Marc Morehouse, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa –
Nate Meier did everything you can possibly do in a single season of eight-man football in Iowa.
The Fremont-Mills High School senior rushed for 2,494 yards and 57 touchdowns to go along with 112 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. He led his team to an undefeated state championship season and was named the eight-man football player of the year.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder had offers from Northern Iowa and South Dakota on the table. On the last weekend for visits before national signing day next Wednesday, Meier visited Iowa.
He was offered and he accepted.
“I’m going to Iowa,” Meier told HawkeyeReport.com. “Their interest has been really building up the last couple weeks and once they offered, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do, but I wanted to visit first to make sure it was a good fit and I really think it is. I like the facilities, the players, the coaching staff, the way the play and everything.”
Now, what kind of football animal is Meier?
He said he’s being recruited as a running back, but he also said that could change. Iowa is looking at him as a running back, fullback, linebacker and defensive end.
“I’m being recruited as a running back, but they said with my size and my speed, I could fit in at a couple places,” Meier said. “I could play running back, fullback, linebacker, or rush end. I like running back, but I want to get on the field as fast I can, so wherever I can do that is where I want to play.”
In an 80-49 win over East Mills, Meier rushed for 500 yards, topping the eight-player record of 492 set by Andrew Leeper of Adair-Casey in 2006.
An eight-man football field is 80 yards long and 40 yards wide, but that’s the difference beyond three fewer players. Five players must be on the line of scrimmage. Around 20 states offer it.
Fremont-Mills beat Murray 81-0 in the eight-man state championship this fall.
Former Iowa and current Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway played nine-man football in South Dakota.
Iowa has 20 commitments for the 2012 class. The national signing period starts next Wednesday morning.
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Mitch Keppy, OL, 6-5, 287, Riverdale High School (Port Byron, Ill.)
Cameron Wilson, WR, 6-2, 193, Jerome High School (Dublin, Ohio)
Drew Ott, DE, 6-4, 235, Giltner (Neb.) High School
Maurice Fleming Jr., CB, 6-1, 185, Curie High School (Chicago)
Connor Kornbrath, K/P, 6-7, 210, Bridgeport (W.V.) High School
Jaleel Johnson, DT, 6-4, 290, Montini High School (Westchester, Ill.)
Ryan Ward, OL, 6-6, 270, Providence Catholic (New Lenox, Ill.)
Laron Taylor, LB, 6-0, 205, Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.)
Ruben Lile, S, 6-3, 200 Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.)
Greg Mabin, WR, 6-2, 190 Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Daumantas Venckus, DE, 6-4, 220 Cypress Bay (Weston, Fla.)
Faith Ekakitie, DL, 6-3, 285 Lake Forest (Ill.) Academy
Kevin Buford, CB, 5-10, 165 Canton (Mich.) High School
Anthony Morgan, S, 6-1, 185 Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
Tevaun Smith, WR, 6-2, 186 Kent (Conn.) School/Chaminade College High School (Toronto)
Cody Sokol, QB, 6-2, 210 Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College
Greg Garmon, RB, 6-2, 200 McDowell High School (Erie, Pa.)
Eric Simmons, OL, 6-3, 300 Iowa Western Community College/Madrid
Barkley Hill, RB, 6-0, 190 Cedar Falls High School
Nate Meier, RB, 6-2, 235 Fremont-Mills High School
