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The math equals 22 (for now)
Marc Morehouse
Feb. 1, 2011 1:16 pm
This is recruiting overtime, when the courtships are short and deals are struck.
The Iowa Hawkeyes had a couple whirlwind commitments Monday, nabbing Texas running back Damon Bullock and Ohio linebacker/safety Johnny Lowdermilk.
This puts the Hawkeyes 2011 recruiting class at 22 after Massachusettes linebacker Mike Orloff decommitted.
The national signing period starts tomorrow, so this is desperation time. Iowa offered and Bullock and Lowdermilk quickly answered yes.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz called Lowdermilk Monday night. He said Iowa started talking to him about a month ago.
"He said, we decided we're going to offer you a scholarship," said Lowdermilk, whose dad, Kirk, played 12 seasons for the Minnesota Vikings. "I visited Kent State last weekend. I told them the whole time, if Iowa offered me, I was going to go to Iowa."
Bullock had an excellent season for Mansfield, rushing for 1,606 yards and 22 TDs. He suffered a broke collarbone as a junior. He told the Fort Worth Star Telegram that he believe it stunted his recruiting. Iowa was his only offer with Tulsa and North Texas showing interest.
"I think it hurt a lot," Bullock said about his shortened junior season. "Every Division I school I have talked to, like Tulsa, North Texas and Texas Tech, they all wonder why I haven't had any Division I offers. It's because of my junior year."
According to HawkeyeReport.com, Iowa assistant Darrell Wilson called Bullock Monday and offered.
"Coach Ferentz had told me when I left that they felt really strongly about me," Bullock told HawkeyeReport.com. "I was waiting all day for the call and checking my phone when I could. When I got out of track, Coach Wilson called and said, how serious are you about being a Hawkeye? I said real serious and then he said you've got the offer."
Bullock will be the third running back in Iowa's class, joining Rodney Coe and Mika'il McCall. Once again, the Hawkeyes will be heavy on underclassmen at running back. Sophomore Marcus Coker and freshman De'Andre Johnson are the only two scholarship backs on the roster.
Lowdermilk, who played quarterback for Carrollton High School (Kensington, Ohio), thinks of himself as a linebacker/safety hybrid. Air Force, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Toledo also offered Lowdermilk.
"My dad knows coach Ferentz [from when Kirk Lowdermilk's NFL days], so he knew coach Ferentz," Johnny Lowdermilk said. "About four years ago, my dad told me that if he could pick anywhere for me to go, it would be Iowa over Ohio State and everywhere.
"He said Iowa because they have a great coaching staff, coach Ferentz is a great guy and they have a great strength and conditioning program. I took his word for it. When they offered me, I committed right away."
Iowa's class now stands at 22 because of one subtraction. HawkeyeInsider.com is reporting that Massachusettes linebacker Mike Orloff will not sign with Iowa tomorrow. He visited UCLA over the weekend.
According to HawkeyeReport.com, DeMatha High School (Hyattsville, Md.) defensive back Jordan Lomax committed to the Hawkeyes on Monday afternoon. His teammate, defensive tackle Darian Cooper, could follow. Coker, the Insight Bowl offensive MVP, also is a DeMatha alumnus.
"It feels great," Lomax told HawkeyeReport.com. "I love Iowa -- the coaching staff, the campus, the city, the fans, and everything. The fact that I might be playing with a couple other guys from the area just makes it even better."
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Johnny Lowdermilk, 6-2, 190, S/LB Carrollton High School (Kensington, Ohio)
Damon Bullock, 6-1, 195, RB, Mansfield (Texas) High School
Jordan Lomax, 5-10, 185, DB, DeMatha High School (Hyattsville, Md.)
Quinton Alston, 6-1, 235, LB, Timber Creek High School (Sicklerville, N.J.)
Mikail McCall, 6-0, 210, RB, Thornridge (Dolton, Ill.) High School
Rodney Coe, 6-4, 240, RB, Edwardsville (Ill.) High School
Jacob Hillyer, 6-4, 190, WR, Somerset (Texas) High School
Dan Heiar, 6-5, 285, OL, Iowa Western Community College (Northeast Goose Lake)
Nicholas Law, 6-2, 190, S, Bishop McNamara High School (Forestville, Md.)
Melvin Spears, 6-2, 230, LB, Allen (Texas) High School
Jordan Walsh, 6-3, 275, OL, Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.)
Torrey Campbell, 5-11, 180, CB, Barron Collier High School (Naples, Fla)
Cole Fisher, 6-3, 200, LB, Millard North (Omaha, Neb.) High School
Riley McMinn, 6-7, 220, DE, Rochester (Ill.) High School
Jake Duzey, 6-4, 225, TE, Athens High School (Troy, Michigan)
Jake Rudock, 6-3, 185, QB, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
John Raymon, 6-5, 240, DE, Council Rock North High School (New Town, Penn.)
Ray Hamilton, 6-5, 225, TE, Strongsville (Ohio) High School
Austin Vincent, 6-2, 170, WR, DeSoto (Texas) High School
Henry Krieger-Coble, 6-4, 220, TE, Mount Pleasant High School
Austin Blythe, 6-3, 280, OL, Williamsburg High School
Marcus Grant, 6-2, 190, WR Lawrence Academy (Groton, Mass.)
Mansfield (Texas) running back Damon Bullock visited the Hawkeyes last weekend and committed today, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
Canton South's Jordan Wanner has a bit of Carrollton quarterback John Lowdermilk's face mask as he stops the Warrior for a short gain in the NBC matchup Friday night. (Carrollton County Free Press-Standard)