:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28072513/hansen.0.jpg)
Markel Smith
Running back
Note: There have been plenty of tweets about Smith signing his letter of intent from all over...
Appears Vianney RB Markel Smith has signed with Iowa, as expected, although I haven't seen a declaration from the school.
— GreggPalermo (@GreggPalermo) February 5, 2014
Josh Jackson and Markel Smith have signed with the Hawkeyes. Join the Signing Day blog here. http://t.co/OMW5vhRUbA
— Tom Kakert (@HawkeyeReport) February 5, 2014
Markel Smith, 3-star RB from Saint Louis, MO (St. John Vianney) is a #Hawkeye. #SigningDay. SO much potential: http://t.co/5fdu8x4aF3
— Andrew Kulha (@AKonSports) February 5, 2014
Vianney's Markel Smith @AlmightyKEL23 has signed with #Iowa. #SigningDay #SigningDaySMG
— LThornton_KSDK (@USATodayHSS_STL) February 5, 2014
...except for from Iowa's official account. We're counting him as signed, and will update once it's been officially announced.
UPDATE: Morehouse figured it out: Smith's letter isn't in because schools in St. Louis are closed due to snow. It's expected on Thursday.
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Height: 5'11
Weight: 210 pounds
247 Sports Composite Rating: 3-star
Other Offers: Missouri, Ole Miss, Tulsa, Illinois
Caring Is Creepy: Have a seat, Markel Smith
He set a Missouri high school single-game rushing record earlier this year when he racked up 541 yards in one game. He squats 500 pounds. Also, his high school mascot is the Golden Griffin, which is awesome.
Smith fills the obligatory "big back" role in Iowa's 2014 class. At 5'11 and 210 pounds, he has the size and build to contribute immediately. But he's coming into a program where Mark Weisman gets a ton of carries and LeShun Daniels is set to get the carries that Weisman doesn't get. There's a role for a player like this at Iowa, but it might not be until 2016 before that role actually opens. At least that 500 pound squat will give Weisman a run for his money in the weight room.