Ferentz still 'optimistically hopeful' on Hampton

Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz remains cautious but optimistic about running back Jewel Hampton's injured knee.

Hampton, a 5-foot-9, 210-pound sophomore, injured a knee during conditioning drills July 3. His status has been up in the air since. Through Iowa radio play-by-play voice Gary Dolphin, Ferentz said a week ago that Hampton could be ready for the Sept. 5 opener against Northern Iowa.

In an exclusive interview Thursday with The Gazette, Ferentz said it looks positive for Hampton, who, behind Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene, put up one of the best seasons for a freshman running back at Iowa with 463 yards and scoring seven rushing TDs. He averaged 23.3 yards a kick return, which was sixth in the Big Ten.

“We're hopeful, we're optimistically hopeful,” Ferentz said. “He injured his knee. All signs have been very, very positive since that time. We'll certainly know more when we hit the practice field, maybe sooner. But I think right now everything's been very positive. We're optimistic that we're going to be there.”

Freshman report for camp Aug. 5. Practice opens Aug. 8.

Freshman offensive lineman Riley Reiff and his status with the team have been subject to Internet speculation. No truth to anything negative out there. He is on the team.

“He's here,” Ferentz said. “He's doing great.”

Offensive tackle Kyle Calloway and cornerback Shaun Prater face suspensions after drunken driving arrests - Prater Feb. 28 and Calloway June 20. An OWI (operating while intoxicated) arrest earns at least a one-game suspension, according to Ferentz's team policy. Mitigating factors - including when it happens, a player's history and time in Iowa's program - could affect the lengths of a suspension.

Since mid-April 2007, 26 Iowa football players have been arrested or issued citations. Twenty of the players had charges or citations related to alcohol or drug use/possession.

Players haven't been banned from downtown Iowa City drinking establishments, Ferentz said.

“I wouldn't say banned, but we're controlling the environment the best we can and trying to explain to guys the requirements we have right now,” Ferentz said. “I don't want guys to be in a totally controlled environment their entire careers, but we just all have to understand where we are right now.”