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   Returning to a bowl game was the first step in the rebuilding process. Now the Hawkeyes will try to become one of the Big Ten's elite while replacing the school's all-time single season rushing leader in Shonn Greene and two defensive cornerstones in linemen Mitch King and Matt Kroul.

   Iowa's 9-4 finish, including a resounding Outback Bowl victory against South Carolina, helped wash away the sting of a 6-6 season without a bowl game in 2007.

   The Hawkeyes lost their first two Big Ten games while sorting between quarterbacks Ricky Stanzi and Jake Christensen, otherwise they may have contended for a conference title. Now Stanzi enters the spring as the clear-cut starter, and all eyes instead will shift to Jewel Hampton.

   Hampton averaged better than five yards a carry as Greene's backup. Now as a sophomore, Hampton will begin the quest to prove he can handle the job on every down.

   Off-field concerns continue to weigh heavily on the program -- two more players were arrested after Kirk Ferentz signed an extension that will carry him through 2015 -- but the 31-10 victory against the Gamecocks leaves the Hawkeyes entering the spring believing better days are ahead.

   SPRING OBJECTIVES: The Hawkeyes must find a pair of defensive tackles to replace Mitch King and Matt Kroul. The most likely candidate is sophomore Karl Klug, who is a bit undersized at 255 pounds, but he plays fast and registered 17 tackles (two sacks) last season. Beyond Klug, Mike Daniels and Cody Hundertmark are possibilities. Hundertmark missed last season following shoulder surgery, but can be a big contributor when healthy.

   Daniel Murray made the huge kick to beat Penn State, and handled every field goal that followed. That seems to give him an edge over Trent Mossbrucker, who missed two extra points late in the season. The two will likely resume their season-long battle from last year this spring, but at this point, Murray seems to have a slight edge.

   BUILDING BLOCKS:

   The defense loses plenty of experience up front in Mitch King and Matt Kroul, but the linebackers and secondary should return nearly intact. Five of the top six tacklers return, led by linebackers Pat Angerer and Jeremiha Hunter.

   It's fair to speculate how effective the linebackers can be playing behind a rebuilt defensive line, but they'll have help behind them in the secondary. Cornerback Amari Spievey and safeties Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood return to their starting roles, leaving the Hawkeyes plenty of experience to build around defensively.

   QUOTE TO NOTE: "I continue to consider it an honor to coach at the University of Iowa and I am very appreciative of the university extending my contract. (AD) Gary Barta and President [Sally] Mason have been very supportive of our efforts. I feel fortunate to be at Iowa and I am very excited about the future of our program." -- Kirk Ferentz, after his contract was extended through the 2015 season

   STARS OF 2009:

   QB Ricky Stanzi -- It took awhile, but Stanzi eventually wrestled the starting gig away from Jake Christensen. Stanzi threw for 1,956 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season.

   RB Jewel Hampton -- Shonn Greene left big shoes to fill. Hampton rushed for 463 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry along the way. With Greene out of the picture, Hampton is the favorite to land the starting job.

   LB Pat Angerer -- Had 107 tackles last year as a junior, thanks to Mitch King and Matt Kroul tying up linemen in front of him. Angerer's job as middle linebacker will be a little more difficult this time, since there shouldn't be as much room to maneuver laterally.

   TOP NEWCOMERS:

   RB Brandon Wegher -- Rushed for 6,614 yards at Sioux City Heelan High in Iowa, including 3,238 yards and 51 touchdowns as a senior. As luck would have it, Iowa has an opening at tailback following the early departure of Shonn Greene. Even if Wegher can't claim the starting role right away, he is still a viable candidate for carries.

   OL Brett Van Sloten -- Good size (6-foot-7, 270 pounds) and agility. Van Sloten is a basketball player, proving he can move a little, and his father played college football. Not likely to play right away, but could evolve into a pretty good tackle.

   WR Keenan Davis -- A local product who produced 2,800 yards and 26 touchdowns, Davis fills a tremendous need at receiver. Widely considered Iowa's best receiver prospect in the state and a participant in the Under Armour All-America game, Davis was one recruit Kirk Ferentz had to get -- and he did.

   ROSTER REPORT:

   --Starting DE Adrian Clayborn was charged with assault causing bodily injury in late March. According to court records, Clayborn got out of his car, walked over to a cab driver who had honked at him and struck the victim in the face through the driver's side window. Clayborn started 11 games last season for the Hawkeyes and played in all 13.

   --Freshman DB Shaun Prater has been suspended following his drunken driving arrest, and will miss at least two games this coming season, according to coach Kirk Ferentz. Prater played in all 13 games last season, registering eight tackles. "He will be required to serve numerous internal obligations, set by me," Ferentz said. "He'll also face a multiple game suspension in the fall.

   --QB Jake Christensen has transferred out of Iowa after losing his starting job to Ricky Stanzi. Christensen is still taking classes at Iowa, though, and is on target to graduate in May. With Christensen gone, redshirt freshmen James Vandenberg and John Wienke will compete to back up Stanzi.

   --Sophomore DBs Lance Tillison and Diauntae Morrow have also transferred. Tillison had eight career tackles and an interception. Morrow had 12 tackles last season.

Previous Report: 02/06/2009