Ottumwa’s Houk cracks two-deep at UNI

August 28, 2008 11:01 am

— 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.
“I think that they like me. I don’t know a coach that doesn’t like me. I think I work hard and do everything they ask of me. I’ll go hard every time — if I’m playing scout team or 1-on-1 drills,” said Houk.
Houk — a first-team all-conference performer for head coach Tom Kopatich’s Ottumwa squad — played on two playoff-qualifying teams at Ottumwa.
Houk’s success is fresh off the heels of Tanner Varner’s All-American run for UNI, where he helped the Panthers to a national runner-up finish in 2005. Varner was an all-state prep star for Kopatich and the Bulldogs as well.
Houk is listed on the depth chart behind junior Austin Howard of Davenport.
The future looks very bright for Houk, with a starting slot a distinct possibility in years to come.
“I just take it day-by-day. I’ll be on cloud nine when I actually start,” said Houk.
His Panther squad, ranked No. 4 in the preseason in Div. 1-AA, is gunning for a national title this season. They’ll have a huge game for their program at Provo, Utah this Saturday against Div. I and No. 16-ranked Brigham Young. Houk stated it’s possible he’ll see snaps on offense and will also play on special teams (extra point).
“I want to win. I want those guys to go out there, play hard and win for us,” said Houk. “They keep calling us a Div. II school — we’re definitely not.”
Another star for Ottumwa and fellow 2007 OHS grad — Jon Rusch — will open up play tonight for his Drake Bulldogs against Upper Iowa. Rusch is a redshirt freshman at receiver for first-year Drake head coach Chris Creighton.
Rusch led the Bulldogs to the playoffs in 2006 and was an all-state defensive back and quarterback.
Other area gridiron stars will also open the season this weekend at state institutions.
Tyler Sash of Oskaloosa has cracked the University of Iowa’s two-deep at strong safety behind starters Lance Tillison and Harold Dalton. Sash is a redshirt freshman and shattered the record books while playing at Oskaloosa as a prep.
Former Davis County star Wes Aeschliman, a senior from Bloomfield, is also on Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz’s two-deep at right tackle, behind Kyle Calloway. Aeschliman, a senior and 6-8, 318 pounds, starred for the Mustangs as a prep in basketball and golf, in addition to his gridiron skills.
Iowa opens the season on Saturday at home versus Maine at Kinnick Stadium at 11 a.m.

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