Four downs with the running backs

QUICK LOOK BACK: Really, is there any quickness to this?

Fourteen months ago, Iowa had nine scholarship running backs on its roster. The media day feature photo for running backs had Jewel Hampton and Jeff Brinson holding one football, as if they were expected to carry the load.

Let's run down the list:

Adam Robinson -- He was suspended from the team in December for violations of team rules and then dismissed after being cited for marijuana possession the night before the Hawkeyes' appearance in the Insight Bowl. That's where it stands. He had a news conference in Des Moines and asked to return to the team, but he hadn't spoken with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who, when asked about Robinson in February, said, "Never say never." This past weekend, Robinson's mom, Sally, had a letter published in the Des Moines Register that butts up against accusing Iowa of negligence after the two concussions Robinson suffered last fall.

Brandon Wegher -- He quit the team two days into fall camp last August. He became a father in November and asked for and received his release from Iowa in mid-December. He walked on at Oklahoma and told The Oklahoman that he's open to playing defense.

Jewel Hampton -- Iowa announced in December that Hampton, who had a promising freshman season only to be derailed by torn ACLs in the next two years, had decided to transfer. Where he's going has yet to be announced.

Jeff Brinson -- He transferred to Central Florida last spring and tore an ACL this fall.

Josh Brown -- Transferred.

Paki O'Meara -- Graduated.

Brad Rogers -- Switched to fullback. He was held out of the Insight Bowl after failing a cardio test. He is expected to participate in spring practice.

Marcus Coker -- He capped his true freshman season with 219 yards and two TDs while being named offensive MVP in Iowa's Insight Bowl victory over No. 12 Missouri. Clear frontrunner for No. 1 next fall.

 

 

 

De'Andre Johnson

-- He redshirted last season and will be in the mix this fall.

More drama than "Days of Our Lives."

FOURTH DOWN -- CONCERNS: Depth and youth, but first let's start with who's here.

Coker -- The Insight Bowl, he's the man.

Johnson --   The 5-8, 210-pounder showed some power in the scrimmage last August.

Rodney Coe -- Incoming recruit who fits the big back mold at 6-3, 255. Will have a chance to see the field next fall.

Mika'il McCall -- Incoming recruit with good size (6-0, 215) and good enough speed. Probably sees the field next fall.

Jordan Canzeri -- Incoming recruit who's on the small side (5-9, 177), but whose YouTubes show uncommon vision and burst. Has a shot to see the field this fall.

Damon Bullock -- Incoming recruit who was a late addition to the 2011 class. He was offered basically after the music stopped, so he didn't have any other real options. Great production in his senior season at Mansfield (Texas) High School with 235 rushing attempts for 1,606 yards and 22 TDs.

Jason White -- Junior walk-on who's bounced around the depth chart, but now seems settled at running back. He was the No. 3 RB in the Insight Bowl, even though he never carried the ball.

Ellis Jordan -- A redshirt freshman walk-on from Iowa City High (5-7, 180).

So, next fall, Iowa will have a semi-proven back in Coker, who rushed for 35 percent of his yards (219) as a true freshman in one game against Missouri. Then, Rogers and his 11 carries. And then there's White and his one carry for

 14 yards against Eastern Illinois.

The depth chart behind Coker is Johnson and then three brand-new freshmen. The alarms have sounded in each of the last two seasons when Iowa has had to dip into true freshmen running backs (Wegher in '09; Coker last year), but somehow, some way, things have worked out.

Depth and youth are concerns, but nothing that Iowa hasn't seen before.

THIRD DOWN -- ADDITIONS/SUBTRACTIONS: The departure that has kept our attention is Adam Robinson.

Ferentz did say "Never say never," but he also said Robinson didn't contact him before or after the news conference he had in Des Moines. Does that sound like someone who thinks they have a chance to return to the team?

Wegher transferred to Oklahoma, where running backs might grow on trees. His career will be interesting to track from here on out, perhaps at a different position. Hampton will land somewhere, eventually, you'd think, but two torn ACLs will leave him with some proving to do.

