Jewel's knee OK, but other parts of Hawkeyes need proving

The one thing that stood out in the media storm that surrounded Jewel Hampton was his smile.

Yes, the sophomore running back is here and, yes, his knee is OK. The 150-watt smile said just about everything you need to know on the knee watch.

“Yeah, I think any running back would be afraid when you hurt your knee. It would be heartbreaking to have your season taken away,” Hampton said during Iowa's media day Friday. “But I just kept a good head about it and, hopefully, things will go well for me this season.”

VIDEO: RB Jewel Hampton

VIDEO: Offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe

No details except that he hurt his knee. He practiced Friday as the Hawkeyes opened camp. He's still feeling it out as far as a knee brace goes.

And that's as good a metaphor as you can come up with right now for the 2009 Hawkeyes.

Iowa, 9-4 and Outback Bowl champion last season, returns stars, including offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga, defensive end Adrian Clayborn and linebackers A.J. Edds and Pat Angerer. The Hawkeyes return quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who has bulked up from 210 to 230 pounds. Wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, who led the team in receiving last year, is No. 2 on the depth chart and understands what that means.

The Hawkeyes' collective knee is strong, but it has some proving to do.

With guard Julian Vandervelde on the mend after June surgery, the Hawkeyes will have three new starters on the O-line for two games. The defensive foundation that was Mitch King and Matt Kroul - four-year starters - is gone. One cornerback spot is a mystery. Running back is looking like a committee, at least early.

At one point, Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said this year's Hawkeyes remind him an awful lot of last year's team.

“I know our seniors in terms of numbers are about the same, returning, starting experience,” Ferentz said. “All season last year, we were competitive. We didn't quite get it done the way we wanted to in certain ballgames. I think we've made progress. But all that being said, really we're starting over again.”

Last year's team didn't have this year's schedule with road games at Iowa State, Penn State (7 p.m.), Wisconsin, Michigan State (6 p.m.) and Ohio State.

“It's conceivable we could have a better team that last year and have a record that doesn't indicate that,” Ferentz said.

A healthy and smiling Hampton would only help.

He came out of nowhere, basically, as a true freshman to back up Shonn Greene. Out of Indianapolis' Warren Central High School, Hampton rushed for 463 yards and a freshmen record seven TDs.

He missed some spring practice with a sore hamstring and then July 3 injured his knee.

A bit of a media circus ensued. Hampton laughed it off Friday.

“The most bizarre thing was all the people asking me how I was doing and all of the questions,” said Hampton, whose Facebook page, one of the Internet's leading social networks, includes 2,800 “friends.” “A reporter came to my house, that was really bizarre. But there was a lot of support, too.”

Coach: Kirk Ferentz (11th season at Iowa, 70-53; 14th season overall, 82-74)Last year: 9-4 (5-3 in Big Ten), beat South Carolina, 31-10, in Outback BowlReturning starters: OT Bryan Bulaga, OT Kyle Calloway, OG Julian Vandervelde, WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, QB Ricky Stanzi, FB Brett Morse, OL Rafael Eubanks, OG Andy Kuempel, FB Wade Leppert and WR Trey Stross, DE Adrian Clayborn, DE Christian Ballard, OLB A.J Edds, LB Pat Angerer, LB Jeremiha Hunter, DB Tyler Sash, DB Brett Greenwood, DB Amari Spievey, DE Chad Geary, LB Jacody Coleman), P Ryan Donahue, PK Daniel Murray, PK Trent MossbruckerSchedule: Sept.?5 - Northern Iowa, 11:05 a.m. (Big Ten Network); Sept.?12 - at Iowa State, 11:05 a.m. (FSN); Sept.?19 - Arizona, 2:35 p.m. (ESPN2); Sept.?26 - at Penn State, 7:05 p.m. (ABC or ESPN); Oct.?3 - Arkansas State, TBD; Oct.?10 - Michigan, 7:05 p.m. (ABC or ESPN); Oct.?17 - at Wisconsin, 11:05 a.m. (ABC, ESPN2 or BTN); Oct.?24 - at Michigan State, 6:05 p.m.; Oct.?31 - Indiana, TBA; Nov.?7 - Northwestern, TBA; Nov.?14 - at Ohio State, TBA; Nov.?21 - Minnesota, TBA

Last year: 9-4 (5-3 in Big Ten), beat South Carolina, 31-10, in Outback Bowl

Returning starters: OT Bryan Bulaga, OT Kyle Calloway, OG Julian Vandervelde, WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, QB Ricky Stanzi, FB Brett Morse, OL Rafael Eubanks, OG Andy Kuempel, FB Wade Leppert and WR Trey Stross, DE Adrian Clayborn, DE Christian Ballard, OLB A.J Edds, LB Pat Angerer, LB Jeremiha Hunter, DB Tyler Sash, DB Brett Greenwood, DB Amari Spievey, DE Chad Geary, LB Jacody Coleman), P Ryan Donahue, PK Daniel Murray, PK Trent Mossbrucker

Schedule: Sept.?5 - Northern Iowa, 11:05 a.m. (Big Ten Network); Sept.?12 - at Iowa State, 11:05 a.m. (FSN); Sept.?19 - Arizona, 2:35 p.m. (ESPN2); Sept.?26 - at Penn State, 7:05 p.m. (ABC or ESPN); Oct.?3 - Arkansas State, TBD; Oct.?10 - Michigan, 7:05 p.m. (ABC or ESPN); Oct.?17 - at Wisconsin, 11:05 a.m. (ABC, ESPN2 or BTN); Oct.?24 - at Michigan State, 6:05 p.m.; Oct.?31 - Indiana, TBA; Nov.?7 - Northwestern, TBA; Nov.?14 - at Ohio State, TBA; Nov.?21 - Minnesota, TBA

Ferentz said Hampton practiced Friday. “He seems to be doing well,” Ferentz said. “So attitude's good, looks good out there.”

Running back and defensive line could see some “by committee” rotation, Ferentz said. Along with Hampton, junior Paki O'Meara, red-shirt freshmen Jeff Brinson and Adam Robinson and true freshmen Brandon Wegher and Brad Rogers could factor.

D-line will include a trio of talented ends, juniors Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard and sophomore Broderick Binns. The questions come inside, where junior Karl Klug and sophomore Mike Daniels will try to become the latest “little engines that could” at tackle. Sophomore Cody Hundertmark and red-shirt freshman Steve Bigach will push for playing time.

D-line coach Rick Kaczenski said there are no plans to rotate Clayborn (282) and Ballard (285) inside.

“We haven't talked about that,” Kaczenski said. “Barring injury or anything serious, I don't see us doing that.”

On offense, replacing the inside line trio of Rob Bruggeman, Seth Olsen and, for as many as two games, Vandervelde is job one.

There are a ton of names in the race.

“It's all a big secret,” Vandervelde said when asked about his progress from surgery. “We're going to surprise someone. I don't know who, but someone.”

It'll be harder for the Hawkeyes to surprise this year, but it's conceivable.