IOWA CITY — Reece Vander Zee burst onto the scene during his Iowa football debut in last year's season opener. The homegrown receiver caught two touchdown passes in the Hawkeyes’ win over Illinois State, marking a performance that wasn’t widely expected by the outside world.

Roughly one year later, another rather unexpected Hawkeye made a splash in his Iowa debut.

This time, it was running back Xavier Williams.

Williams had the benefit of being a redshirt freshman, as opposed to Vander Zee, who was a true freshman at the time of his breakout. But the point still stands.

Williams emerged from the shadows in emphatic fashion during Iowa's 34-7 win over UAlbany on Aug. 30. In his first snaps of game action as a Hawkeye, Williams rushed 11 times for 122 yards and one touchdown. Forty-thr

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