It would probably be good for Iowa to grow a running back and see one go in the NFL draft. Since 2000, Iowa has had just two running backs drafted, Ladell Betts and Shonn Greene. Only Betts put in four years at Iowa. Greene did, but was in and out because of academics before a killer 2008 put him in the third round.

Iowa's running back depth chart is like a line change in hockey, three out and three in. Well, maybe a little more than that.

Coe, McCall, Canzeri and Bullock will join the chase this fall.

Coe was a player everyone wanted, but he lined up as a linebacker in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Is he long for running back?

“You know, if he can hold at that area, 250, 255, maybe - but if he outgrows it that won't be a bad thing, but our intentions are to play him at running back and we have shared that with him and we are excited about that,” Ferentz said. ”We think he's a good running back.”

Iowa tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Eric Johnson brought Coe to Iowa City.

“We recruited him as a running back,” Johnson said. “That's what we thought from day one. That's what we're going to start him out as, at running back.

“A different type of player,” Johnson said. “He's 6-3 and about 250 to 255 pounds. Unbelievable hands. He's a guy you can play in the slot and do a number of things with. He has good speed and good enough feet to make you miss.”

McCall might be the next frosh RB who's FBS-ready. He's legit 6-0, 215.

“He really has deceptive speed," Johnson said. "I don't think people know how fast he really is. Good speed, power back. Reminds you of a guy we've had here before in that respect.”

Canzeri is a player Ferentz really likes. Listening to Ferenz talk about him on signing day, Canzeri's size was maybe what attracted Iowa to him.

“That part of the conversation with Jordan," Ferentz said. "He was worried about his size, we blew that one on Danny Woodhead, 177 pounds when he went to Chadron State and did not want to blow it again. You have to go by what you see on tape and the passion he plays, with the toughness he plays and the determination, that really - told his dad we are not going to ask him to rebound. We just want him to run the football. So we are really excited about him.”

Bullock will start at RB, but he has the size (6-0, 190) to make a shift to safety.

SECOND DOWN -- BATTLES BREWING: We can all agree Coker is No. 1. He will wear the belt going into fall camp and should emerge as the starter. Of course, Coker suffered a broken collarbone in camp last August, which kept him out of the mix until Iowa absolutely needed him.

But 219 yards and two TDs (and a 62-yard run) puts him in first place at this point and time. After Coker is where the questions start.

This spring, you'll probably see a lot of Johnson, who was coming off an ACL repair when he arrived in Iowa City last summer. He's more than a year removed from surgery, so that's in the rear view. He shook Adrian Clayborn for a 20-plus gain during the open scrimmage last fall, but that's all we really saw.

The next tier will be decided in fall camp when Bullock, Canzeri, Coe and McCall arrive. Expect one or two of them to blow through their redshirts.

White is the walk-on who could make a wave. He was a noticeable contributor on special teams in '09, but suffered a sprained MCL against Iowa State last fall, so never really got a chance to show what he could do.

1) Coker

2) Johnson

3) Bullock, Canzeri, Coe and McCall

4) White

5) Jordan

6) Rogers (in case of emergency, break glass)

That's nine bodies. Should be enough, right? I'd love to hear how you would sort out the four incoming freshmen. Let

 me know your thoughts.

Iowa likely will use three backs with or without injuries. I see it going Coker, Johnson and . . . McCall.

FIRST DOWN -- "On Iowa" prediction for 2011: Coker will rush for 1,200 yards and 10 TDs.

Factor: I like where Iowa's O-line is headed. Yes, the Hawkeyes are searching for news starters at guard, but it's not like the cupboard is bare there. Sophomore Nolan MacMillan started six games last season. He's battling some health problems and will likely be out this spring, however. Adam Gettis also started two games, but did suffer what appeared to be a season-ending high-ankle sprain against Michigan State. Factor: Yes, Coker rushed for 35 percent of his yards against a Big 12 defense, but he also dented Ohio State's rush defense (No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 7 nationally) like few other running backs with 70 yards on nine carries (7.78 yards a carry).

