams both give us a little explosiveness that Jeremiah lacks a little bit.
“But as far as pass protection, power running and being able to catch the ball a little, Jeremiah is the next most complete back if Alexander has to step on the sideline for a play or two.’’
Arnaud, a junior who will be making his 20th start in Saturday’s game, completed 18 of 28 passes for 166 yards in the first two quarters against Baylor. He turned a 14-3 lead over to Jerome Tiller, and the redshirt freshman directed Iowa State to 10 third-quarter points. His 20-yard run with 7:59 left in the period pushed the Cyclones’ lead to 24-3.
Arnaud has completed 57 percent of his passes this season for 1,246 yards and nine touchdowns. He also is Iowa State’s second-leading rusher with 434 yards on 90 carries.
Rhoads said it wasn’t until halftime against Baylor that he was made aware of Arnaud’s injury, which happened on the fourth play of the game.
“He played the first half extremely well with the injury,’’ Rhoads said. “The swelling increased and by the time we came out after the 20-minute layoff at halftime, he just couldn’t grasp the ball effectively enough to throw it.
“His first throw went into the dirt, and it was time to make a change.’’
Arnaud said he lobbied to try to get back in the game to no avail.
“I’m stubborn,’’ he said.
Having Arnaud and Robinson close to 100 percent obviously would enhance Iowa State’s chances of being able to attack a Nebraska defense that ranks as one of the best in the Big 12. Rhoads said defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh presents a huge challenge for any offense.
“The greater problem is there are six guys around him that are equally talented,’’ he said. “Their front seven is outstanding. He overshadows the play of some of those other guys because he’s a first, second or third pick in the NFL draft.
“But all their guys up front play extremely well.’’
Contact the writer:
679-2298, steve.pivovar@owh.com
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
