Hampton healthy, doing just fine at Southern Illinois

CARBONDALE, Ill. - He's got friends from Iowa City that have asked to be hooked up with tickets. Jewel Hampton coming back to the state is kind of a big deal.

The former Iowa Hawkeye running back returns Saturday, albeit to Cedar Falls, when his new school Southern Illinois plays at No. 2 Northern Iowa. Opening kickoff is 3 p.m.

This is the first time Hampton will be back in Iowa since it was announced last December he was transferring out of the Hawkeye program after two star-crossed, injury filled seasons.

"He's kind of had that look in his eye," SIU Coach Dale Lennon said. "I'm sure this is an exciting time, a big opportunity for him. At the same time, he's pretty level headed. He's been on the big stage, knows what that's all about. I think he does a good job of keeping all that into perspective."

"Iowa was a great place, I had a lot of good times," Hampton said. "But I guess I was just not fully happy there."

Hampton was asked if the decision to leave was his, Iowa's or both.

"Kind of mutual," he said. "I think they could see that I was down."

He was down mostly because of two major knee injuries. Hampton set a school freshman record with seven touchdowns in 2008, but tore the ACL in his right knee that offseason and missed all of 2009.

He returned last season after a one-game suspension for an off-field incident but blew out his left knee against Arizona. Hampton transferred to SIU and participated in spring practice, though he was not allowed to engage in contact.

He is fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference with 561 yards rushing in six games (a 5.0 per-carry average) and has nine touchdowns. He had three scores last week in SIU's 35-23 loss to Youngstown State.

The Salukis are 2-4 and on a three-game losing streak.

"He's playing well," Lennon said, adding that SIU's relationship with Hampton's high-school coach in Indianapolis helped steer him to Carbondale. "His durability has been very good. Right now, I think the last four games, we've been in that 20 to 23 carries-per-game mode with him. He's really been durable for us during that time, caught some passes for us. He's worked his way up from our number three back at the beginning of the year to our starter. He did everything he needed to do to get a chance on the field."

"I feel great (physically)," Hampton said. "I'm just going game to game. I went through rehab, and I've had no problems."

He was asked if he has had a difficult time mentally coming back, subconsciously wondering if he'll get hurt again.

"No, not at all," he said. "I've had some scares where guys have rolled up on me. But I don't think about it. I'm just going out and playing. When you think about it, that's when you get hurt."

Hampton said he still talks regularly with Iowa buddies Marvin McNutt and Jordan Bernstine. He was asked what his relationship with Coach Kirk Ferentz was like.

"I never had a problem with him," Hampton said. "We had a good relationship. If I'd see him after a game, I'd probably go up and give him a big hug."