Wegher ‘can’t wait’ to walk on at Oklahoma
Former Iowa running back Brandon Wegher is planning to continue his football career as a walk-on for the Oklahoma Sooners.
“I can’t wait to get down there and get started,” the former Sioux City Heelan star said Thursday, “and be part of that tradition.”
Wegher rushed for 641 yards and an Iowa freshman record eight touchdowns in 2009, but left the team last summer for personal reasons.
After months of speculation about his future, the 5-foot-11, 206-pound Wegher was granted a scholarship release from the Hawkeyes in December.
Before making a run at joining the Sooners, Wegher considered Northern Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and others.
“I’m just looking forward to getting down to Norman (Okla.), start training and getting to classes,” he said.
Kenny Mossman, Oklahoma’s associate athletic director for communications, said Thursday the school would not comment on Wegher’s status until it received clearance from the NCAA.
The Oklahoman newspaper reported Wegher would likely have to sit out next season because of NCAA transfer rules, leaving him with two years of eligibility remaining.
News of Wegher’s decision seemed to catch his father by surprise.
“Brandon is playing this one out himself,” Rick Wegher said, “and figuring things out for himself.”
Brandon Wegher earned all-state honors at Heelan while rushing for 6,825 career yards and 105 touchdowns.
He emerged as a key contributor to the Hawkeyes’ 11-2 run to the 2010 Orange Bowl, rushing for 113 yards and a touchdown during a 24-14 win over Georgia Tech.
Wegher’s role was expected to expand last season, but he departed after practices started in August.
“I just went through a lot of personal problems,” Wegher said. “There’s no hard feelings between the Hawkeyes and I – and vice-versa.
“I fought through those (problems) and talking with coach (Kirk) Ferentz, it was in my best interest to find somewhere else to play.”
Wegher’s off-field circumstances fueled Internet chatter, but he passed on a chance to clear up any message board speculation on Thursday.
“I know the rumors that are out there, and I’m not looking to put a stop to any of them,” Wegher said. “Things I went through are my personal issues, and they’re going to remain that way.”
The Sooners are coached by former Hawkeye player Bob Stoops.
Oklahoma is the reigning Big 12 champion, but top running back DeMarco Murray was a senior last season.
The projected starter this fall, Roy Finch, rushed for 398 yards as a freshman in 2010, but missed several games with an ankle injury.
“This was fully my decision,” Wegher said. “I’ve kind of kept things close to myself, just due to the fact there are a lot of rumors out there.”
Category: Iowa Hawkeyes Football
Didn’t see that coming.
I’d love to know what the media and university knows about this whole situation, but doesn’t say because of privacy issues. Let’s give Julian Assange a call.
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you little sob. but.. best wishes & i hope it works out for you.
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Interesting?
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I seriously hope he rides the pine down there. Hopefully he can stay away from girlfriends of his teammates, if what we all hear in the rumor mill is true. For his sake, he had better hope that Adam Robinson doesn’t transfer down there too, but I doubt Stoops would take ARob after the drug situation and acacdemic issues.
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Also wonder if he got a scholarship there or has to walk on.
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LettermanHawk
Walk On. No way OU is going to immediately put him on scholarship. He has to earn it there. He was recruited by Oklahoma coming out of High School. I have no bitter feelings. I hope he does well.
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According to the first line of the article,
“Former Iowa running back Brandon Wegher is planning to continue his football career as a walk-on for the Oklahoma Sooners.”
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I hope they show him where the drugstore is and which rack the protection is on. Not sure the running back situation down there but Stoops can find ways to use him in that offense. I think we’ll have much better running backs than him in the lineup next year. He can’t hold a candle in size or speed or power to Coker. He’d be the 3rd back here even with ARob gone.
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Will his kids move to Norman? Figured he would stay close to home and end up at South Dakota or South Dakota State.
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Well I guess that rumor proved to be wrong now didn’t it? Wanted to be closer to girl friend and his kid…..sure. So now we know it has something to do with what was going on with the football team. It’s just a matter of time before the truth finally comes out on just why he left. What ever the reason was I just want to wish Coker and all other “LOYAL” hawkeye running backs the very best next year and in the years to come.
