Jewel Hampton Notably Absent From Iowa Two-Deeps

As FBT wrote earlier this week, Iowa running back Jewel Hampton appears to be pondering redshirting and missing the 2009 season due to his knee injury.  The bottom line for Iowa is that a running back who isn't 100% can't break tackles, outrun defenders, and create extra yards the way a healthy second-stringer could.  It makes sense, then, that the longer Hampton's knee bothers him, the more likely it becomes that the Hawks shut him down for 2009.





However, Kirk Ferentz isn't conceding the year just yet.  According to a Rivals quote on BlackHeartGoldPants.com, the Iowa coach said:

"We were hoping to get him back on the field this week. It didn't work out. We're shooting for next Sunday. Hopefully with a little bit of luck Jewel can get back out there and help us this year."

"If it doesn't work out, we'll go on without him.  The good news is he has a redshirt year available if that takes place, but we're still hopeful we can get him on the field."

The only concrete news of the day so far is that the Iowa two-deeps for next week's opening game were released, and Jewel Hampton's name does not appear.  Hawkeye running backs for Week One are Paki O'Meara and Adam Robinson.  So while there may still be hope for Hampton's 2009 season in Iowa City (depending on how you read the Ferentz quote), don't look for him against Northern Iowa.