Someone else is going to take a chance on former Iowa running back Dana Brown, who was kicked off the team in October after being arrested for domestic assault. Brown has landed at Youngstown State University, where he’ll be a junior next season for the Football Championship Subdivision program. The Penguins open the 2008 season at Ohio State.

The 5-10, 203-pound Brown played in two games for the Hawkeyes, totaling 16 yards on four carries and scoring a touchdown. He might have figured into the mix next fall as Iowa returns only one scholarship running back off last year’s team. But Brown was arrested twice over the summer for shoplifting and then again midseason for allegedly abusing his girlfriend. He was kicked off the team the next day.

Also, Adam Farnsworth, a walk-on quarterback at Iowa the past two seasons has transferred to Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y. He’ll have two years of eligibilty remaining. He left Iowa in good standing. 

Former Iowa football players Dominique Douglas, Cedric Everson and Abe Satterfield, who left Iowa at semester for varying reasons, all recently surfaced in one way or another.

Everson, a freshman cornerback from Detroit who was suspended midseason and was implicated in the investigation of an alleged sexual assault on campus, has transferred to Alcorn State. He was listed on the school’s spring signing list as a mid-year signee. He’ll be able to play right away next fall. His coach, Ernest Jones, is a Michigan native and former Cincinnati assistant. Cincinnati, of course, recruited Everson hard out of high school. I imagine Everson will have a solid career at the FCS level, and we’ll hear more from him in the future.

Satterfield, an Erie, Pa., native who was suspended along with Everson and also was implicated in the sexual assault investigation, has landed at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he’ll play for former Illinois coach Lou Tepper. 

Apparently, the Iowa coaching staff vouched for Satterfield when talking with Tepper.

“I said, ‘Would you take him back if you could?’ Tepper told the Indiana Gazette. “And they said, ‘Absolutely.’ They told me that he might have started for them next year at corner. They were all high on him. He seems like a great kid.”

Hmmm … what does that tell you about Satterfield’s decision to transfer, which I think we all assumed at the time was strongly encouraged if not demanded by the coaching staff? The fact that Tepper asked, “Would you take him back if you could?” and they said, “Absolutely” … that either means the decision to leave was totally Satterfield’s or that his dismissal was based on public perception. Did the coaching staff want to keep Satterfield around but couldn’t because his name had been mentioned in the same sentence as rape and with the year they’ve had it would have been a PR nightmare? Or did Satterfield leave town because he had already been found guilty in the court of public opinion? It’s interesting …

Oh, and Dominique Douglas, the most talented of the three who apparently has yet to find a team to play for in the future, has put out another batch of photos on his Facebook site. They look somewhat suspicious. You be the judge.

Yeah … there’s got to be at least $10,000 there. That aint Pell Grant money.

The Iowa sports information department released a statement from Kirk Ferentz today regarding Friday’s arrests of James Cleveland and Arvell Nelson. Ferentz and director of athletics Gary Barta are away on a cruise until March 3.

Here’s the statement from Ferentz:

“I was very disappointed to learn the news of the most recent incident involving two of our players. It’s especially disheartening since we made it such a major point of emphasis with our players since the end of last season. Both players will be suspended, indefinitely, until I have a chance to examine all the facts involved in the case.”

As I said in last night’s post, I’d be surprised if either Cleveland or Nelson ever put on an Iowa uniform again. I don’t know all the details of the arrest, but it doesn’t sound good.

On a lighter note, I’m in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine this weekend, trying to get a feel for what’s going to happen with Charles Godfrey, Ken Iwebema, Bryan Mattison and Mike Humpal in April’s draft. Seems like Godfrey is one scouts like because of his size and speed, but the consensus is that he is a very raw corner, having switched from safety before the 2006 season. The experience at both positions might actually help him in the draft. A year ago, Iwebema was pegged as a top d-line prospect but because of some injury problems, he’s dropped significantly down the board. Mattison and Humpal are the kind of blue-collar guys who’ll probably work their way onto an NFL roster, be it through the draft of free agency. I expect Godfrey to be a late Day 1 or early Day 2 pick, and Iwebema probably will go later in Day 2.

