As relayed by the Quad-City Times, rumors are running rampant across the vast expanses of the Internet that Iowa running back Jewel Hampton has suffered a torn ACL and could possibly miss some or all of the 2009 season.
Hampton apparently suffered some type of injury during a workout this past Friday, but no one from Hampton himself to the university has confirmed that an injury occurred, let alone any type of severity.
Judging by an e-mail we received from the school, however, it seems as though something has happened to the back.
When reached by CFT, Iowa Sports Information Director Phil Haddy wrote that “[t]here is nothing at this point” regarding Hampton. Haddy added that while head coach Kirk Ferentz “is gone for two weeks”, he expects “something within the next day or so” regarding Hampton’s status.
Last season, Hampton was the primary back-up to Shonn Greene, who left in the offseason for the money-green pastures of the NFL.
Hampton rushed for 424 yards last season, and was/is widely expected to take over the bulk of Greene’s workload in the Hawkeyes’ backfield. However, as pointed out by The Times, there was little difference between Hampton and redshirt RB Jeff Brinson during spring ball.
Additionally, a pair of incoming freshman — Brandon Wegher and Brad Rogers — could help carry part of the running-game load early on if indeed Hampton misses any or all of the upcoming season.
