10 rookies -- C James Ferentz

No. 3 -- C James Ferentz

Last August, James Ferentz was interviewed during the Hawkeyes' media day for all the wrong reasons. He was coming off two alcohol incidents, including a public intoxication arrest.

He said the right things that day and apparently meant them. His play has taken a definite uptick. The 6-foot-2, 275-pounder is coming off his best spring and has a shot to be the Hawkeyes' opening-day center.

Ferentz is a third-year sophomore. Last season, I wrote that he might have a shot at the starting position for '09, but suspension cost him a chunk of spring and the first game. Fifth-year senior Rafael Eubanks planted his cleats in the position and played well.

During spring, fifth-year senior Josh Koeppel suffered a minor ankle injury, giving Ferentz all the first-team reps.

Did the former Iowa City High School all-stater and state runner-up at heavyweight plant his cleat at center?

Situation

Ferentz is locked into a heated battle with Koeppel.

It's a dead heat in every way imaginable, coach Kirk Ferentz said.

Center is a dead heat between senior Josh Koeppel (6-2, 273) and sophomore James Ferentz (6-2, 275). It's a dead heat in nearly every way imaginable, coach Ferentz said going into spring.

“Size-wise and really the whole thing, it's about even right now,” Ferentz said. “They're almost identical. They're almost the same height and weight. In this case you also have two City High guys that were football/wrestlers. It's about dead even right now. Both those guys are about equal, but experience-wise, Josh has a little bit of an edge. I thought they both did a nice job in December and we will see what happens in the next 15 days.”

The No. 3 center might be Conor Boffeli, but he also saw some time at guard this spring. Iowa also has a commitment from Williamsburg O-lineman Austin Blythe, who could also end up at the position in a few years.

When asked during Orange Bowl week who he liked for center in '10, Eubanks gave a very political answer.

So, no clues. This one might go down to Eastern Illinois week.

Outlook

There is significant upside to James Ferentz winning this job. Iowa likely would have found its starting center for the n next three seasons. That's a big deal for a position that -- the way Iowa runs things -- is the QB of the O-line.

But he still has to win it. Koeppel has two years in the weightroom on him. Koeppel has waited his turn, too. In 2008, he saw some time as a tight end on goal-line offense. I don't remember him in that situation last season, but Iowa went to the Wegher-over-the-top method. That does say, though, that Koeppel has built some gametime trust with coaches making personnel decisions.

I think Ferentz made serious strides this spring and has put himself in a good position here, but this will remain perhaps the hottest race all through fall camp. Every rep is going to matter for these two.