Hawkeye seniors Powell, Lowdermilk arrested for drunken driving

IOWA CITY - Two seniors on the University of Iowa football team were arrested within an hour of each other early Wednesday morning.

Hawkeye wide receiver Damond Powell and strong safety John Lowdermilk were both arrested for drunken driving in downtown Iowa City.

According to an Iowa City Police Department criminal complaint, Powell, 22, was stopped at the intersection of Clinton and Burlington streets at 1:21 a.m. for driving with no taillights or headlights. Police said Powell showed immediate signs of intoxication and had poor balance when he stepped out of his vehicle.

Powell admitted to drinking and his performance on field sobriety tests indicated he was drunk. A preliminary breath test showed he had a blood-alcohol content of .122 percent. The legal limit to operate a motor vehicle in Iowa is .08 percent.

Lowdermilk, 22, was pulled over by University of Iowa police at the intersection of Dubuque and Burlington streets shortly after 2 a.m. for a brake light that was out. Lowdermilk allegedly told the officer that he was picking up his friends from the Summit Bar. However, police said Lowdermilk later admitted to being at the bar and drinking.

Lowdermilk had a bar wristband on, smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, police said. He failed one field sobriety test and provided a preliminary breath test sample of .094 percent, just over the .08 percent limit to operate a vehicle in Iowa.

Police said Lowdermilk admitted to having one drink at the bar.

Powell, originally from Toledo, Ohio, played in all 13 games in the 2013 and 2014 seasons for the Hawkeyes after transferring from Snow Community College in Ephraim, Utah, according to his University of Iowa page. The 2014 season saw Powell make 19 receptions for 317 yards and three touchdowns. He tallied one reception for a loss of four yards in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

A Carrolton, Ohio native, Lowdermilk played all 13 games during the 2014 season, tying for eighth in the Big Ten in forced fumbles with two and ninth in interceptions with three, according to his University of Iowa page. He was named an honorable mention to the All-Big Ten and received the Coaches Appreciate Award for defense. In his final game for the Hawkeyes, Lowdermilk made seven solo tackles and had one assist in the 45-28 loss to Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

One of only 10 true freshmen to see action in 2011, Lowdermilk played in at least 11 games each season of his University of Iowa career, including 13 in 2013.