By Tyler Devine

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The future is now for Iowa freshman running back Tyler Goodson.

The Georgia native showed that in spectacular fashion during his first career start on Saturday in Iowa’s 23-19 win over Minnesota in Kinnick Stadium.

Goodson finished with 94 rushing yards on 13 carries, including 77 yards in the first half that helped Iowa jump out to a 20-6 halftime lead.

“I was speechless when (running backs coach Derrick Foster) first told me (I was starting),” Goodson said. “For me, I didn’t focus on the fact I was starting, but focused on the next play and tried to make an impact that would help our team win the game.

“I’m glad I gained the trust of the coaches for them to put the ball in my hands and give me the best opportunity to make plays and score touchdowns for this team to win.”

Perhaps Goodson’s most impactful play came as the first quarter was winding down.

With Iowa up 6-0 at the Minnesota 10-yard line, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound turned what should have been a three-yard loss into his first career touchdown.

“I got the ball and everything was clamped in, so I bounced outside,” Goodson said. “A guy comes, I give him a one-two stiff-arm, then another guy comes, I give him a stiff-arm and step out of the tackle. As I got down to the goal line, I put my head down and hoped for the best.”

Goodson began this season fourth on the depth chart behind juniors Toren Young, Ivory Kelly-Martin and Mekhi Sargent, has climbed the depth chart to become Iowa’s second-leading rusher with 436 yards.

“Mekhi, Toren and Ivory mean a lot to me,” Goodson said. “I came in not knowing anything and they taught me the playbook and made things slow down for me, especially protections. Protections are the hardest things to deal with. They taught me the fundamentals.”

Pass protections is a huge part in Goodson getting the nod this week from head coach Kirk Ferentz.

“I just said on the radio, maybe as impressive as anything, blitz pickup off a play-action in the second half,” Ferentz said. “For a freshman to make that protection, then execute it, was really impressive.

“It’s even more impressive because he didn’t execute it during the week, the end of the week last week. I think that kind of shows you the kind of young guy he is. He learned from a mistake, carried it out there to the game field.”

Injury report: Senior linebacker Kristian Welch and senior tight end Nate Wieting returned from injury just in time to help Iowa retain the Floyd of Rosedale trophy.

Welch recorded a game-high 11 tackles in his first action since week six.

"Always hate to lose a veteran player," Ferentz said. "It's harder on the player because they're sitting there watching that clock tick on their career. That's hard. You hate to lose a veteran guy, but to get one back is a real benefit."

Wieting missed the Wisconsin and Northwestern games with an undisclosed injury.

Sack party: Junior defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa has 2.5 of Iowa's season-high six sacks. It is the most sacks by a Hawkeye defense since 2013 against Northwestern.

The 6-foot-6, 280-pound Epenesa now has a team-high seven sacks on the season.

Career day for Tracy: Redshirt freshman receiver Tyrone Tracy had a career-high six receptions for 77 yards. He has 16 receptions for 323 yards in the last four games.

He had 12 receptions for 190 yards in the first six games this season.

"Happy for him," Ferentz said. "It's like all the guys we're talking about, it's because he's worked hard, has a great attitude, another tremendous young guy. He's fun to be around."