Iowa Captains for Maine: Two former Cedar Rapids Washington players named

Kirk Ferentz today named four players game captains for Saturday's season opener vs. the Maine Black Bears , including two who originally walked onto Iowa from Cedar Rapids Washington. Players named for this week's game during this week's media conference:

• DT Mitch King, senior from Burlington
• DT Matt Kroul, senior from Mt. Vernon, both for the defense
• C Rob Bruggeman, senior from Cedar Rapids Washington for the offense
• LB Gavin McGrath, senior from Cedar Rapids Washington for the special teams

All four players played high school football in the State of Iowa. King and Kroul are entering their fourth season as starters.

"They'll do a great job at giving us leadership," Kirk Ferentz said at
today's media conference.

The Hawkeyes will open the 2008 college football season on Saturday vs. the Black Bears, with an 11 am kickoff on the Big Ten Network. Kirk Ferentz coached the Black Bears from 1990-1992 and Maine coach Jack Cosgrove, served as Ferentz's offensive coordinator before succeeded Ferentz, when Ferentz moved onto the NFL as an offensive line coach, after the '92 season.

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Cedar Rapids Washington Warriors WR Keenan Davis Verbals

Incoming high school senior Keenan Davis of Cedar Rapids Washington commits to the University of Iowa today. The highly regarded high school WR now can prepare for his senior season at CwR. The Warriors look to get back to the Dome in '08. The Warriors played in the 2003 Class 4A Iowa State Football Championship Game, finishing as a runner-up.

The Warriors have had a busy off season with a trip to the Chicagoland area for a 7x7 tournament. The Warriors have an excellent group of skill players, including senior QB Wyatt Suess and junior RB Andre Dawson.

Washington Warriors head coach Tony Lombardi is in his third season at the Cedar Rapids school. Last year, the Warriors won two exciting come from behind games vs. Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

The question mark will be in the trenches, again. The Warriors have lacked solid line play, since their 2003 team, which was lead by current Iowa senior C/G Rob Bruggeman. The University of Iowa has three former Warriors on their '08 football roster: Bruggeman, senior LB Gavin McGrath and sophomore RB Paki O'Meara.

Cedar Rapids Washington opens the 2008 season at traditional conference power Cedar Falls on Friday, August 29th. The Warriors home opener at Kingston Stadium is the following Thursday, vs. Iowa City High. The Warriors will face a tough road through the Mississippi Valley Conference in '08.

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