IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz announced Tuesday that freshman running back Barkley Hill and freshman defensive back Ruben Lile have suffered injuries during preseason practice that will keep them out of action in 2012.

“Barkley Hill’s knee injury during Saturday’s practice will require ACL reconstruction surgery later this week,” said Ferentz.  “Ruben Lile suffered a similar injury earlier during camp and had successful surgery last week.”

Hill (6-foot, 210 pounds) is a native of Denver, Iowa who joined the Iowa program after a standout prep career at Cedar Falls HS.  Lile (6-3, 200) attended Cass Technical HS in Detroit, Mich.  Both Hill and Lile are first-year freshmen who will redshirt this season. 

IOWA CITY, Iowa - - University of Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz announced Thursday that senior defensive lineman John Sawhill will not continue his career with the Hawkeyes.

Sawhill (6-foot-3, 277), a native of Jefferson, Iowa, joined the Hawkeye program earlier this summer after earning three letters as a member of the Drake University football program, while also earning his bachelor’s degree.  He earned second team all-conference honors for the Bulldogs as a junior.

“After experiencing complications from a prior injury during preseason practice, John Sawhill has decided to forgo his remaining year of eligibility to begin work in the private sector,” said Ferentz.

Iowa will hold an open practice this Saturday in Kinnick Stadium, beginning at 12:15 p.m.  Fans planning to attend should enter Kinnick Stadium at Gate E.  Regular season game-day search procedures will be in place.  Fans will have access to only the west grandstands.  There will be no autograph session following practice and concession stands will not be open.

Iowa opens the season Saturday, Sept. 1, meeting Northern Illinois at Chicago’s Soldier Field (2:35 p.m., ESPNU).  Tickets for the opening game remain available through all Ticketmaster outlets.

IOWA CITY, Iowa - - The University of Iowa football team will stage an open practice on Saturday, August 18, in Kinnick Stadium.  Kinnick Stadium will open at 11 a.m. with practice scheduled from 12:15 to 2:15 p.m.

Fans planning to attend should enter Kinnick Stadium at Gate E.  Limited football posters, schedule cards and magnets will be available inside Gate E.

Regular season game-day search procedures will be in place.  Fans will have access to only the west grandstands.  There will be no autograph session following practice and concession stands will not be open.

Fans are reminded, the possession of an open container of beer or wine or consumption of hard liquor on University property, including parking lots, is prohibited by law.  Law enforcement officers will be asking fans to empty containers and citations will be issued, if the case arises. 

Free parking will be available in Lot 43 west of Kinnick Stadium, Lot 75 south of Carver-Hawkeye Arena and Lot 46 west of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.  The normal fee will be charged in the parking ramps.  There is no reserved parking available and parking will not be available in Krause Family Pavilion.

Iowa opens the season Saturday, Sept. 1, meeting Northern Illinois at Chicago’s Soldier Field (2:35 p.m., ESPNU).  Tickets for the opening game remain available through all Ticketmaster outlets.

Kick off the 2012 season with up to 2,000 Hawkeye fans for a game day tailgate bash right outside Soldier Field.  The party will go from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 1 on the East Lawn, immediately outside the east side of Soldier Field and will feature live music. Order online at www.bravosportsmarketing.com or call (319) 626-8286 to order by phone.  Space is strictly limited to 2,000 Hawk fans.

The opening game is followed by four straight games in Kinnick Stadium, beginning Sept. 8 as Iowa hosts Iowa State (2:30 p.m., BTN) in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series battle.  Fry Fest will also be held the weekend of the opening home game.  For more information about the 2012 Fry Fest, visit FRYFest.com or call the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau at 1 (800) 283-6592.

Additional home games include Northern Iowa (Sept. 15, 2:30 p.m., BTN), Central Michigan (Sept. 22, TBA), Minnesota (Sept. 29, Homecoming, 11 a.m.), Penn State (Oct. 20, 7 p.m., BTN), Purdue (Nov. 10, TBA) and Nebraska (Nov. 23, 11 a.m., ABC).

Hawkeye Village - The Perfect Solution for Groups as Small as Two, as Large as 200

Hawkeye Village is the UI Athletics Department's corporate hospitality area with a twist: it can accommodate groups as large as 200, 300 or more...but it also provides opportunities for groups of fans as small as two, four or six. To learn more, call Bravo Sports Marketing at (319) 626-8286 or visit online at www.bravosportsmarketing.com.

Game tickets and pregame hospitality packages are available for Iowa's 2012 home games against Northern Iowa, Central Michigan, Penn State, Purdue and the Hy-Vee Heroes Game against Nebraska the day after Thanksgiving.

Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz

Press Conference Transcript

Iowa Offensive Coordinator Greg Davis

Iowa Linebacker James Morris

Iowa Tight End CJ Fiedorowicz

Iowa Wide Reciever Kevonte Martin-Manley

IOWA CITY, IOWA - - University of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz announced Wednesday that sophomore running back De’Andre Johnson has been dismissed from the program.

“I am disappointed that things didn’t work out better for De’Andre,” said Ferentz.  “We wish him all the best moving forward.”

Johnson played in four games in 2011, rushing 18 times for 79 yards.

