LINCOLN — Iowa Western’s Scott Strohmeier coaches the nation’s No. 1 junior college team. He has an offensive tackle already committed to TCU, a defensive tackle who just nabbed a scholarship offer from Alabama, and a 5-foot-11, 215-pound running back, Mekhi Sargent, who runs like a Big Ten bowling ball. In his 32-carry, 376-yard performance at Garden City, Sargent knocked over a lot of pins.
What’s more, Strohmeier runs a program that has sent dozens of players to FBS colleges. Wisconsin. Iowa. Illinois. Maryland. Louisville. Kansas State. Virginia Tech.
Just not the program an hour’s drive — 66 miles — from his Iowa Western front door.