Cousin lands Coe IIAC's best running back

CEDAR RAPIDS - Coe's most successful recruiter just might be a player.

It was injured All-American defense end Frank Weymiller who coaxed sophomore running back Brendan Leiran to come play football for the Kohawks. The two are cousins from Waukon, and Weymiller decided two summers ago he wanted to transfer from Iowa State.

He ended up bringing Leiran with him.

“Luther was way too close. I wasn't going there,” Leiran said. “I had committed to Loras, but a couple weeks later, Frank ... convinced me. He was at Iowa State, but I had told him if he went to Coe, I would go with him. He didn't decide until the last second. I told him ‘I'm not going to go. It's too late.' A week later, I changed my mind and decided I was coming here. I can't complain about the decision.”

Neither can Coe Coach Steve Staker. His team (9-1) plays at Wheaton College (9-1) of suburban Chicago today at noon in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The Kohawks squeaked into the 32-team field as an at-large entry. Iowa Conference champion Wartburg (10-0) hosts Bethel, Minn. (9-1) in another first-rounder today at noon.

“We had two kids from Waukon that we were recruiting,” Staker said. “One went (to Loras). We were struggling hard to get Brendan. Finally Frank said ‘You come to Coe and be my roommate.' That's what happened. I think he made the right choice.”

Leiran developed into the Iowa Conference's top running back this fall, rushing for a league-leading 1,179 yards. His emergence has brought balance to a lethal Coe offense that also features the considerable talents of quarterback Brad Boyle, who could be named the IIAC's MVP a second consecutive season.

In the Kohawks' spread attack, Leiran (6-foot-1 and 207 pounds) provides tough running and an ability to catch passes out of the backfield.

“It's huge (to have him),” Staker said. “To me, he's a big, strong back. He's done a great job of being able to, over the course of the year, at not just putting his head down and running, but finding those cutback lanes. He just does such a good job of reading his blockers. He'll run you over, if you get his way. He's got that ability. But he's also turned into a good cutter and a good reader of blocks.”

Like any good back. Leiran is quick to point to his offensive line for his success. A year after not having any returning starters up front, Coe had everyone back this season.

Leiran also can thank being a quick healer. He tore his hamstring a month before fall practice began but was able to start in Coe's season opener at Iowa Wesleyan.

There have been a lot of yards gained since then.

“I was supposed to be out four to six weeks, and I knew six weeks was right when the season was supposed to start,” he said. “I was luckily ready to go that first game. Rest was really the best thing you could do for it. I was doing pool workouts back in Waukon because I'm a lifeguard back there. So I did a lot of workouts in the pool. I basically had access any time I wanted.”