Iowa Hawkeye Football: Is Kirk Ferentz Running out of Running Backs for 2012?

Iowa running back De'Andre Johnson has been dismissed from the team by head coach Kirk Ferentz, as the never-ending running back issues continue for Iowa.

The latest problem: The Iowa back had two separate issues involving the police just this past week.

The most recent and more serious incident occurred Saturday night, as the running back was ticketed for riding his motorcycle at 60 mph in a 25 mph zone. According to the report from the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazzette, Johnson was cited for eluding arrest for failure to immediately pull over when requested by police. 

Last Thursday, Johnson had been ticketed by Iowa City Police for maintaining a disorderly house after neighbors complained of loud noise at a party there.

Johnson, listed as the Hawkeye's No. 2 back coming out of spring, had 79 yards on 18 carries in 2011. Marcus Coker, Iowa's first string running back (281 attempts, 1,384 yards, 4.9 average) in 2011, transferred from the school after being suspended for the bowl game last year. When he left, so did true freshman Mika'il McCall, who missed most of the season with a broken ankle.

Sophomore Jordon Canzeri, who tore his ACL in the spring, is expected to redshirt. For now, the starting job is a tossup between sophomore Damon Bullock (20 yards on 10 carries) and incoming freshmen Greg Garmon (1,225 yards 11 TD, last season) and Barkley Hill (2,491 yards and 40 TD, last season).

Though the sophomore Damon Bullock is likely leading now, the decision on who will be the starter will continue to be evaluated during fall camp. A new starter could be named as late as the week before game one. 

In Ferentz's 13 years at Iowa, five different backs have rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season. With all the changes in personnel and a more pass reliant offense, someone will need to step up big to do that this season.