Back's recovery has Iowa buzzing

Jermelle Lewis is coming back from an ACL tear suffered in the spring.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- Kirk Ferentz is no doctor.
But the Iowa coach has seen enough season-ending injuries to know that running back Jermelle Lewis' recovery from a blown knee defies conventional medical wisdom.
Ferentz said Lewis, the team's second leading rusher last year, could make his season debut Saturday at Ohio State, just seven months after tearing an ACL in a spring practice drill.
"I would not have predicted it ... based on my minimal medical expertise," Ferentz said. "It's medicine and everybody's different. But this is way off the charts.
"Now the big thing is can a guy play with confidence, the confidence it takes to play in a game like this," Ferentz said.
Game of the year
A healthy and productive Lewis could give No. 9 Iowa a big boost in a road game players and coaches say will be the toughest all season.
The No. 8 Buckeyes have one of the nation's stingiest defenses and have beaten Iowa seven straight -- despite a two-year layoff due to the Big Ten's rotating schedule.
Although Wisconsin showed in its 17-10 win Saturday that teams can run on the Buckeyes, the defending national champions still boast the nation's best rush defense, allowing just 59.7 yards per game.
With top receivers Maurice Brown and Ed Hinkel sidelined with injuries, the Hawkeye offense has struggled. Despite averaging 30 points per game, many of those points have been generated by the defense and special teams leaving the offense with good field position.
In the Big Ten, Iowa (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) ranks next to last in total offense and last in passing, averaging just 143 yards per game.
While a healthy Lewis does little for the passing game, his quick, punishing running style keeps defenses off balance when offset with the smaller, elusive Fred Russell.
"It was a good combination last year, but we're going in with the mindset that Fred's our guy," Ferentz said. "If Jermelle can be effective, that's a bonus."
Last year, Lewis ran for 709 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for more than 100 yards four times. He also returned kicks, including a 95-yard TD return against Michigan State.
Cleared to play
Doctors have cleared Lewis to return, but Ferentz said the decision to play Lewis against Ohio State depends on his performance in practice and the risk of bringing any player back too soon.
"We're trying to think long term here," Ferentz said. "So far so good. But we'll know more later in the week."
Lewis said he is eager to run the ball again and is cutting and planting with confidence in practice. He attributed his recovery, weeks ahead of the projected timeline, to long hours in the training room.
"It's not really a surprise because I've been working so hard to get back," Lewis said.
"I feel pretty good about how hard I've been practicing the past couple of days. The confidence is there, now I've just got to keep practicing and getting better," he said.
Ferentz delivered more good medical news about a team riddled with injuries all season.
Receiver Hinkel, hobbled the last three games with a groin injury, should play Saturday. Starting left guard David Walker (knee) and fullback Champ Davis (ankle) are also expected to return.
On defense, Ferentz said more will be known later in the week about the status of starting cornerback Jovan Johnson, who injured a knee two weeks ago against Michigan.