The sophomore walk-on from Cedar Rapids didn’t do anything fancy. He didn’t bust loose on any long runs. He didn’t initiate any bone-crunching collisions. He did the basics. And he’ll enter fall camp No. 1 on Iowa’s depth chart.
“That was the expectation I made for myself when I first walked on here,” O’Meara said. “I at least wanted to play a lot. I didn’t come here expecting not to play, otherwise I wouldn’t have come.”
O’Meara, who once ran for 349 yards in a high school game at Cedar Rapids Washington, was a steady presence in the Hawkeyes’ backfield during their final spring practice at Kinnick Stadium. Working behind a patchwork offensive line, the 5-foot-11, 210-pounder pinballed his way through the defensive front for several 5- to 10-yard runs. He held on to the ball, and he held his blocks in pass protection, and that’s what separated him from juco transfer Nate Guillory, who is listed No. 2.
“He’s one of the strongest guys we have, pound for pound, on the team,” quarterback Jake Christensen said of O’Meara. “He’s one of those guys who has worked for everything he’s gotten.”
O’Meara played last year on special teams, recording five tackles. He was thrown into the conversation at running back with the graduation of Albert Young and Damian Sims. He was brought to the forefront when sophomore-to-be Jevon Pugh left school last month. Now, the starting job is his to claim.
“It’s been exciting and encouraging,” O’Meara said. “I’ve been getting a lot of reps with the ones, and it’s made me work to improve that much more.”
Guillory, a 5-10, 185-pound scatback with better speed and agility than O’Meara, was not as effective Saturday. He fumbled once and has had trouble learning pass-blocking schemes this spring.
Kicking woes continue
Iowa’s kickers made 10 of 16 field goals last season, an accuracy rating that ranked second to last in the Big Ten. Saturday’s performance wasn’t any better.
Daniel Murray and Austin Signor made roughly half their attempts from 40 to 45 yards. Murray, who handled field-goal duties the better part of last season was more accurate but has the weaker leg. Signor, a 6-4, 230-pounder, showed a much stronger leg but struggled with accuracy, often pushing kicks wide right.
“We need to be more consistent,” coach Kirk Ferentz said.
Angerer in the middle
Bettendorf’s Pat Angerer is making a strong push for the starting job at middle linebacker. Listed as the co-starter with sophomore Jacody Coleman, Angerer started Saturday with the first unit and made several plays in the backfield or near the line of scrimmage.
Angerer, a junior, missed time last season because of mono and a hamstring injury, but he appears back at full strength.
Who’s out?
Several Hawkeyes did not suit up for Saturday’s practice and even more were held out of the live scrimmage.
Colin Sandeman, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Tony Moeaki, Bryan Bulaga, Jordan Bernstine, Dace Richardson and Brian Mungongo were out because of injury. Seth Olsen, Rafael Eubanks, Mitch King, Matt Kroul and Joe Conklin were in uniform and went through position drills but did not take part in the scrimmage. Receiver Paul Chaney did not play for disciplinary reasons.
Sandeman, a Bettendorf grad, is recovering from a back injury, while Conklin, a walk-on out of Davenport Assumption, injured his ankle last week.
“Colin had a great spring,” junior receiver Trey Stross said. “It’s too bad you guys didn’t see him out here today, because he’s been doing really well.”
Eric Page can be contacted at (563) 383-2277 or epage@qctimes.com.
arrrghawk wrote on Apr 20, 2008 12:58 AM:
"