No. 11 -- RB Damon Bullock

So . . . what is Damon Bullock?

Let's go with running back, but I think we also need to keep an open mind.

During both spring appearances, Bullock worked with the first team at running back alongside Mark Weisman. Bullock also shifted to wide receiver frequently, a position he also played as a freshman. He played running back exclusively during Iowa's spring scrimmage at Kinnick Stadium.

“Plenty of reps (at wide receiver),” Bullock said. “Right now we haven't introduced it during the spring game or anything but when practice is (going) and no media around, I'm always around the receivers.”

Bullock said he has no preference on the positions.

“Equally,” he said. “I just want the ball in my hands.”

Coach Kirk Ferentz wants to explore the versatility Bullock offers, but he doesn't go as far as calling him a wide receiver or a slot back. Regardless, Ferentz said Bullock was one of Iowa's best players during spring practice.

"Damon Bullock refused to block anybody a year ago, including the last day [of camp], where I . . . it just looked like he was allergic to blocking," Ferentz said. "He has improved so much. We had a couple of guys who had good springs. I'm not sure he's No. 1 on the list, but he's right at the top. He did a good job. I think he's really starting to understand the game and really enjoy the game. That's fun."

Key 2012 factor: Bullock's Iowa career has been kind of weird. He was virtually unrecruited out of Mansfield, Texas. Iowa was his only offer. He wasn't announced as an Iowa recruit on signing day because coaches couldn't talk about him. His letter of intent was stuck in the mail because of a snowstorm.

He showed up in Iowa's first game in '11 as a slot receiver. He spent the year as kind of an afterthought. He caught one pass and rushed six times. Then in '12, Bullock won the RB job out of camp. He seemed to be on his way until a concussion sidelined him for four games after the Northern Iowa game. Later, a bruised back put him on the bench for the final two games.

He finished with 513 yards and three TDs. He also caught 18 passes for 167 yards.

Bullock got the ball rolling in '12. Does he assume a portion of the offense this season, or does he have to wrestle Jordan Canzeri for touches?

"Damon is really capable in the passing game and a better runner than I thought, actually, so I think that will keep improving," Ferentz said.

Offseason factor: Vine is a thing. Bullock might be the king of the Vines. Actually, Bullock and sophomore cornerback Jordan Lomax. The had a series of Vines this summer that were Chappelle Show quality.

Here's a link, but I think he's since made his Vine account private.

On the field, Bullock copped to playing more slot/wideout when the media weren't around. During the second scrimmage, he carried nine times for 5 yards and had a fumble. In Des Moines, he had 11 carries for 16 yards and a TD.

He's also noticeably bigger, stronger (6-0, 200). Will that be enough to erase the durability question (he ended up missing six games last season)?

Competition: It's fierce at running back. Bullock is comfortably in the top two heading into camp. It'll be up to him to fight off Canzeri and redshirt freshman Michael Malloy (and maybe redshirt freshman Barkley Hill). It's also up to him to expand his role and maybe take a bite out of the 20 carries that may or may not be headed Weisman's way.

"Damon is a really talented player, and what he's focused on right now is little things," Iowa running backs coach Chris White said, "exchanging the football, getting the ball high and tight, not loose on his body, really being a physical, complete player. He made a block on a blitzing linebacker the other day that the whole team . . . he earned the respect of the whole team, including the head coach and the assistants, so that's been fun to watch."

Why No. 11?: AIRBHG. There, I said it.

Beyond superstitions, let's go back to the initial question. What is Bullock? Was the real Bullock in bloom against Iowa State last season? One of the undertones of that game was the fact that ISU's front seven didn't give an inch. Bullock carved out a tough 52 yards on 22 carries. So, he was stonewalled as a rusher. He still really helped the Hawkeyes as a receiver out of the backfield, catching five passes for 56 yards for total offense of 109.

When Iowa absolutely needed it, Bullock got open twice in the final drive, catching back-to-back passes for 22 yards. Bullock said after the game the routes weren't called, he just got open. That showed a lot.

Outlook: One of the favorite media gathering questions centers on getting Weisman and Bullock on the field at the same time. I don't like that idea -- IF they're both used as running backs. I do think their skill sets differ enough to where you could get something a defense would have to be ready for. A defense could stack up for Weisman, and then have Bullock slip out of the backfield and get behind a linebacker who's bitten on a fake to Weisman.

But has Iowa done the two-RB thing well? Has it done it with any consistency in the Ferentz era? No, it hasn't.

If Bullock and Weisman start in the backfield and then Bullock motions into the slot, linebackers will have to account for that movement. Maybe there's value in that.

Remember, when the cameras weren't rolling this spring, Bullock himself said he saw a lot of time as a receiver.

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