College Football 2017: One x-factor for each Big Ten team

Iowa Hawkeyes: RB James Butler

Butler was a surprising, late transfer from Nevada in July, due in part to a change in offensive system in Reno under new head coach Jay Norvell and offensive coordinator Matt Mumme. He’ll join Akrum Wadley in the Hawkeyes’ backfield, and with a ton of inexperience under center now the running game will be what stirs the drink for Iowa’s offense. Returning all five starters from a unit that literally won the award as the nation’s best offensive line last year will make a run-heavy attack easy to attain.

Butler topped 1,300 rushing yards in each of the last two seasons at Nevada, along with 22 rushing touchdowns over that span. But he showed what he can do as a pass receiver last year too, with 37 catches for 381 yards and three touchdowns. That’s where he can be a difference maker for the Hawkeyes, with Wadley as the team’s leading returning receiver (36 catches for 315 yards).

Iowa will have one of the top running back duos in the Big Ten this year, if not the entire country. Butler is a legitimate NFL prospect, and he should fit in just fine on his new team and in a new, tougher conference. Fortune smiled on Kirk Ferentz and company with Butler’s arrival.