Here’s food for thought that was tossed about by some reporters in the press box last fall. Who on Iowa’s 2007 roster, besides the outgoing seniors who will get a chance this season, will be professional prospects in the future? Cleveland might have been one. DJK? Jake Christensen? A.J. Edds? Adrian Clayborn? Mitch King? I’d say at this point, the safest bet is Seth Olsen, who’ll get a shot after this season. But, when it’s all said and done, I think Bryan Bulaga could be a first-round draft pick.

That might be one indicator as to why Iowa has struggled the past two seasons. Look at all the NFL talent the Hawkeyes had on the field, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines, during their run of success from 2002-2005. The past two seasons … not so much.    

Thoughts?   

INDIANAPOLIS — By now, I’m sure all of you are aware James Cleveland and Arvell Nelson were arrested on drug charges Friday night. Honestly, I’m shocked, but not surprised, if that makes any sense at all. I’m shocked because I can’t believe the message hasn’t been sent loud and clear to football players on a team that has been in the police blotter more than any other in the country and that they would be smoking marijuana in their dorm. Seriously, how stupid do you have to be? I’m not surprised, because Nelson and Cleveland are the same guys who were posing in pictures holding large sums of cash and liquor last fall. Some people never learn, and this clearly wasn’t going to end with these guys until it ended badly.

That said, I do find a little bit of humor in sports information director Phil Haddy’s comment that Kirk Ferentz and Gary Barta couldn’t comment because they’re on the Hawkeye cruise until March 3. Is that code for “out to lunch?” I’m not quite sure at this point. These latest arrests make 18 of 14 players since last April 14th — that’s “Thug U” level, and the coach, who is 12-13 in his past two seasons and missed a bowl game last fall, just got a 1-year contract extension. Is that acceptable to you Hawkeyes fans who pay his $2.84 million annual salary? Fans want a winning team, and they’ll probably overlook a little off-field trouble if the team is winning 10 and taking them to Florida for New Year’s. But when the team is losing and the off-field embarrassments are mounting, it’s got to get a little tiresome.

What’s next? I’m assuming Cleveland and Nelson are gone, which is going to seriously hurt the Iowa offense, which was the worst in the Big Ten in 2007. Cleveland was one of the top young receivers in the conference, both at running routes, catching passes and, especially, blocking down field. He will be missed. Nelson is one of a handful of players who was expected to push Jake Christensen for the starting job. Now, that field likely will be Christensen, Ricky Stanzi and Marvin McNutt (not sure yet if any of those true freshman will figure in the mix).

Most of all, this is really disappointing. Disappointing for a team that thought it’s off-field troubles were behind it, for a coaching staff that has had a constant headache the past 10 months and a fan base that expects and deserves better.

It’ll be interesting to hear what Ferentz has to say when he comes ashore. Until then, what are your thoughts?    

Not sure if you’ve all seen this, but ESPN.com came out with its Big Ten Spring Power Rankings, and they’ve picked Iowa to finish 10th in the conference in 2008, ahead of only Minnesota.

From ESPN’s rankings: 

What we know: The entire offensive line is back, and Mitch King anchors the defensive front.
What we don’t know:Who steps in at running back and how Kirk Ferentz’s staff shuffle will play out.
How the Hawkeyes can win the league title:Kidnap Terrelle Pryor.

Pryor, of course, is the heralded high school senior still deciding between Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Oregon. And he won’t be coming to the Hawkeyes’ rescue.

So, with what they’ve got, where do they finish? Seriously, is this a 10th-place team? ESPN certainly has been wrong before — Les Miles to Michigan — but they know something about college football. Let’s take a look at Iowa’s schedule and see what we think:

So, I guess I’ve got them going anywhere from 5-7, 2-6 in the Big Ten to 8-4, 4-4. The former potentially could land the Hawkeyes in 10th place in the conference standings. The latter would be a great improvement from what they’ve don’t the past two seasons (6-7 in 2006 and 6-6 in 2007).

ESPN also has a more detailed look the Big Ten. Here’s what they had to say about Iowa:

What to watch
Quarterback Jake Christensenneeds to re-establish himself after a subpar sophomore season. Christensen will compete this spring with Arvell Nelson, Ricky Stanzi and Marvin McNutt.

Take the two most productive players (Albert Young and Damian Sims) out of the Big Ten’s worst offense and you have a problem. Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz tries to solve it this spring as he searches for a running back. Shonn Greene, who played as a sophomore before transferring to a community college because of academic troubles, is back and will compete with junior college transfer Nate Guillory and sophomore Jevon Pugh.

