IC kid goes wide for Panthers - The Daily Iowan - University of Iowa's daily from Iowa City

IC kid goes wide for Panthers

BY JON LINDER | SEPTEMBER 04, 2009 8:50 AM

D.P. Eyman isn’t just a recurring name on the Northern Iowa two-deep. Nor is he simply a former City High playmaker. He is a charmer.

The grin on City High head coach Dan Sabers’ face is almost audible when he talks about his former star.

“He had a great demeanor out on the field,” Sabers said. “He just kept everybody relaxed, and he made plays. That team had as much fun as any football team here that’s had some success.”

Eyman will return to Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 5 for the first time since graduating from City High in 2005. He was an avid Hawkeye football fan growing up, living in the home of his grandparents — Darrell and Joy Eyman. Darrell Eyman, who has been an associate professor of chemistry at the UI for 46 years, said he often took the family to various Hawkeye sporting events, but D.P. had a special interest in Iowa football.

D.P. Eyman, now a fifth-year senior at Northern Iowa, has had an interesting career since leaving Iowa City. Then again, his career at City High was far from par for the course.

To say the least, he was a unique playmaker at City High. He lost his starting quarterback spot early in his junior year but stayed on as a punter — a position from which he made the most memorable play of his career. Former City High teammate and current Iowa center Josh Koeppel can’t help but smile when he remembers the play.

“We played West High, and we ran a fake punt,” Koeppel said. “It was like 60 or 70 yards, and he scored a touchdown.”

Sabers remembers a similar play during Eyman’s senior year, after he regained his starting spot at quarterback. During a game with Cedar Rapids Prairie in the playoffs, Eyman took the ball 80 yards for a touchdown after a fake handoff. Sabers said that play set the tone for the rest of a 24-3 win and a trip to the state semifinals.

Eyman finished the season with 1,434 yards passing and 16 touchdowns, and he added 569 yards and five scores on the ground. That was enough to earn an invitation to the 2005 Shrine Bowl.

While in Ames for the annual all-star game, his teammates voted him an offensive captain. A recognizable name from Bettendorf was elected the team’s defensive captain — Iowa senior linebacker Pat Angerer. Angerer and Eyman grew close during practices, and they still talk on the phone occasionally.

“We never really talked about football all that much,” Angerer said. “He was always a good guy, always really nice. From the first time I met him, I liked him.”

Eyman spent his first two collegiate years backing up All-American quarterback Eric Sanders at Northern Iowa. He eventually fell behind current Panther quarterback Pat Grace on the depth chart, who has a more ideal build for the position at 6-2, 240 pounds.

Eyman decided to take his 185-pound frame and move to a position where the outstanding speed that brought him to Northern Iowa could be better utilized.

“He didn’t get the starting job,” Darrell Eyman said. “So he went to the coaches and told them, ‘I don’t want to be the second-string quarterback, standing on the sidelines.’ ”

After a solid off-season following his sophomore year, Eyman found himself in the first crop of receivers heading into last season.

He saw substantial action as a junior in 2008, playing in all 15 games at wide receiver. He caught five passes for 73 yards on the season, highlighted by a 35-yard touchdown reception in a 23-13 win over North Dakota State.

Following the suspension of backup quarterback Zach Davis, Eyman has resurfaced as a co-second-team quarterback on the latest depth chart. However, barring injury to Grace, Eyman will remain at wide receiver for Saturday’s game.