The season is finally upon us. Thursday will begin the start of another Hoosier season with hopes of making a bowl trip at the end of the year. Before kickoff on Thursday here are a few things you should know.
-With the first depth chart released it looks like Aaron Price and Marc Damisch will be starting at guards. Justin Pagan and Cody Faulkner were hurt most of the off season so it shouldn't be a huge surprise that the hard work of Price and Damisch have gotten them a spot with the starters for week 1. The coaching staff will be rotating many players on the o-line throughout the game so expect to see a handful of different combinations of players on the field.
- Matt Ernest got the nod at the corner spot opposite of Richard Council. Ernest had a good spring and followed it up with a good fall as well. There was great competition at the corner position this off season and like most of the other positions, the coaching staff will rotate a handful of guys. JUCO Andre Kates has been playing well but has only been here since the summer so I'm not too surprised he didn't crack the starting lineup week 1.
- With Tandon Doss being held out of the starting lineup due to an injury look for Duwyce Wilson to step up and have a big game. The Hoosiers are loaded at the WR position so there will most likely be a handful of players that get playing time. This will be a great opportunity for Duwyce in particular to really show what he can do.
- At the running back position there could be the possibility of freshman Antonio Banks or Matt Perez seeing some playing time. Banks came here in the spring so he probably has a leg up on Perez at this point but don't be surprised if some young tail backs get a look.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Espn Bowl Predictions
Obviously it is very early to make bowl predictions but it can't hurt to see espn pick IU to go bowling. Click on the link to see the rest of the list.
On another note it is taking longer than expected to get everything transferred to the new blog site hoosierstateofmind.com but I will keep you posted when I have a better picture of when that will happen.
On another note it is taking longer than expected to get everything transferred to the new blog site hoosierstateofmind.com but I will keep you posted when I have a better picture of when that will happen.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Chappell A Candidate for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
Per IUHoosiers.com: Link
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana fifth-year senior quarterback Ben Chappell is one of 30 candidates for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in football. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition.
Chappell is IU's third nominee in the award's three years of existence, following finalist Austin Starr in 2008 and Jammie Kirlew in 2009. The Bloomington native also was nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® and named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List earlier this preseason.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The 2010 candidate class includes 10 American Football Coaches Association Allstate Good Works Team® nominees. Nine of the 30 have maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. Five of the candidates were recognized by the College Sports Information Directors of America as 2009 Academic All-Americans, and 10 are members of teams ranked in the USA Today coaches preseason top 25 poll. Lowe's, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, will announce the Senior CLASS Award® winner at the conclusion of the regular season.
The candidate class will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
"The young men in our football candidate class are excellent examples of student-athletes who spend quality time helping improve their communities," said Tom Lamb, Lowe's senior vice president of marketing. "We are pleased to recognize them and excited to see what they accomplish during their senior seasons."
For more information on all the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana fifth-year senior quarterback Ben Chappell is one of 30 candidates for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in football. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition.
Chappell is IU's third nominee in the award's three years of existence, following finalist Austin Starr in 2008 and Jammie Kirlew in 2009. The Bloomington native also was nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® and named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List earlier this preseason.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The 2010 candidate class includes 10 American Football Coaches Association Allstate Good Works Team® nominees. Nine of the 30 have maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. Five of the candidates were recognized by the College Sports Information Directors of America as 2009 Academic All-Americans, and 10 are members of teams ranked in the USA Today coaches preseason top 25 poll. Lowe's, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, will announce the Senior CLASS Award® winner at the conclusion of the regular season.
The candidate class will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
"The young men in our football candidate class are excellent examples of student-athletes who spend quality time helping improve their communities," said Tom Lamb, Lowe's senior vice president of marketing. "We are pleased to recognize them and excited to see what they accomplish during their senior seasons."
