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Brad Rogers wasn't anticipating any early scholarship offers would come his way after an ankle injury sidetracked the second half of his junior season.

But the big Ohio high school running back did enough during the first half of his season last fall to make an impression on the Iowa football coaches, who extended an offer to Rogers last month.

"It kind of shocked me," he said. "They called up my coach and told me they liked my film and wanted to talk to me. Then they sent the (scholarship offer) papers in the mail."

The 5-foot-11, 225-pound bruiser from Toledo Central Catholic High School accepted the offer Monday, verbally committing to the Hawkeyes and becoming the first member of Iowa's 2009 recruiting class.

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