LEADERS DIVISION COACHES

Bret Bielema (Wisconsin)

Danny Hope (Purdue)

Urban Meyer (Ohio State)

Tim Beckman (Illinois)

Kevin Wilson (Indiana)

Bill O’Brien (Penn State)

LEGENDS DIVISION COACHES

Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern)

Jerry Kill (Minnesota)

Brady Hoke (Michigan)

Bo Pelini (Nebraska)

Mark Dantonio (Michigan State)

Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa senior quarterback James Vandenberg has been named to the 2012 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List, the Davey O’Brien Foundation announced. The list features 34 of the nation’s top signal-callers.

The Davey O’Brien Award annually recognizes the top quarterback in college football. Former Hawkeyes Chuck Long (1985) and Brad Banks (2002) won the award and Ricky Stanzi was named a semifinalist in 2010. Iowa is one of eight schools nationally to have had two or more individuals capture the award.

Vandenberg, a native of Keokuk, Iowa, started all 13 games under center for the Hawkeyes last year. He completed 237-of-404 pass attempts for 3,022 yards and 25 touchdowns. Only 17 returning players in the FBS threw for more yards than Vandenberg.  He ranked third in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (232.5), fourth in total offense (237.2) and fifth in pass efficiency (138.5). Vandenberg (6-foot-3, 212) was named to the Capital One/CoSIDA District Six Academic All-America team and is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.  He is also on the 2012 preseason Maxwell Award and CFPA Quarterback Trophy watch lists and was ranked as the No. 2 quarterback in the Big Ten by ESPN.com.

The Davey O’Brien Winner will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 6. The 36th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner will be held Feb. 18, 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Iowa opens its season Sept. 1 against Northern Illinois at Soldier Field in Chicago. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m., CT (ESPNU).

Iowa Hawkeyes on Watch Lists

Keenan Davis, Sr., WR

Biletnikoff Award

CFPA Wide Receiver Trophy

James Ferentz, Sr., OL                                                                      

Outland Trophy

Rimington Trophy

C.J. Fiedorowicz, Jr., TE

John Mackey Award

CFPA Tight End Trophy

Micah Hyde, Sr., DB

Bednarik Award

Bronko Nagurski Award

CFPA Defensive Back Trophy

Mike Meyer, Jr., PK                                                                           

Lou Groza Award

CFPA Special Teams Trophy

CFPA Placekicker Trophy

Tanner Miller, Jr., DB                                                                        

CFPA Defensive Back Trophy

James Morris, Jr., LB

Bednarik Award

Butkus Award

Rotary Lombardi Award

James Vandenberg, Sr., QB

Maxwell Award

CFPA Quarterback Trophy

Davey O’Brien Award

Following is a comment from coach Kirk Ferentz in regard to Marcus Binns:

“Due to injuries, Marcus Binns has not been an active member of the Iowa football program for over one calendar year.  Following the completion of spring practice, it was determined Marcus is no longer a part of the football team.”

IOWA CITY, IOWA – The University of Iowa football team will stage its annual “Kids at Kinnick” day Saturday, Aug. 11.  Gates to Kinnick Stadium will open at 11 a.m. with the team’s practice scheduled to begin at noon.

Fans planning to attend should enter Kinnick Stadium at Gates A, B and E.  Regular season game-day search procedures will be in place.  Fans will have access to only the south and west grandstands.  As in the past, student-athletes will sign autographs for 30 minutes in front of the west and south stands, following the team’s two-hour practice.

 Several sponsored events and activities will be available to fans in the Krause Family Plaza.

The Elite Chevy Kid Zone, featuring the NFL Combine Experience, free face painting and games, will open at 10 a.m. The experience will include timed running and jumping competitions and the chance to compare your times against current Hawkeyes in the NFL.

Wells Blue Bunny will provide cool treats to fans within the Kids Zone and fans will have the opportunity to register to win a new Flex-Fuel Chevy Equinox, sponsored by Iowa Corn.  Noodles and Co. will have a presence as well, featuring art activities with games and prizes, including prize wheel and putt for pasta.

The Eastern Iowa Airport Touchdowns for Kids representatives will be on site, accepting pledges and donations for the UI Children’s Hospital and Touchdowns for Kids program.

Concession stands will be open with items being sold at half price. Team roster cards will be available at all open entrances, in addition to a limited number of schedule posters, schedule cards and schedule magnets.

Fans should note that there will be no access to the playing surface of Kinnick.  Fans are also reminded that the annual “Kids at Kinnick” activity is designed primarily for the enjoyment of younger fans.  Therefore, the possession of an open container of beer or wine or consumption of hard liquor on University property, including parking lots, is prohibited by law.  Law enforcement officers will be asking fans to empty containers and citations will be issued, if the case arises. 

Iowa opens its 2012 season Saturday, Sept. 1st, meeting Northern Illinois at Chicago’s Soldier Field (2:35 p.m., ESPNU).  That contest is followed by four straight games in Kinnick Stadium, beginning Sept. 8 as Iowa hosts Iowa State in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series battle.  Fry Fest will also be held the weekend of the opening home game.  For more information about the 2012 Fry Fest, visit FRYFest.com or call the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau at 1-800-283-6592.

Additional home games include Northern Iowa (Sept. 15), Central Michigan (Sept. 22), Minnesota (Sept. 29, Homecoming), Penn State (Oct. 20), Purdue (Nov. 10) and Nebraska (Nov. 23).