Freshmen running backs Akinribade, Young need to be ready

IOWA CITY — Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz announced Wednesday that running back Eric Graham and linebacker Justin Jinning left the program.

Jinning, from The Colony, Texas, would've been a redshirt freshman. Graham, a 5-9, 195-pounder, might've had a chance to see the field as a redshirt freshman in 2016. HawkeyeReport.com reported Tuesday that Graham, a native of Prattville, Ala., will enroll in a junior college.

'We're appreciative of what they've done,' Ferentz said. 'We wish they would've stayed. We respect their opinions and wish them the best moving forward.'

Iowa has two incoming freshmen running backs in Toks Akinribade (6-0, 205) and Toren Young (5-11, 220) who will report on Monday. When they signed in February, the Iowa staff said one likely would play. Ferentz said Wednesday both will have an opportunity to play next season.

'Our plan for those guys was to give them a full opportunity to see what they can do,' Ferentz said. 'If they can add to our rotation, that'd be great. ... We could use some more help that way and some depth and a little bit more octane for us.'

• Four Downs (post-spring): Running backs

Ferentz said Iowa's scholarship count is 'right where we need to be right now.'

Akinribade, who also had offers from Michigan and Indiana, rushed for 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns last season for Brownsburg (Ind.) High School. As a senior at Monona Grove (Wis.) High School, Young had 333 rushes for 2,779 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Beathard's various body parts are OK — When we last left quarterback C.J. Beathard, he just sat out of the spring game because of a right shoulder bruise that was serious enough for an MRI. He said in April he was OK and the shoulder still is OK.

'I'm back throwing. The shoulder is good, no problems,' Beathard said.

Beathard also had offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia. The healing remains in progress.

'It's good, it's getting there,' Beathard said. 'I wouldn't say it's 100 percent yet, but it's getting close to it.'

Medical, scholarship front — Cornerback Greg Mabin (shoulder) and linebacker Ben Niemann (ankle) missed spring practice. Ferentz said everyone who missed spring is participating in summer workouts, which began this week.

Ferentz said he was pleased with the team's cumulative grade-point average. Ferentz said 51 percent of the team recorded a 3.0 GPA or better with 17 other players in the 2.75 to 2.99 range.

'There were very few sub-2.0 guys and that's something we really track,' Ferentz said. 'That's the No. 1 reason they're here and they're doing a good job. It's a good indicator guys are thinking right and doing the right things.'

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