As recently as yesterday, there was an article published about how the Hawkeyes are loaded with experience at running back. We've seen similar stories written throughout the entire off season about how Iowa will have a tough choice picking a starter and finding enough carries for all the talented backs. Well, how quickly things change...and it's not like Iowa fans shouldn't have seen this coming. Every time we're feeling comfortable at this position, we get reminded of Sam Brownlee.

Iowa picked up its second offensive linemen commit yesterday and 13th overall for the 2011 recruiting class. Jordan Walsh is probably the most heralded recruit in this class thus far with 4-star rankings from both Scout and Rivals. Additionally, Scout ranks Walsh as the #2 offensive guard prospect in the country.

Walsh in High School

Walsh attends Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, IL. The Hilltoppers were spectacular last year winning their first 13 games before falling in double overtime in the Class 7A Championship Game. Walsh did his part along the way not allowing a single sack as an offensive tackle.

This week of abundant news--thanks mostly to the Big Ten Media Days--came to a very appropriate end with a fact filled Friday. Let's jump right in.

Fact 1: Iowa is ranked #10 in the preseason USA Today Coaches' Poll
The last time Iowa was ranked near this high in the preseason was 2005 when the Coaches' pegged the Hawkeyes as #11. Those lofty expectations didn't turn out so well for Iowa that year, so I'm hoping this year will be different. The rest of the top 10:

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Florida
4. Texas
5. Boise State
6. Virigina Tech
7. TCU
8. Oklahoma
9. Nebraska
10. Iowa

Fact 2: Photos are fun!
I always have a good time digging through the practice photos posted on hawkeyesports.com trying to make predictions about the team. Today's photos provide a few good tidbits.

• Photo 6 - A.J. Derby (#17) is seen in the yellow offense jersey. Maybe that will put to bed the Derby to linebacker rumor. However, also note that he is not in the silvery jersey that Stanzi, Vandenberg, and Wienke are wearing...so I'm starting a Derby to tight end rumor.
• Phot 13 - Tyler Sash has killed Justin Greiner.
• Photo 18 - Who the heck is Jordan Price? I had never heard of him, but he's apparently a cornerback from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He's probably a walk on who will be on the scout team.

The Iowa Hawkeyes officially started Fall Camp on Wednesday when all the incoming freshmen reported for duty. Yesterday, the remaining players reported and a team meeting was held, followed by ice-cream. Today, though, marks the real beginning of camp as the players will take the field for the first practice of the fall. In addition, today is Iowa's media day where a good number of players and coaches will be open to the media and Ferentz will hold a press conference. Between today and September 4th the team still has some questions to answer and those are the stories I'll be following.

Position Battles

I'll start off with the defense and get it out of the way because I don't think there are too many spots up for grabs. Only 3 starters from last year are gone and all of their replacements seem locked in to place. I think Micah Hyde is definitely the #2 corner and Jeff Tarpinian and Tyler Nielsen are the two new linebackers. There will be a spot open on the defensive line week one with Broderick Binns' one-game suspension, so it will be interesting to see if they shift Christian Ballard over to end to make room for Mike Daniels at tackles. Or, keep the tackles in place use Lebron Daniel (or someone else) to replace Binns.

The past few days have been total information overload with the Big Ten Media Days, the addition of Torrey Campbell, and the start of the Hawkeye's fall camp. A lot of the information though, as pointed out on BHGP hasn't been surprising and really isn't that news worthy. I do enjoy reading about some more personal stories from , Clayborn, and Klug, and always enjoy what Coach Ferentz has to say (though you really don't get much "news" out of him). Two of the more interesting stories lines for me, though, are around the rivalries Iowa has (or will have) against Iowa State and Nebraska. This morning's Part 1 post will cover Nebraska.

Iowa vs. Nebraska

The talk is heating up of a season-ending show down between Iowa and Nebraska. Iowa has traditionally played Minnesota to end the season, but with the addition Nebraska and with the necessary splitting up the divisions, tradition is losing its importance. An Iowa-Nebraska rivalry game would certainly provide more national appeal than Iowa-Minnesota and depending on how the divisions come out, could provide a pseudo divisional championship game if the two schools keep playing at their current level.