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I hear they have good family housing and daycare down at Norman.
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In terms of overall ability, I felt he was the most talented RB on the team coming into last season. Hampton was right there as well but you never know with injuries. My prediction is he will emerge as a big-time player for the Sooners if he keeps his academics in order. Hated to see him go.
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Who says he is going there to play RB. He could well be a SS which from the rumors I hear he wanted to do at Iowa but the coaches wanted him to red shirt and he didn’t want to and left the program. As good as an athlete he is he could have easily seen the field as a SS for Iowa. Of cousr he will get a scholly and of course he knows where the condoms are, like anyone else has never got someone prego by accident. Half the good things in my life came from half of my mistakes!
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I heard the opposite. it was iowa & okey & someone else that wanted him out of highschool but they all wanted him for a db spot and we were the only ones that would let him stay at rb so he came to iowa.
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once a quitter…always a quitter..i dont wish him the best…tired of all the tranfers at iowa
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he is a youngster with alot of talent, my guess is his ego is writing checks his body cant cash
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Maverick’s in a flat spin and headed out to sea!
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You two charactors are going to Top Gun!
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The following is a comment from Thom…
So I’d like to put my 2 cents in about how “short man’s disease” Rick Wegher grew up worshiping OU football, and how he implanted that into his boys brain, so when he transfers he begs and pleads OU, and the best they can do is offer him a walk-on to see if he’s any good.
BUT, i can’t do any of that because, even though i have registered on the DMReg’s website, if I make ONE CLICK to the article it goes to a different website, even though you claim it’s part of the DMReg, and says that I’m not registered??? Don’t you think that might be an issue?
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[...] will all get carries in rotation so no one gets worn down. In late-breaking news, former Iowa RB Brandon Wegher has confirmed that he’s transferring to OU as a walk-on. He’s been released from his scholarship by [...]
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Help me out here…He wanted to be closer to his “obligations” in Sioux City, right? Isn’t Norman about 250 miles FARTHER from Sioux City than Iowa City is???
I have no issue with him leaving, nor him going to Oklahoma, and I wish him the best…Sure would like to know the real story someday, though!
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Just beat it Brandon! The way this whole thing played out is just ridiculous. I hope this is the last we hear about you around here. Women of Norman watch out. Brandon has super sperm! Coaches at Okie good luck trying to figure out where this kid wants to play!
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mich_hawk_b
Stoops is a great recruiter. He wanted Brandon coming out of high school.
It’s not going to do Brandon any good, telling the world the real story.
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mich_hawk_b
Whatever he did. He probably lost the respect and friends in the locker room. It’s hard to fight for that inch, when nobody else is willing to go that inch with you.
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i’m sure he’ll find the academics at Oklahoma more to his liking. good luck, Brandon. in the pre-season predictions the sooners are the top rated team.
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Oklahoma academics?
“There isn’t any ACADEMICS in Oklahoma football!”
(sorry Tom Hanks, “A League of their own”).
Agreeing with your post, Wegher won’t have to study very hard at Oklahoma.
With a Graduation Suceess Rate of 44, Oklahoma has the WORST GRS in the B12.
With what has happened this year with the Iowa FB players leaving school the Iowa GSR may drop. Still the 2010 Hawkeye GSR of 79 is better than 8 of the 11 teams in the B10.
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So much for the “closer to home” theory…
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I just hope he gets his act together at that personal level.
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good ridance little *&*^*%^* I wont miss him at all!
Go Good Hawks!!!
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I have a feeling we’ve heard the last of Wegher. It takes a lot of drive to walk on and sit out a season. I don’t think this kid has it in him.
Too much trouble controlling his impulses, if you know what I mean.
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It’s more than that. People who know Brandon consider him to be a little slow in the brain area. For him to not get the services of a full-ride player (tutoring) will be a challenge for him. If he does succeed, good for him.
Kind of surprising it is reported that his dad, Rick, is surprised at this decision. Rick is a successful businessman, and probably the guy who will pay those “U” bills.
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Good for Wegher. Hopefully he will keep it in his pants when attending school in Norman.
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So he’s going to take classes at a university without a scholarship, and didn’t tell his dad about the tuition?
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