For more information on all the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com
Monday, August 23, 2010
Hoosier Nuggets
Just a couple of notes from the Hoosier Scoop. Link
Due to Chris Adkins injury both Lawrence Barnett and Yatta Kiles have been moved to the safety position. This shouldn't be a big surprise due to the depth we have developed at the corner position and the improvement Richard Council has made this off-season. If the position switch doesn't work out for either of them there is always the possibility that they could be moved back because of all the quality reps they have had at the corner position.
On another note defensive end Fred Jones is really starting the emerge as the anchor of the defensive ends. Andrew Mcdonald is ahead of the game at the left tackle position and Freshman Chase Hoobler and Kofi Hughes will likely make the travel roster and not the scout team. The back-up quarterback spot is still going back and forth between Dusty Kiel and Ed Wright-Baker.
Due to Chris Adkins injury both Lawrence Barnett and Yatta Kiles have been moved to the safety position. This shouldn't be a big surprise due to the depth we have developed at the corner position and the improvement Richard Council has made this off-season. If the position switch doesn't work out for either of them there is always the possibility that they could be moved back because of all the quality reps they have had at the corner position.
On another note defensive end Fred Jones is really starting the emerge as the anchor of the defensive ends. Andrew Mcdonald is ahead of the game at the left tackle position and Freshman Chase Hoobler and Kofi Hughes will likely make the travel roster and not the scout team. The back-up quarterback spot is still going back and forth between Dusty Kiel and Ed Wright-Baker.
Rittenberg has Hoosier WR Ranked Second in Big Ten
Here is a link to Adam Rittenberg's blog where he has a done a great job ranking the top 5 schools at each position in the Big Ten. Finally the Hoosiers make one of the lists with their talented wide receiving core, and here is what Adam wrote about the top 2 teams. Follow the link above to read the rest of the rankings.
The position rankings move on to the wide receivers and tight ends, who will be grouped together. The Big Ten remains a defense-first conference, but I really like the depth at receiver and, to a lesser extent, tight end throughout the league. Although star power was considered, I put a very strong emphasis on overall depth and 2010 potential here.
This was the toughest position to whittle down to five (actually, six), but here goes ...
1. Michigan State: Sure, there's a lack of star power entering the season, but trust me, that will change. There's not a deeper group of receivers and tight ends in the Big Ten than this one. Veterans B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell anchor the receiving corps, and dangerous speedster Keshawn Martin will play a much bigger role in the offense this season. Converted quarterback Keith Nichol also joins the mix there. Michigan State also boasts three talented tight ends, including Mackey Award watch list members Charlie Gantt and Brian Linthicum.
2. Indiana: The Hoosiers return two of the Big Ten's top five receivers in Tandon Doss, a first-team all-conference selection, and Damarlo Belcher. They also add experience with Terrance Turner and exciting young players like Duwyce Wilson and Dre Muhammad. Overall depth is a bit of a question mark, but both Doss and Belcher will get the attention of opposing defensive backs after combining for 1,732 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last fall. Max Dedmond returns at tight end after recording 18 receptions in 2009.
The position rankings move on to the wide receivers and tight ends, who will be grouped together. The Big Ten remains a defense-first conference, but I really like the depth at receiver and, to a lesser extent, tight end throughout the league. Although star power was considered, I put a very strong emphasis on overall depth and 2010 potential here.
This was the toughest position to whittle down to five (actually, six), but here goes ...
1. Michigan State: Sure, there's a lack of star power entering the season, but trust me, that will change. There's not a deeper group of receivers and tight ends in the Big Ten than this one. Veterans B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell anchor the receiving corps, and dangerous speedster Keshawn Martin will play a much bigger role in the offense this season. Converted quarterback Keith Nichol also joins the mix there. Michigan State also boasts three talented tight ends, including Mackey Award watch list members Charlie Gantt and Brian Linthicum.
