Return game up in the air for Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY - Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz has spent most of training camp looking at first-string guards, backup tight ends and the annual place-kicker merry-go-round.

Return specialists aren't quite in his focus.

“We haven't had any conversation (about the return game),” Ferentz said after a recent practice. “We'll start thinking about that a little bit more. The good news is I think we've got a pool of guys to draw upon, and certainly if we can stay healthy that will help give us some depth.”

Iowa posted solid statistics in the return game last year. Senior Derrell Johnson-Koulianos finished second among league kick returners at 31.5 yards per return. His 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Ohio State stifled the Buckeyes' momentum and got Iowa within a touchdown in a game decided in overtime.

Senior Colin Sandeman averaged 9.0 yards per punt return, second in the Big Ten. He would have led the league had Purdue's Aaron Valentin not returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown.

Sandeman's success makes him the favorite, but he is by no means locked into the position. Senior Paul Chaney Jr. returned punts before a knee injury ended his season. He is healthy and competing at that spot.

Wide receivers like junior Marvin McNutt, sophomore Keenan Davis, red-shirt freshman Jordan Cotton and freshman Kevonte Martin-Manley have taken cracks at returning punts in practice. Davis fielded one punt and one kickoff last year.

“They have all the receivers and anybody who they feel can catch the ball pretty good back there,” Davis said. “They did that last year, too, so it's a competition back there. We're all going to try our hardest to make sure we field the ball and whatever comes after that is good.”

Safety Tyler Sash returned punts last year when Sandeman and Chaney Jr. were injured.

“Our problem recently is guys getting injured or we get thin at a position and you're reluctant to use people,” Ferentz said. “So far, so good.”

McNutt raised his hand to try returning punts. He's never done it before.

“It's just the fact you get to touch the ball again,” he said.

Cotton was an electric kick returner at Mount Pleasant, amassing 925 return yards and three touchdowns in high school. He red-shirted last year but performed on special teams during practice.

“I was working a lot at punt return, and I'm doing the same this year,” said Cotton, the son of former Iowa running back Marshall Cotton. “We'll see what happens. I trust the coaches 100 percent on what they're doing.”

Iowa used six returning players at kickoff return last year, including running backs Paki O'Meara, Brandon Wegher and Adam Robinson. Jewel Hampton, the 2008 leader at kickoff return, is back after missing last season with a knee injury.

The possibilities at kick returner, Davis said, are endless.

“A lot of people are trying out,” Davis said. “D-backs are back there, too. I think they want everybody back there who can catch it.”