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Caring Is Creepy 2014: New Iowa Hawkeye Running Back Markel Smith

Three-star running back from St. Louis, Missouri.

Markel Smith

Running back

Note: There have been plenty of tweets about Smith signing his letter of intent from all over...

...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.