VIDEO: RB Brinson talks FSU, asthma and life at home

Iowa RB Jeff Brinson is an incredible story. He was a humble king at St. Petersburg's Northeast High School. His coach, Jay Austin, considers him a "once in a lifetime" kid.

He tells a little bit of his story here, including Florida State's last-minute run at him during recruiting in 2007 (he was going to talk to Bobby Bowden about his assistants), the asthma that held him back as a true frosh at Iowa and life at home in Florida, where his family has been forced to move several times because of their economic situation.

This is a God-fearing gentleman who is intent on making something out of himself, football and otherwise.

Hawkeye thought of the day -- So, who's running back week one if sophomore Jewel Hampton remains sidelined with the knee injury he's been fighting through since early July.

Here are the candidates:

Paki O'Meara (Jr.) -- Saw some time last year and some real time -- remember the third-down at Pitt? -- and is the leader in the clubhouse if you go on last Saturday's scrimmage. He rushed eight times for 59 yards and scored on a 1-yard plunge during goal line drills. In two-minute drill (with no tackling), he caught a 10-yard TD pass from Stanzi. He looked much more comfortable and confident than last season. He also showed some burst on a 37-yard run that CB Willie Lowe saved from being a 58-yard TD run. I believe he's on scholarship this season. Valuable special teamer, also. He blocked a punt last season with his kneecap (jumped too high and nearly missed the ball).

Saturday, he was a different player than he was last season.

Jeff Brinson (fr.) -- Looked like Iowa's best RB during the spring scrimmage. Very natural runner, enjoyed contact and ran behind his pads in traffic. Last Saturday, the 5-11, 215-pounder was a little tentative. He rushed eight times for 20 yards. His best run was a cutback on an outside zone play that got a "That's it!" out of offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe.

Iowa's zone blocking scheme takes some reading and thinking on the running back's part. Brinson might still be in that stage.

Adam Robinson (fr.) -- He seemed to have picked up where he left off last spring as far as the reps went Saturday. He was No. 3 behind O'Meara and Brinson, but he made the most of it, carrying 13 times for 60 yards. I don't know this, but he might be one of those RBs who's quicker than he is fast and that's not a bad thing. The 5-9, 205-pounder didn't shy away from contact. I'm not saying he's a Fred Russell, but he could be a back who's simply hard to find in the cheorography that is zone blocking.

Josh Brown/Brad Rogers/ Brandon Wegher (true fr.) -- Prediction: One of these three players drops the redshirt. Now, which one? Wegher, the most highly touted of the true frosh RBs, didn't practice last Saturday, but in Wednesday's practice photos, he was shown in full gear and in line to receive punts. If he plays in the final camp scrimmage, he's likely the guy. Brown is listed at 5-11, 200, but looked much heavier. He has the lower body of an RB and that's probably where he sticks. He had five rushes for 16 yards last Saturday. Rogers is 5-100, 225 and had six carries for 14 yards. Neither lined up with the first-team O.

Big Ten thought of the day --  Let's make this injury Thursday: The Champaign New-Gazette's Bob Asmussen reports that CB Miami Thomas might have an ACL tear and might be done for the year. . . . O-linemen have been dropping like flies in Madison, writes the Capital Times' Jim Polzin. . . . Ohio State LB Austin Spitler will miss some time with a leg strain, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises writes.

National thought of the day -- It's time for Lane Kiffin to walk the walk in Tennessee, writes SI.com's Stewart Mandel.

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