Wegher picks Iowa

The recruiting battle is over.

Now, Brandon Wegher's final high school football war is on in earnest.

Before a large gathering of fans and media Saturday night at Heelan's Memorial Field, the 5-11, 206-pound Bishop Heelan senior running back announced he would accept a scholarship offer from the University of Iowa.

After Coach Roger Jansen's Crusaders concluded a team scrimmage, a table was set up under the pavilion near the playing field at Memorial and it was there that Wegner announced his college decision.

A first-team all-stater as a junior. Wegher rushed for 2,334 yards and scored 34 touchdowns in sparking Heelan to a runner-up finish to Keokuk in the Class 3A state playoffs. He made a sensational debut as a sophomore, rushing for 1,022 yards on just 115 carries. Of that rushing total, 966 came in Heelan's final six games.

"The University of Iowa has been in the picture (recruiting) since I was a sophomore," said Wegher, "I'm excited about joining Hawkeye Nation."

"I wanted to get the decision out of the way before the season started. We hope to have an good team again and the state title is our goal."

"I can't thank my family, friends, coaches and my teammates, especially my teammates, enough. Without those guys blocking I'm not going anywhere."

Wegher, recruited by a multitude of Division I schools, narrowed his decision to Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.

"My family met Wednesday night and narrowed the schools to three and I told my father (Rick) Saturday that Iowa was my choice,'' said Wegher. His father, Rick, was an Division II All-American running back at South Dakota State after earning all-stater honors in high school at Sioux City East."

With the caps of the three schools in front of him on a table, Wegher grabbed the Hawkeye hat as he stood up to the applause of a large gathering of fans. A KU cap was to his right, Iowa's in the center and a Nebraska lid to his left.

Other schools in the recruiting picture included Iowa State, Arkansas, Penn State, Missouri, Oklahoma and Auburn.

"It came down to schools in the midwest, really," said Wegher, who had not yet contacted the Iowa coaching staff after he made his announcement. "One of the things I strongly considered was the running back situation at the schools and I feel I can make a contribution, maybe right away, at Iowa."

"The coaches there (Iowa) have been terrific during the recruiting process."

Hawkeye head coach Kirk Ferentz and running backs coach Lester Erb were instrumental in luring Wegher to Iowa City.

Buckley Wright and Jake Skibinski have been two of the blockers opening wide gaps for Wegher to run through for two seasons.

The 210-pound Wright is moving from a post in the offensive line to fullback this season and Skibinski leads Heelan's vaunted sweep from his right guard spot.

"Every lineman loves to look up and see the running back cross the goal line," said Wright. "It's an honor for us to be part of what Brandon's accomplished."

Skibinski agrees. "The way we look at it Brandon's touchdowns are our touchdowns. He sure makes it easier on us because of his great quickness and speed we don't have to hold our blocks as long."

Iowa, which opens the season Saturday at home against Maine, heads into the campaign with many questions at the running back position. Inexperienced Shonn Greene, Nate Guillory and Paki O'Meara are among the leaders in a thin position.

Guillory is a junior college transfer, Greene did not participate last season and missed 2008 spring drills and O'Meara was little used last year, but listed as the starter after spring drills.

Heelan opens the 2008 season Friday night at Class 1A Lawton-Bronson, then hosts perennial Class 3A state power Harlan the second Friday of the campaign.

Lawton-Bronson was the Class A state-runner-up last year and Heelan defeated Harlan in the 3A playoff semifinals, avenging its only regular-season loss.