• Kevin Buford, cb, 5-10, 165, Canton (Mich.) High
• Sean Draper, cb, 6-0, 165, Glenville High, Cleveland
• Faith Ekakitie, dl, 6-3, 285, Lake Forest (Ill.) Academy
• Maurice Fleming, cb, 6-1, 185, Curie High (Chicago)
• Anthony Gair, db, 6-2, 195, Prestonwood Chr., Plano, Texas
• Greg Garmon, rb, 6-2, 200, McDowell High, Erie, Pa.,
• Barkley Hill, rb, 6-0, 190, Cedar Falls High
• Jaleel Johnson, dt, 6-4, 290, Montini High, Westchester, Ill.
• Mitch Keppy, ol, 6-5, 287, Riverdale High, Port Byron, Ill.
• George Krieger-Kittle, ath, 6-4, 210, Norman (Okla.) High
• Connor Kornbrath, k/p, 6-7, 210, Bridgeport (W.Va.) High
• Ruben Lile, s, 6-3, 200, Cass Tech, Detroit, Mich.
• Greg Mabin, wr, 6-2, 190, Calvary Chr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Nate Meier, rb, 6-2, 235, Fremont-Mills
• Drew Ott, de, 6-4, 235, Giltner
• Reid Sealby, ol, 6-5, 250, Byron (Ill.) High
• Eric Simmons, ol, 6-3, 300, IWCC
• Tevaun Smith, wr, 6-2, 186, Chaminade College High, Toronto
• Cody Sokol, qb, 6-2, 210, Scottsdale (Ariz.) CC
• Laron Taylor, lb, 6-0, 205, Cass Tech, Detroit, Mich.
• Ryan Ward, ol, 6-6, 270, Providence Catholic, New Lenox, Ill.
• Cameron Wilson, wr, 6-2, 193, Jerome High, Dublin, Ohio
• Daumantas Venckus-Cucchiara, de, 6-4, 220, CWeston, Fla.
IOWA CITY (AP) — For the second year in a row, Iowa fans waited for national signing day to hear coach Kirk Ferentz address a topic at least as pressing as his latest recruiting class.
This time, Ferentz kept the focus on the 24 newest Hawkeyes.
Ferentz on Wednesday refused to get into further details about the departure of running back Marcus Coker, who was suspended for last month's Insight Bowl for misconduct and has left the program.
Ferentz was forced to use last season's signing day press conference to address concerns over a workout-related illness that sent more than a dozen players to the hospital. He said Wednesday he would discuss non-recruiting topics next week.
"We wish him all the best. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I think Marcus is a tremendous young guy," Ferentz said about Coker. "Anything else, we'll be happy to talk about it next week."
With Coker gone, Iowa signed a pair of running backs who might see playing time next season.
Leading the way is Greg Garmon, a 6-1, 200-pounder from Erie, Pa., who was a first-team all-state pick and notched 2,859 career rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. Iowa also landed Cedar Falls running back Barkley Hill.
Garmon and Hill will be thrown into a mix that includes returnees Jordan Canzeri, Brad Rogers and De'Andre Johnson as Iowa searches for a combination that can come close to matching the 1,384 rushing yards and 15 TDs Coker put up in 2011.
Ferentz also announced that reserve back Jason White will return for his senior season.
"That was one of the obvious positions of need for us. We really thought it was critical," Ferentz said. "Once we had commitments from Greg and Barkley we felt comfortable moving forward with those two guys."
Though Iowa is set at quarterback next season with returning senior starter James Vandenberg, the depth chart is slim behind him.
Iowa will bring in a pair of quarterbacks next season to compete with redshirt freshman Jake Rudock.
Cody Sokol is a rare junior college player to sign with Iowa, a sure sign of the urgency the Hawkeyes have this offseason. Sokol, who was born in Des Moines, threw for 3,087 yards and 43 touchdowns at Scottsdale Community College (Arizona) last season.
Iowa also landed Tennessee native C.J. Beathard, who'll be a freshman and a likely redshirt candidate. Sokol could also redshirt next season.
Iowa ventured into Illinois for offensive tackle Ryan Ward, a 6-5, 275-pounder considered one of the top prospects at the position in the nation.
The Hawkeyes loaded up in the secondary with five defensive back signees. They also landed four offensive linemen, four defensive linemen and three receivers.
Though Ferentz wouldn't make any promises about which of his latest recruits will see the field in 2012, clearly they'll all have a chance to do so after Iowa finished just 7-6 last season.
"We're a really young team right now moving forward. I don't think we have a lot of returning All-Americans or All-Big Ten guys. So to me it's open season. Everybody is going to compete," Ferentz said. "We told every guy on this list that if they can come in here and help us, we're all for it."
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