On line -- LB Jim Poggi

Iowa linebacker needed all available bodies last fall and there was some transitional trouble. You're going to have that when a true freshman is your middle linebacker less than a half into the Big Ten season.

James Morris gained valuable experience. Shane DiBona answered the call. Christian Kirksey saw time on special teams and learned what "game speed" really means. Anthony Hitchens was the last underclassman to the party, but he saw some action in the Insight Bowl, the crown jewel victory of the '10 season (with Michigan State challenging).

Now, Morris is an established veteran and unchallenged No. 1 at MLB (pending Bruce Davis' ACL recovery). Kirksey and Hitchens are fighting it out at WLB. Senior Tyler Nielsen has recovered from a broken neck and will own OLB.

Jim Poggi would've had a difficult time breaking into the lineup. He likely would've had a shot at a serious special teams role, which, if you follow this Iowa thing, can be a gateway to something bigger, better.

Poggi could be out for '11 after undergoing shoulder surgery in May. Kirk Ferentz brought up the possibility of a medical hardship waiver, but that would be down the road.

Three most interesting bio items a year in . . . 1) Consensus first team all-state as a junior and senior and named all-Metro both seasons (Gilman School in Baltimore); 2) collected 137 tackles as a senior, including 12 QB sacks, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions; 3) Finance/English major.

Key quote . . . “The first text I got from Jim was, ‘I did my 100 squats in 17 minutes.' Anyone who does that in 17 minutes deserves to be sore.” -- Jim's father, Biff, Gilman's head football coach when he spoke to the media in the wake of the rhabdomyolysis outbreak that hospitalized 13 football players.

Standing after spring . . . Rhabdo kept Poggi out of spring practice. The shoulder might keep him out for '11.

Poggi likely was looking at special teams with a slim chance at time on defense, but you know what a shoulder injury means -- less lifting and some agonizing rehab. A good comparison might be -- capital MIGHT -- D-end Joe Gaglione, who's back in the game after missing all of 2010 with a shoulder injury. Gaglione was out in spring drills and participating. His injury and surgery might be more serious, but there is at least a trail back to the living.