Wegher absent, status unclear (updated, not at Tuesday practice)

Iowa running back Brandon Wegher has been absent from the Iowa football camp since Saturday night and his status with the team is uncertain, according to a source.

Media were allowed to shoot the first 15 minutes of Tuesday's practice. Wegher, the 5-foot-11, 206-pound sophomore from Sioux City, wasn't present.

Coach Kirk Ferentz declined comment. He will address the media after Saturday's open scrimmage at Kinnick Stadium.

Rumors have boiled over the last few days on the status of the sophomore running back. He attended Iowa's media day on Friday and shot down rumors about his academics.

"No problem," he said about those rumors, adding that he just ignores rumors and people talking.

He was seen in the background of practice photos published Saturday. Iowa sports information posts pictures of practice on a near daily basis on their "Camp Central" site located on Hawkeyesports.com.

Wegher, who rushed for 641 yards and a freshman record eight TDs last season, could return to the team, according to a source, but his status remains uncertain. He remains in Iowa City.

Sophomore running backs Jewel Hampton and Adam Robinson were there and healthy on Tuesday. Hampton, who rushed for 463 yards and seven TDs as a true freshman in 2008, is suspended for Iowa's opener Sept. 4 against Easter Illinois for a June public intoxication arrest.

Robinson, 5-9, 205, led the 11-2 Hawkeyes in rushing last season with 834 yards and five TDs.

In other running back news, true freshman Marcus Coker suffered a broken right clavicle and his season is up in the air, according to a source.