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IOWA CITY – Jewel Hampton is done, out for the season.

He has an unspecified knee injury that will require surgery later this week.

But if Kirk Ferentz was stressed out over the fact that the anointed successor to Shonn Greene will not play this season, he wasn’t showing it Tuesday.

With the season opener against the University of Northern Iowa just days away, Iowa’s head coach seemed perfectly content to have former walk-on Paki O’Meara as his No. 1 running back.

“Paki has played well for a couple years now,” Ferentz said at his first weekly news conference. “We had our last big scrimmage, full scrimmage, a week ago Friday night, and I thought that was his best performance as a Hawkeye … I think his game continues to improve and he made some good plays in all areas, not just running the football, catching it, blocking and all those types of things.”

O’Meara, a 211-pound junior from Cedar Rapids, has been mostly a special teams player at Iowa. He carried the ball 21 times for 62 yards last season, mostly in mop-up situations.

Hampton prospered as Greene’s backup last fall, but he sat out much of the spring with a bad hamstring and has had recurring issues with the knee since June. Ferentz said he and his staff kept hoping Hampton would be ready for the season, but not anymore.

“Probably the only good thing I can say is it didn’t happen in the fifth game,” he said. “That’s probably good news if you want to put a positive spin on it. And the other good news is it’s a repairable injury, and he’ll be back full strength here.”

Ferentz never spelled out exactly what the injury is. Asked twice if it was a damaged anterior cruciate ligament, he said, “He’s got a knee, knee surgery.”

Many of Hampton’s teammates didn’t realize the injury was so severe.

“He’s been moving around,” O’Meara said. “He looked pretty good to me so I didn’t know what the situation was. I was kind of hoping he’d be able to play.”

Redshirt freshman Jeff Brinson, also expected to contribute at running back, also has been hobbled by unspecified injuries and just returned to practice this week. That leaves O’Meara No. 1 on the depth chart and redshirt freshman Adam Robinson, from Des Moines, No. 2.

Brandon Wegher, a true freshman who has been battling injuries, also is expected to see action this season.

Ferentz admitted it could be running back by committee.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be a two-man, three-man, four-man, but we’ll do whatever it takes to be effective out there,” he said.

But for now, he said he’s comfortable with O’Meara.

“He just does everything well,” Ferentz said. “It’s not like there’s any one attribute that stands out. He’s not the strongest guy. He’s not the fastest guy. He’s just pretty well rounded, which is a good way to be as a football player.”

O’Meara, who got a new tattoo on his left bicep this summer that reflects his Samoan heritage, said he didn’t have any full scholarship offers coming out of Washington High School. UNI, Saturday’s opponent, offered him a partial ride.

He admitted that becoming a starter for the Hawkeyes is “definitely a dream come true.”

“I’ve been here forever it seems like and I’m very comfortable with everything on the field, all the schemes and all the plays …” he said.

“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. I’m confident in my own abilities. Hopefully, this first game will prove itself out.”

Quick hitters

Like most college football teams at this time of year, the Hawkeyes are chomping at the bit to get out and play a game against outside competition. “There have been a lot more fights in practice,” senior linebacker Pat Angerer said. “It seems like there’s one every other play. We’re pretty much getting sick of each other.” … Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said he expects at least three true freshmen to play this season. Wide receiver Keenan Davis and running back Brandon Wegher should see action on offense with Micah Hyde playing on the defensive side of the ball. “I was trying to keep a lid on that, but I think the Big Ten Network exposed us totally last week …’’ Ferentz said. “We couldn’t hide Hyde, I guess. We plan on playing those three guys, and after that we’ll tread water a little bit probably.’’ … Colin Sandeman, plagued by hamstring problems this fall, is not listed on the Iowa depth chart at either receiver or as a return man, but Ferentz said the former Bettendorf star will be in uniform Saturday against Northern Iowa. “He has a chance to play,’’ he said. “He’ll be on the field this week.  He’s been trying to work back, but I’m just not sure where we’re at right now.’’ … No decision has been made on who will start at the left cornerback position, vacated when Jordan Bernstine broke his ankle three weeks ago. Ferentz said he will choose between sophomore William Lowe and freshman Greg Castillo late in the week. … The Hawkeyes’ captains for the season opener will be seniors linebackers A.J. Edds and Pat Angerer, senior tight end Tony Moeaki and junior quarterback Ricky Stanzi.

 Depth chart for Saturday:

- Paki O’Meara, 5-11, 211, jr.

- Adam Robinson, 5-9, 205, fr.

- Brandon Wegher, 5-11, 206, fr.