Mike Humpal had been limited by back problems early in his career. But when he was needed the most, Humpal filled a void in the linebacker unit after Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge graduated, stepping in at weakside linebacker the past two seasons.

Over the course of his final 24 games, he registered 172 of his 197 career tackles. He paced the Hawkeyes, ranked fourth in the Big Ten Conference and placed 23rd nationally with 123 tackles in 2007.

Humpal lettered three times in football at New Hampton High School. As a senior, he was named to the Des Moines Register Elite first-team All-State team as a linebacker and by the Iowa Newspaper Association as a running back. He added first-team All-Conference accolades as a running back and punter that year and went on to play in the 2003 Shrine Bowl.

The team captain as a senior, Humpal was an All-State honorable mention as a junior running back, adding first-team All-Conference honors. He rushed for 2,308 yards and 30 career touchdowns, averaging 13 yards per carry. He ranked second in the state in rushing in the Class 3A ranks as a junior, totaling 765 yards. He also recorded 98 tackles, seven for negative yards, as a senior.

Humpal won the Class 2A state wrestling title at 215 pounds as a junior. He placed second in the 110-meter high hurdles at the Class 3A state track meet as a junior, placed eighth in the discus and was a member of 400-meter relay team that qualified for state meet.

As a true freshman in 2003, Humpal competed on Iowa's scout team. He appeared in two games the following year before a nagging back injury forced him to shut down for the rest of the season. He returned to action in 2005, appearing in 12 games as a reserve. He went on to total 25 tackles (14 solo) with a stop for a loss and two pass deflections.

Humpal was bothered by a knee sprain in 2006 fall camp and sat out the Purdue clash with a leg contusion, but started 12 other contests at weak-side linebacker. He produced 49 tackles (23 solo) with 4 ½ stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also deflected three passes and intercepted three others.

The linebacker received All-Big Ten Conference second-team honors, leading the team with a career-high 123 tackles (46 solo), including a sack and 5 ½ stops for losses as a senior. He was hampered by an ankle sprain late in the year, but still caused two fumbles and recovered another. He had three more interceptions and broke up two passes.

In 38 games at Iowa, Humpal started 24 times. He finished with 197 tackles (83 solo), a two-yard sack and 11 stops for losses of 31 yards. He caused two fumbles, recovered another and broke up seven throws. He also gained 49 yards on six interception returns.

Positives: Has good upper-body muscle development, adequate arm length and good thickness in his thighs and calves … Plays with good aggression and a sense of urgency, showing consistent effort throughout the game … Solid open-field tackler who has a good feel for blocking pressure when playing inside the box, using his power to stack the run up at the line … Quick in reacting to the play, doing a nice job of locating the ball while knifing through traffic … Shows the ability and power needed to stack and control tight ends at the point of attack … Gets up in a hurry when he's knocked off his feet and makes plays because of his ability to read the offensive plan quickly … Shows good hand usage to tie up the tight ends … Takes proper angles to the ballcarrier and is capable of sifting through the trash at the line … Has a low charge to stack blockers at the line of scrimmage and shows good knee bend as he meets blockers with aggression … Plays at a good pad level, as he has adequate balance and range to roam the field … Plays the flat and curl routes tight and displays enough lateral agility to string the plays wide … Decent wrap-up tackler who stays in control taking on the larger blockers … Maintains balance on the move and uses his hands well to gain separation … Has impressive flexibility dropping off in the zone, staying tight with the receivers in the short area … .Has above-average agility in his zone drops and stays in control working in space … Will uncoil and punish ballcarriers when filling the rush lanes, showing enough flexibility to make hard tackles in pursuit … Sifts through blocks with good effectiveness and can squeeze down the line to make plays in pursuit … Has developed a strong punch to shock the ball carrier on contact, as he has the upper body strength to control the outside running game and redirect it back inside.

Negatives: Shows good hand usage, but needs to keep them inside his frame more often to prevent blockers from getting into his chest … Also needs to use his hands better when working in the pile, as he can be cut by low blocks and struggles to disengage, getting tied up by the larger offensive linemen at the point … Lacks the speed to cover receivers in the flat, but is good at staying with tight ends and backs in the short area … Lacks pass-rush technique, relying more on his hustle to get to the quarterback than mechanics (good blitzer working in-line, but must develop better rip and swim moves coming off the edge) … Must do a better job of opening his hips and planting and driving better, as he does look a bit clumsy turning out of his breaks (late to get back into the route).

Compares To: HUNTER HILLENMEYER-Chicago … Humpal is a blue-collar worker who will not make many mistakes, but will also not make great plays on a steady basis. He is just one of those good fill-in types with the intelligence and savvy to be in position to make the tackle. He might not be a great open-field runner, but does a good job working downhill. He has decent speed to take on tight ends, but the fast-paced NFL game might not be suited for his adequate foot quickness in passing situations.

Campus: 4.82 in the 40-yard dash … 345-pound bench press … 505-pound squat … 32 ½-inch vertical jump … 31 ¼-inch arm length … 10-inch hands.

Combine: 4.86 in the 40-yard dash … Bench pressed 225 pounds 20 times … 31-inch vertical jump … 4.25 20-yard shuttle … 11.56 60-yard shuttle … 7.07 three-cone drill.

Attended New Hampton (Iowa) High School, playing football for head coach Scott Ferichs … Lettered three times in football … Named to the Des Moines Register Elite first-team All-State team as a linebacker and by the Iowa Newspaper Association as a running back … Added first-team All-Conference accolades as a running back and punter in 2002 and went on to play in the 2003 Shrine Bowl … Team captain as a senior … All-State honorable mention as a junior running back, adding first-team All-Conference honors that year … Ran for 2,308 yards and 30 career touchdowns, averaging 13 yards per carry … Ranked second in the state in rushing in the Class 3A ranks as a junior, totaling 765 yards … Also recorded 98 tackles, seven for negative yards, as a senior … Won the Class 2A state wrestling title at 215 pounds as a junior … Placed second in the 110-meter high hurdles at the Class 3A state track meet as a junior, placed eighth in the discus and was a member of 400-meter relay team that qualified for state meet.

Graduated in May, 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Health and Sport Studies and is presently working towards an advanced degree … Four-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference selection … Son of Nancy and Reggie Humpal … Born 2/17/85 … Resides in New Hampton, Iowa.