Linebacker and defensive end will be priorities after Iowa loses leading tackler Mike Humpal and top pass rusher Bryan Mattison. 

Spring practice starts March 26, and the Hawkeyes will hold their open practice April 19 at Kinnick Stadium. Where do you think the team is headed?   

I thought it was interesting when Kirk Ferentz said on National Signing Day that he might have “a couple announcements” to make later in the week. Turns out, those announcements were that Shonn Greene and Amari Spievey are returning to Iowa after a year away at community college to get their academics in order.

Greene, a bruising running back who played two seasons at Iowa, is expected to jump in and be the favorite for the starting job, along with sophomore Jevon Pugh. Spievey, who played last season at Iowa Central after redshirting at Iowa in 2006, should start at corner. Now, what does that say to the three running backs and six defensive backs who inked letters of intent last Wednesday, sold on the “immediate opportunity” to earn playing time because of a shallow depth chart at both positions? All of a sudden, guys like Jeff Brinson, Nate Guillory and Jewel Hampton, who all have been quoted at one time or another as saying they were told by the coaching staff during the recruiting process that the Hawkeyes would have no returning scholarship running backs next season (that was before Pugh enrolled late in the classes this spring), are coming in behind two established backs.  

I think it’s a good thing. 

What was a shallow depth chart and an area of need at both running back and linebacker, now will be hotly contested battles during spring ball and fall camp. Competition tends to bring out the best in players and, therefore, improve the product on the field. Whoever emerges as the starter at running back will be solid, and I don’t think there will be much of a drop off when the second and third guys come off the bench. And with Jordan Bernstine and Spievey potentially starting at corners, with some of the incoming freshmen getting in the mix, the defensive backfield could develop into a dominant unit in the next two to three seasons.

I just thought it was interesting that Ferentz waited until after Signing Day to reveal Greene and Spievey were coming back. It was a good move on his part. Had he done it earlier, he might have lost some recruits. And, as I said, a little competition never hurt anybody.    

We’ve converted our blogs to a different driver, and it has thrown our entries out of order. So, if for the next week or so things seem a little confused, that is the reason. We’ll try to get things running smoothly as soon as possible.

I suppose this is as good a time as any to ask … we’ve had Hawkmania up and running since July. It’s been a work in progress, and we’re constantly trying to find ways to improve it to better meet the needs/desires of our readers. What would you like to see on this site? Where can we improve our online coverage? If you’ve got any input, please drop a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at epage@qctimes.com.

 Thanks in advance.

Signing day is in the books, and, with maybe one or two exceptions, Iowa’s 2008 class is complete — Kirk Ferentz did say Wednesday that he might have an announcement later this week.

Coming in, this appears to be an average class. Of course, we won’t know how good it truly is for two or three years when we know how many of these guys stick around and how many wins they help the Hawkeyes collect. That said, I like this crop of recruits. Watching the highlight films on all of them shows some potential. I think the three running backs coming in could team to be very effective over the next few seasons, especially running behind what should be a seasoned offensive line. And I like the fact that the coaching staff appears dedicated to giving David Blackwell a shot at QB. Between Blackwell, John Wienke, James Vandenberg, Arvell Nelson, Marvin McNutt, Ricky Stanzi and Adam Farnsworth, someone should be able to push Jake Christensen for the starting job next fall. At the very least, they’ll push Christensen to elevate his game beyond where it was last season.

I also think there is some very good potential on defense coming in. Khalif Staten, who was an explosive receiver in high school, could be a freak at outside linebacker. And there is a handful of defensive backs that should provide Iowa with at least two or three solid players in the years to come.

As always, it’s hard to tell how good these guys are going to be. Highlight tapes are just that — highlights. We don’t know who they’re playing or what the other side of the coin looks like. So, I’d advise you to be enthused but to be cautious with expectations. This will be a developmental class, and I’d look for it to make an impact in the 2010 season. The running backs, of course, could — and probably will – come of age sooner than that.   