Factors that could unplug that prediction: 1) Health has been a major factor at Iowa running back and could likely be again this season. Coker takes on contact well, but he does run a little tall, something that guard Julian Vandervelde picked up on during the Insight. "I would love to see him run lower," he said. "You can't run that straight up. He's going to get some ribs cracked or something." 2) How proven is Coker? Yes, he wowed everyone Iowa in the Insight. His last carry before the bowl, though, was a fumble that killed the Hawkeyes in a 27-24 loss at Minnesota. It was his only fumble in 114 carries, but timing unplugged Iowa's last-ditch effort. Also, only two of his four starts came against teams (Ohio State and Missouri) with bona fide defenses.

Running down the Big Ten

Illinois -- Jason Ford, senior, 6-1, 235. The Illini took a hit when Mikel Leshoure bolted early for the NFL, but Ford is Leshoure-like with great size. Rating -- Should be fine. Ford, who was once an Iowa commit, already has 1,362 yards and 19 touchdowns in his career.

Indiana -- Darius Willis, junior, 6-0, 225. Willis missed the final eight games of 2010 with a patellar tendon injury, so he had just 278 yards and four TDs. Rating  -- Arrow up. Willis is a good player, but he's oft-injured, missing games as a freshman, too. The talent is there. Plus, IU QB will like be a runner.

Iowa -- Marcus Coker, 6-0, 230. Another way to look at Coker's yards is he took advantage of limited opportunity. He played in just seven games (starting four) and carried just 10 times in the first seven weeks of the season. Rating -- Hmmmm. Coker is promising but not proven. After Coker, it's freshmen city. 

Michigan -- Vincent Smith, junior, 5-6, 180 OR Michael Shaw, senior, 6-1, 187. Add them together and they were productive in 2010, combining for 1,003 yards and 14 TDs. Rating -- Denard Robinson is UM's quarterback and best running back. Keep an eye on true freshman Justice Hayes. 

Michigan State -- Edwin Baker, junior, 5-9, 208 OR/AND Le'Veon Bell, sophomore, 6-2, 230. Baker saw his first real action last season and went for 1,201 yards and 13 TDs. Bell had 95 percent of his 605 yards and eight TDs in his first six games. Only 56 yards in final seven. Rating -- All-Big Ten. Between Baker, Bell, Larry Caper and freshman Onaje Miller, the Spartans will be among the Big Ten's top rushing offenses.

Minnesota -- Duane Bennett, senior, 5-9, 210 AND De'Leon Eskridge, senior, 5-11, 205. Eskridge led the Gophers with 698 yards and seven TDs. Bennett had 529 and three. Rating -- Unknown. Let's see where new coach Jerry Kill takes the Gophers' offense. Plus, QB MarQueis Gray is a runner.

Nebraska -- Rex Burkhead, junior, 5-11, 210. Burkhead rushed for 951 yards last season. He's a consistent threat as a running back, but he's also effective in the wildcat formation (remains to be seen if new OC Tim Beck will use it) completing 3 of 4 passes. Rating -- Formidable. Between Burkhead, QB Taylor Martinez and true freshman Aaron Green, the Huskers will run. Rivals.com' Mike Farrell wrote this about Green, ". . . is the highest-rated back in the conference and has the most star potential." 

Northwestern -- Mike Trumpy, sophomore, 6-1, 205 AND/OR Adonis Smith, sophomore, 5-11, 185. The Wildcats started four different backs last season, with Trumpy leading the backs with 530 yards. Smith could see more carries after 196 yards as a true freshman. Rating -- Trumpy surged late to lead the 'Cats in rushing. QB Dan Persa led most of the season. He's coming off a torn Achilles. NU has three freshmen who could factor with Jordan Perkins heading that class.

