Missouri was already happy about getting selected for the Insight Bowl ahead of Nebraska, but now the Tigers' opponent, Iowa, will be playing without its top two running backs and its leading receiver.
Jewel Hampton and Adam Robinson won't be in Tempe, Ariz. with the Hawkeyes to face Missouri. Hampton has chosen to transfer, and Robinson was suspended.
"Jewel Hampton has decided to leave the team and plans to transfer to another school to complete his degree and finish his career," Ferentz said in a prepared statement. "We wish him the best of success in the future. While Adam has been cleared medically, he will not be participating in the upcoming Insight Bowl game as a result of failing to comply with team expectations and policies. Adam will have the option to rejoin the team when classes resume in January."
Robinson started at running back throughout the 2010 season and led Iowa with 941 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Hampton appeared in two games before suffering an ACL tear in his knee. He missed the entire 2009 season with an ACL tear after rushing for 577 and eight touchdowns as a freshman in 2008.
The news comes after senior receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos was kicked off the team for multiple drug charges last week. The Hawkeyes' sophomore running back Brandon Wegher also elected to transfer before the bowl game.
According to colleague Adam Rittenberg, that leaves true freshman Marcus Coker to carry the ball for Iowa.
You never like to see guys make bad decisions, but while Missouri prepares for its bowl in relative quiet, Iowa looks like it's in complete disarray. The flip side for the Tigers is when he was given a heavy load of carries, Coker excelled.
He rushed for 129 yards on 22 carries in a win over Indiana, and for 90 yards on 21 carries against rival Minnesota. We'll surely get a long look at him in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 28.