posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 4:30 PM
by
marc.morehouse
Recruit No. 1 or 3, depending on how you look at it . . .
Here's tomorrow's recruiting update:
Iowa’s newest football recruit is from Toledo, Ohio. His high school uniform is scarlett and gray with striping that looks similar to a certain Big Ten team from Ohio. And let’s face it, there is precedent for Ohio State swooping in and stealing a Hawkeye recruit.
It happened just last February, when the Buckeyes nabbed a fullback prospect who committed to Iowa.
Brad Rogers has listened to Ohio State’s pitch. The Buckeyes want him as a fullback. The Hawkeyes want the 5-foot-10, 230-pounder as a running back.
Rogers sounded resolute in his decision Monday. He even knew what he wanted to say if Ohio State calls again.
“I’ll tell them I’m an Iowa Hawkeye,” Rogers said. “Ohio State told me they wanted me for fullback. I really don’t want to play fullback.”
As a junior at Central Catholic High School, Rogers rushed for 634 yards and 12 touchdowns. His season as a running back ended in week 6, when he suffered a sprained ankle. He still started at weakside linebacker.
Ohio State, Kansas, Toledo, Bowling Green and Northwestern showed interest in Rogers, but he was set on committing early and took the first and only offer that came his way. He committed Monday, his dad’s (Bryant) birthday.
Rogers calls himself a downhill back, in the mold of Wisconsin’s P.J. Hill. Iowa’s pro-style I formation offense was an attraction, Rogers said.
“What Iowa runs fits my running style,” Rogers said. “They run a lot of I formation, which I like. I can run out of the spread, but I prefer the power I and pro-sets.
“I’m pretty much a downhill runner. If anyone gets in the way, I’m pretty much running them over.”
Rogers, who claims a 4.65-second 40-yard dash, is Iowa’s third commitment for 2009. Iowa has gray-shirt commitments in Jake Reisen and Adam Robinson. Their scholarships will begin in January 2009, thus making them a part of the 2009 recruiting class.
Last week, Iowa picked up a late signee to the 2008 class.
New Jersey wide receiever Matt Marshall was expected to sign a letter of intent with the Hawkeyes last week, the South New Jersey Courier Post reported.
Marshall picked the Hawkeyes over Arkansas and North Carolina, according to the paper. Arkansas offered him a scholarship for football, while UNC wanted him for track. Marshall is the indoor state champion in the 55-meter hurdles and was an All-South Jersey selection this past winter.
The Courier Post reported that Marshall and Iowa were waiting for an SAT score that Marshall eventually received. Camden football coach Tom Hanson told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Marshall, 6-2, 204 pounds, has run the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds. Marshall had six TD receptions last fall.
Linebackers coach Darrell Wilson led the recruiting for Marshall. Wilson has strong ties to South Jersey. He served as head coach at Woodrow Wilson in Camden from 1988-95.
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