If you want to check out highlight film on all the recruits and read up on their full bios, go to www.gohawks.com. My stat of the day from the Class of 2008 … James Vandenberg’s career completion percentage of 64 percent, including a single-season mark of 70 percent. Just a note: Jake Christensen’s career completion percentage in high school was just over 50 percent, right about where he is through two seasons at Iowa. That’s not to say Vandenberg is going to come in and complete 65 percent of his passes. That stat just jumped out at me as I was reading over the bios.

Spring practice starts next month. What are you looking for from the Hawkeyes? Who from this class do you think is going to jump right in and contribute? What is your prediction for next season? I’m sticking with my early prediction: 6-6, maybe 7-5.    

IOWA CITY — Kirk Ferentz used the word “crucified” Tuesday when explaining why he doesn’t comment on job openings when he is mentioned as a possible candidate. He talked about Nick Saban, who repeatedly denied interest in the Alabama job before bolting Miami for the Crimson Tide. He talked about Bobby Petrino, who quit in Atlanta with three games to go in the NFL season to take over at the University of Arkansas. Those guys were raked over the coals by the media for going back on their words. Ferentz doesn’t want to get in a situation where he denies interest, the other party sweetens the deal and he makes himself a liar. He doesn’t want to be crucified for that perceived act of betrayal.

I’m pretty sure Ferentz was offered the Michigan job at least once, and I would be surprised if the Ravens, Ferentz’s former employer, didn’t at least dangle that carrot out in front of him to gauge his interest. But, as Ferentz made very clear Tuesday, unless there is mutual interest — which means a formal interview — we’ll never know for sure if he was a candidate or not.

And, really, do you even care?

Unless Ferentz is leaving Iowa, does it really matter if he or his agent is listening to offers? Does it matter if he was contacted by Michigan or Baltimore or anyone else? Does he need to issue a statement or hold a press conference each time his name is mentioned, as it is numerous times each offseason for major college and NFL jobs?

No.

When it matters, he’ll break his silence, as he did when he interviewed for the Jacksonville Jaguars job in 2003.

“Judge me on my actions,” Ferentz said. “I’ve had a fulltime job for 27 years in coaching. In that time, I’ve had three employers, and 18 of those years have been here at Iowa. I feel very fortunate about that.

“If you don’t hear something from me, you can just assume that I’m working on the job that I have, that I’m trying to keep the job that I have.”

Read between the lines and remember it next season when the rumors start swirling — Ferentz isn’t going anywhere. He and his family are committed to Iowa. He has a son, James, who is going to be a freshman on the football team next season. He has another son, Steven, who is 14, and he has said repeatedly that he wants all of his children to graduate from the same high school. And he wants to coach James through his college career, as he did his oldest son, Brian, which means four or five more seasons.  

That’s why Ferentz turned down Michigan — allegedly.

That’s why he showed no interest in the Ravens.

He has his roots planted firmly in Iowa City and his heart and soul dug deep into the Iowa football program. It’s where he got his start as a graduate assistant in 1980. It’s where he came into his own as a college assistant in the ’80s. It’s where he gained national prominence while leading the team to three straight top 10 finishes and a pair of Big Ten titles from 2002-05. It is home, which is something a lot of coaches — vagabonds like Saban and Petrino — never truly find.

So, has Ferentz had chances to leave? More than we’ll ever know. “I’ve had some interesting opportunities, or at least opportunities that people might say, ‘Boy, why wouldn’t he be interested in that,’” he said. And I’m certain he’ll continue to get offers in the future, even with the Iowa football program in somewhat of a down cycle. But, let’s, for a moment, assume that he turned down Michigan. If he’s going to turn down college football’s all-time winningest program, what job is he going to take? Where is he going to go where he would have a better chance of success? Michigan is in a class with a handful of other elite programs across the country, a class in which Iowa will never be.      

So, don’t believe the rumors that Ferentz is leaving each and every offseason. He’s had his chances, and he’s stayed. And, if you do by into the talk, at least wait to worry or celebrate until after Ferentz comments, because until then, there’s really nothing valid to report. 

Marcus Malbrough, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound defensive end from Beaumont, Texas, has committed to play football at Iowa, according to Web site Rivals.com.

Malbrough chose Iowa over offers from Mississippi State, Tulane, Houston and Baylor. He is rated a 2-star prospect.

There are 21 players from the Class of 2008 known to have committed to Iowa. One junior college player, running back Nate Guillory, already has signed a binding letter of intent and will enroll in classes this spring.