A.J. Derby a Hawkeye quarterback - for now

Former Iowa City High all-stater A.J. Derby will just have to deal with the constant talk of a position change until a) he is an all-American quarterback or b) changes position.

Officially, Derby, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound true freshman, is still a quarterback, a position he played last spring while enrolling early into the UI.

'He's a tremendous athlete, I think we certainly saw that in the spring,' Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. 'We were impressed with the ground that he gained as a quarterback. I thought in 15 workouts he did a nice job.' Iowa wouldn't ask or need him as a QB this season, with senior Ricky Stanzi and sophomore James Vandenberg the firm Nos. 1 and 2.

Reports have leaked out of Iowa practices that Derby has worked out as a linebacker. Derby told The Gazette last week that he spent the summer throwing the football and working out as a QB.

2 Hawks suspended

Running back Jewel Hampton and defensive end Broderick Binns will serve one-game suspensions when the Hawkeyes open their season Sept. 4 against Eastern Illinois, Ferentz said. Hampton, a sophomore, was arrested June 5 for public intoxication.

He also received a ticket for being in a bar illegally after 10 p.m., which violates Iowa City's 21-only ordinance that went into effect June 1. Police were summoned to Vito's because, according to police reports, Hampton was 'causing problems.' Binns, a junior, was arrested for an OWI in University Heights on July 9. His preliminary breath test was 0.097, above Iowa's 0.08 standard for drunken driving.

They've also undergone counseling and community service, Ferentz said, and there will be more during the course of camp.

Quick slants

--On the academics front, Ferentz said he doesn't expect to lose any players. ('You never know.') Summer classes ended last week. All incoming freshmen are listed in the media guide, which is usually a good sign they're in school.

--Reserve linebacker Ross Petersen suffered a torn pectoral muscle in May and will miss contact in camp for a week or two, Ferentz said.

--Ferentz listed freshmen Nolan MacMillan and Conor Boffeli in the top seven or eight offensive linemen in competition for playing time. MacMillan is a 6-6, 288-pound candidate at tackle. Boffeli, 6-4, 285, is listed as No. 3 center.