OTTUMWA — Fried egg sandwiches, chocolate chip pancakes, eight slices of pizza and a pound of pasta.

Here’s where Ottumwa’s Mitch Houk and Michael Phelps can find common ground.

The swimming part? Not so much.

One of the greatest Olympians of all time doesn’t wear a helmet like Houk and he certainly can’t match the Ottumwa native’s bulk — but they both love to eat.

Dining buddies they could be, although Houk can’t quite hold a candle to Phelps’ 12,000 calorie-a-day diet or his eight gold medals achieved in Beijing recently.

Donning the bright red “O” on his Ottumwa Bulldog white helmet, Houk wore his uniform with pride. He towered over the competition. Standing at 6-7, 255 pounds, it was easy to see why.

Wearing the purple and gold of Northern Iowa, Houk has bulked up even more, obviously courtesy of heavy lifting and a steady ration of man-food. Burger King’s flamed-broiled whoppers need to take cover when Houk swings the door open.

Food is just a single element that has led to Houk’s incredible rise up the depth chart at UNI.

Houk, a red-shirt freshman for head coach Mark Farley’s perenniel-power Panther squad, has risen fast among the ranks and has cracked UNI’s two-deep at left tackle, according to the Panther’s prospectus.

Asked about the amount of rations he can put in his mouth, Houk wasn’t specific, but he made sure it be known that it was substantial.

“I don’t know — a lot. I remember one time I ate at Burger King and all the stuff I ate there was probably 3,000 calories,” said Houk, a 2007 OHS grad.

The type of food doesn’t matter for Houk.

“I eat until I almost throw up every time, pretty much. I’ve already eaten three meals now and I’m ready to go eat another one,” said Houk, who now tips the scales at 280 pounds. “I just eat everything — healthy stuff, unhealthy stuff. Whatever I want — whatever sounds good.”

Houk ended this year’s camp weighing 239 pounds after starting it 16 pounds heavier. Hard work and year-round lifting has gotten him up to his bulking frame right now. Houk mentioned he is also much stronger.

UNI coaches have been impressed.