Ohio State -- Dan Herron, senior, 5-10, 202. Herron (1,155 yards and 16 TDs) is the guy, but he won't be the guy, as it stands now, for the first five games of the season because of suspension. Rating -- They'll be fine. In Herron's absence, look for sophomore Jaamal Berry (5-10, 200) to earn carries. Maybe freshman Roderick Smith factors. And, oh yeah, QB Terrell Pryor, once off suspension, is capable of 1,000 yards.

Penn State -- Silas Redd, sophomore, 5-10, 200. Redd averaged an impressive 5.7 yards on 77 carries behind Evan Royster, the Nittany Lions' career rushing leader. Rating -- Arrow up. Redd is consistently explosive. Stephfon Green and Curtis Dukes (6-2, 235) could also factor, but Redd has go-to written all over him.

Purdue -- Ralph Bolden, junior, 5-9, 194. Bolden was terrific in 2009, gaining 935 yards with nine TDs, but blew out an ACL in spring 2010 and missed all last season. Rating -- Bolden is the guy, probably. which either says a lot about Bolden or a little about Purdue RB. Juco Akeem Shavers is No. 2.

Wisconsin -- Montee Ball, junior, 5-11, 236 AND James White, sophomore, 5-10, 198. Ball basically revived his career on a 6-yard TD run that lifted the Badgers over Iowa with 1:06 left in the game last season. He ran through at least five Hawkeyes before stretching for the goal line. After that run, he rattled off five straight 100-yard games. Rating -- Two Cadillacs in the garage. Ball and White are capable of leading the Big Ten in rushing. The Badgers' O-line took a hit, but still should be formidable.

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Marcus Coker after the Insight Bowl (courtesy of The Gazette's Scott Dochterman)

Kirk Ferentz talks Coker pre-Minnesota.

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FULLBACK

QUICK LOOK BACK: Fullback Brett Morse probably didn't have the touches (eight receptions, four carries) to earn a combine invite, but his blocking probably should've been good enough. At 6-3, 238, he's got NFL fullback size and should get a camp invite. Fullback are nearly extinct in every walk of football but the NFL.

Sophomore Brad Rogers made the move from running back sometime during camp, but was stuck in limbo after injuries struck running back. At the end of the season, with the rise of Coker, Rogers (11 rushes, 75 yards) was full-time fullback.

FOURTH DOWN -- CONCERNS: Rogers failed a cardiac test and was held out of the Insight Bowl. He is expected to be OK and participate in spring practice.

After Rogers, experience thins out decidedly.

THIRD DOWN -- ADDITIONS/SUBTRACTIONS: Morse will be missed for his lead blocking and glorious sense of humor. The kid is hilarious.

Walk-on Matt Meyers (6-2, 215) will come off redshirt and be eligible this season. He could contribute on special teams.

Mark Weisman (6-0, 210) will walk on after transferring from Air Force.

Junior Jonathan Gimm is listed as a fullback on Iowa's official website. The 6-3, 240-pounder has been primarily a TE during his time at Iowa. He messed around at fullback a couple springs ago. Early last season, he had a role as No. 3 TE on Iowa's goal-line offense.

Cameron Olson (6-1, 232) is a walk-on from Radcliffe who wears No. 65.

SECOND DOWN -- BATTLES BREWING: Rogers, Gimm and sophomore Jacob Reisen (6-2, 231) are the primary competitors for the staring gig.

Rogers has running ability and blocked well in his one start at FB last season at Michigan. Gimm is intriguing at 6-3, 240. Reisen is in his third year and could be poised to make a move on the depth chart.

FIRST DOWN -- "On Iowa" prediction for 2011: If Rogers is healthy and wins the job, he'll be the first Iowa fullback to rush for 100-plus yards in a season since Edgar Cervantes rushed for 126 in 2003.

Yes, Edgar Cervantes. It's been that long. But hey, Iowa gets what it wants out of fullback, which is basically lead blocker.