From gas to injuries, Ferentz speaks

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- After deflecting a few personnel questions Monday, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz joked that he passed gas on the practice field.

It was a bit of a defensive response.

"Did you guys catch that one?" Ferentz joked. "I'll see if I can muster one up for you right now."

OK, here's how that started:

There was a rumor that an Iowa player was sent back to Iowa City because of a disciplinary issue.

"It's possible, it's possible," Ferentz said. "It's possible."

He was asked if senior cornerback Shaun Prater was in the hospital.

"Today?" Ferentz asked. At some point since you've been here? "It's possible," he said. "He's fine, he practiced today. He's fine."

Late Sunday night, freshman running back Mika'il McCall posted a Facebook update that he was leaving the UI and was looking for another school.

"He said that?" Ferentz asked. "That may be out there. If someone leaves our program, I'll have comments on it."

Offensive tackle Riley Reiff has discussed an early entry to the NFL draft with Ferentz. Reiff, 23, is No. 10 on ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper's "Big Board."

"Just very briefly," Ferentz said. "I don't think it's prominent in his thoughts or mine. We'll address that afterwards and see what he thinks."

Ferentz added that a few players are "nicked up" and said he would summarize that at a Thursday news conference, the day before the Hawkeyes (7-5) face No. 19 Oklahoma (9-3).

"I think we have one or two guys who might not make it [due to injury]," he said. "I think we're doing OK."