Quickest Slants

- Sophomore RB Derrick Mitchell Jr.'s suspension lasted less than 24 hours.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday that Mitchell has cleared the football and student life code of conduct violations and will be eligible for Saturday's game against Pitt.

In a Monday release, Ferentz said Mitchell, who wasn't on the sideline for the Iowa State game, 'Derrick is working through the issues at hand in regards to being in good standing as a University of Iowa student. We will follow the established university protocol as we move forward.”

Sounds as if this was a timing issue. The timing happens to work out really well for the Hawkeyes this week.

Junior LeShun Daniels (ankle) and defensive end Drew Ott (elbow) are are rehabbing. They didn't practice today and are making progress, Ferentz said, He said, 'No predictions.”

So, Mitchell is a good get for the Hawkeyes this week. Senior RB Jordan Canzeri went a career-high 24 carries last week. Sophomore Akrum Wadley was the only other RB on the bench last week. Against Pitt, Mitchell will join Canzeri, Wadley, possibly Daniels and redshirt freshman Marcel Joly.

KF was made aware of a letter from the UI to Mitchell on Friday in Ames, so they sent him back to Iowa City. KF met with him last night. He's fully reinstated.

More later.

- DT Jaleel Johnson suffered a slight injury vs. Iowa State, but is fine and eager to play under the lights this week vs. Pitt.

- Guard Jordan Walsh once was an avid skateboarder. He's 300 pounds now and gave it up. He stays in contact with former Iowa guard and fellow Chicago-area prep Adam Gettis. I think their careers have been similar. Walsh is playing at a high level so far this season.

- I asked Johnson about his high school wrestling career. I asked were you like Austin Blythe? He laughed and said, no, but he did love the sport and said he did it to help his footballing.

- Guess which CJ Beathard pass that Tevaun Smith liked best vs. ISU? Yes guessed it. I asked Smith to breakdown that play. He said the ISU D-back couldn't have played it any better.

- I asked Walsh if the 200 yards rushing the last two weeks was an offensive line number. He said, no, running backs. Eventually, he said it was a team number. I think that's probably right.

- Fullback Adam Cox also said a running backs number. BTW, the fullbacks, Cox and Macon Plewa, were terrific in Ames.

- RB Jordan Canzeri is the team-ing-est of team players, and so of course, he said 200 yards rushing is a team stat.

- Beathard said the 200 rushing yards is a huge thing for a QB. It helps calm nerves and gives him a margin for error.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com