Hawkeyes get defensive on signing day

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IOWA CITY (MCT) — It is an eclectic mix of recruits who comprise the Iowa football team’s 2010 class.

The son of the Hawkeyes’ equipment manager (Solon linebacker James Morris). An optometry major (Austin Vier of Ballard High School). An astrophysics major who was twice named Maryland’s state Gentleman of the Year (running back Marcus Coker). Three Maryland natives (Coker, defensive lineman Anthony Ferguson Jr., and linebacker Jim Poggi). And three Ohio natives (offensive lineman Andrew Donnal, and defensive backs Anthony Hitchens and B.J. Lowery).

And the class’s final recruit joins good company.

Kalona’s Tanner Miller was offered his scholarship Monday after visiting campus as a walk-on prospect.

Among other final recruits recently inked by Iowa — Brandon Myers of Prairie City-Monroe, who is now an Oakland Raider; Mike Elgin, who graduated from Western Dubuque, was drafted in the seventh round of the 2007 draft; Marion’s Allen Reisner will start at tight end for the Hawkeyes next season.

Miller — a defensive back — rounded out this season’s class, the 21st and final scholarship offered by the Orange Bowl champions.

“Tanner got on our radar a little bit late,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Wednesday. “We had him (on campus) this past weekend. Phil Parker was impressed with him. Really liked their meeting. I think they had a good, nice extensive meeting.

“And we kind of feel like he fits the profile of what we’re looking for in the back end. We’ve had a lot of success at the safety position. And I think he’s got similar attributes.”

Iowa is bringing in 13 defensive players, seven offensive players and one athlete (Vier).

The five defensive linemen will be important after next season’s three seniors graduate. Two other linemen will be juniors.

“It was real important to us to get some guys in that we felt could be involved right away,” Ferentz said. “And same thing with our linebacker position, we’ve got a heavy group of seniors next year. We just graduated two outstanding players. So those are two positions we felt were really, it was important to fortify.”

Iowa’s top recruit is C.J. Fiedorowicz, a tight end from Johnsburg, Ill., who had originally committed to Illinois.

The Hawkeyes never gave up on the 16th-best prospect in the nation (as ranked by Tom Lemming).

“We really felt like he connected well when he came on campus. He was here several times prior to making the decision elsewhere,” said Ferentz. “And I guess we just weren’t convinced that in his heart that was going to be the best thing for him, and we certainly weren’t convinced it was the best thing for him either. So we stayed in contact. And when he reconsidered his options during the course of the season, we’re thrilled he came over for a ball game and came with his family.”

Iowa City High’s A.J. Derby is the 60th-best prospect according to Lemming.

The quarterback is one of two recruits who are already in school (defensive lineman Louis Trinca-Pasat is the other) and will participate in spring practice.

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