Hampton spices up the mix at running back for Iowa

IOWA CITY - Last season, the Iowa Hawkeyes were a Brandon Wegher rib injury from the running back abyss.

Week eight at Michigan State, untested freshman Brad Rogers dressed and took a spot on the travel squad. Starter Adam Robinson sprained an ankle, Wegher missed a quarter and a half after taking a shot to the ribs (which eventually cost him the Ohio State game). In the fourth quarter, it was Wegher, his ribs and then Rogers.

Not fun for Coach Kirk Ferentz.

Even with proven backs in Robinson and Wegher, he happily welcomed Jewel Hampton back into the competition during Wednesday's news conference to kick off spring practice.

“Our first goal is to get more than two guys to the game,” Ferentz joked. “We've had a hard time doing that, unfortunately. It's a luxury item when we have three backs, so if we can get to that point, that'd be great.”

Running back isn't a spring hot spot, but it is a position that will draw a lot of interest.

Hampton is back in the mix after suffering a torn ACL last June. As a freshman in 2008, he rushed for 463 yards, seven touchdowns and averaged an impressive 5.1 yards a carry. He was poised to be the man, on the heels of record-setter Shonn Greene, but then the ACL.

Robinson and Wegher stepped in last season as a red-shirt and true freshman, respectively. Robinson would have had a 1,000-yard season but missed 2 1/2 games with the ankle. He finished with 834 yards, five TDs and a 4.6 yards per carry. Wegher made a bid for MVP of the Orange Bowl with 113 yards and a 32-yard TD. He finished with 641 yards and a freshman-record eight TDs.

Robinson averaged 16.45 carries a game, Wegher 13.5.

“The only thing I know is competition is great at any position, and that's one position (running back) where we will have good, healthy competition if things pan out,” Ferentz said. “We'll see what happens, but hopefully it's going to be a good situation for us.”

Hampton is, perhaps, the most interesting commodity. The 5-foot-9, 210-pounder teased fans in 2008, when he backed up Greene. During recruiting, he described his running style as angry. It showed. He aggressively hit holes and did well after contact.

Ferentz said Wednesday that Hampton has been cleared to practice. He won't be tackled this spring, but will see contact work. Robinson is out this spring after undergoing shoulder surgery.

“(Hampton) is pretty close to it right now,” Ferentz said. “By June, he'll be 100 percent.”

Hampton spent the year on the sidelines and watched two freshmen take, presumably, his job and run with it.

Ferentz was asked where Hampton's head was with all of that.

“I think one of the hardest things about being injured, even if it's just two days, you feel like you're removed from the team,” Ferentz said. “I don't care what you do, it's really hard to change that. If you're a player who's hurt, that's probably the worst thing that you experience.

“You feel like you're on the outside looking in. There's really not much anyone can say or do. We certainly include the guys in all of our activities, but you just can't change that feeling. So I think he'll welcome the chance to get back with the group and start working again.”

Strong safety Tyler Sash (shoulder), free safety Brett Greenwood (shoulder), O-lineman Kyle Haganman (undisclosed) and defensive tackle Steve Bigach (knee) join Robinson on the sideline this spring.

Defensive end Dominic Alvis (groin) and offensive tackle Nolan MacMillan (sports hernia) will be slowed during spring drills, which end with an open scrimmage at 1 p.m. April 17 in Kinnick Stadium.