Iowa suspends sophomore RB Derrick Mitchell
Iowa running back Derrick Mitchell has been suspended from the football program.
Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz announced the news in a statement on Monday.
“Derrick has been suspended due to a football program and student life code of conduct violation,” Ferentz said. “This is not a legal issue. Derrick is working through the issues at hand in regards to being in good standing as a University of Iowa student. We will follow the established university protocol as we move forward.”
Ferentz did not offer a timetable for Mitchell’s return to the program.
Mitchell, a sophomore from St. Louis, Mo., has not appeared in either of Iowa’s first two games this season – wins over Illinois State and Iowa State. According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Mitchell did not make the trip to Iowa State over the weekend.
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The 6-foot-1, 212-pound Mitchell started his career as a wide receiver and redshirted his first year on campus in 2013. He then appeared in six games in 2014 for the Hawkeyes, primarily on special teams where he recorded one tackle against Illinois.
With Mitchell out, Iowa takes a hit to its depth at running back. Only three scholarship backs – LeShun Daniels, Jordan Canzeri and Akrum Wadley – made the trip to ISU. To make matters worse, Daniels, the team’s leading rusher, injured his ankle in the first half and is questionable for the Hawkeyes’ home game against Pitt on Saturday.
If Daniels can’t go, Canzeri, a senior, would move into the starting spot with Wadley, a sophomore, moving up to second on the depth chart. Canzeri had the second-highest rushing total of his career – 124 yards – in the win over the Cyclones.
The Hawkeyes also have redshirt freshman Marcel Joly and true freshman Eric Graham (a likely redshirt candidate) on scholarship at the position.
For more Iowa news, visit HawkeyeReport.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