2. Indiana: The Hoosiers return two of the Big Ten's top five receivers in Tandon Doss, a first-team all-conference selection, and Damarlo Belcher. They also add experience with Terrance Turner and exciting young players like Duwyce Wilson and Dre Muhammad. Overall depth is a bit of a question mark, but both Doss and Belcher will get the attention of opposing defensive backs after combining for 1,732 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last fall. Max Dedmond returns at tight end after recording 18 receptions in 2009.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunday Morning Reads
CB Richard Council has really stood out this off-season and the IndyStar writes a good article on him
Lynch's reaction to the younger players performance at the scrimmage: Link
Hoosiers focusing on limiting mental lapses: Link
Lynch's reaction to the younger players performance at the scrimmage: Link
Hoosiers focusing on limiting mental lapses: Link
Scrimmage Recap
Per iuhoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - With the season opener against Towson just 12 days away, the Indiana football team held a scrimmage at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Some of the younger players received a chance to shine and Head Coach Bill Lynch came away impressed with what he saw.
"We saw a bunch of young kids flying around and playing hard," Lynch said following the scrimmage. "It was really good to give them all a lot of reps. As a result, we held out a lot of our experienced guys to see what the younger guys can really do."
Two redshirt freshmen stood out offensively, as quarterback Dusty Kiel and tight end Ted Bolser turned in big afternoons. Kiel completed 14-of-16 for 129 yards with one touchdown. Bolser was on the receiving end of that TD pass and hauled in five catches overall for 46 yards.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Ben Chappeall played one series and went 6-of-7 for 42 yards, and redshirt freshman Edward Wright-Baker completed 5-of-7 for 26 yards and one scoring strike.
True freshman wide receiver Kofi Hughes pulled in three catches for 13 yards and picked up a fumble and raced it 92 yards for a touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball, junior linebacker Leon Beckum and freshman defensive tackle Marlandez Harris led the way with six tackles apiece. Fifth-year senior cornerback Richard Council, junior cornerback Matt Ernest, redshirt freshman linebacker Damon Sims and fifth-year senior safety Aaron Burks each had five stops.
Fifth-year senior defensive lineman Deonte Mack recorded the only sack of the scrimmage, while true freshman linebacker Chase Hoobler and true freshmen cornerback Brian Williams both forced a fumble.
Sophomore Nick Freeland and redshirt freshman Mitch Ewald each connected on both of their field goal attempts.
"We have had a great camp," Lynch said. "We made a real emphasis on giving the young kids a lot of reps. Some of them really showed themselves well today, on both sides of the ball. We'll give them tomorrow off, and then Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be the final three days of camp, and then we'll start to focus on Towson."
Indiana opens the 2010 season against Towson on Thursday, Sept. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Season tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling 866-IUSPORTS. Students can also add season tickets to their Bursar account during class registration.
IU had the third-largest one-year percentage increase in average attendance nationally in 2009, increasing by 10,051 to 41,833. It marked the Hoosiers' largest home attendance since 1992 (44,074) and the first time they exceeded 40,000 since the same year.
Indiana also sold out an expanded student section twice, against Ohio State (11,000 seats) and again vs. Purdue (15,200 seats). The Purdue total was the fourth-largest student section in Memorial Stadium history and the largest since 1989.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - With the season opener against Towson just 12 days away, the Indiana football team held a scrimmage at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Some of the younger players received a chance to shine and Head Coach Bill Lynch came away impressed with what he saw.
"We saw a bunch of young kids flying around and playing hard," Lynch said following the scrimmage. "It was really good to give them all a lot of reps. As a result, we held out a lot of our experienced guys to see what the younger guys can really do."
Two redshirt freshmen stood out offensively, as quarterback Dusty Kiel and tight end Ted Bolser turned in big afternoons. Kiel completed 14-of-16 for 129 yards with one touchdown. Bolser was on the receiving end of that TD pass and hauled in five catches overall for 46 yards.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Ben Chappeall played one series and went 6-of-7 for 42 yards, and redshirt freshman Edward Wright-Baker completed 5-of-7 for 26 yards and one scoring strike.
True freshman wide receiver Kofi Hughes pulled in three catches for 13 yards and picked up a fumble and raced it 92 yards for a touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball, junior linebacker Leon Beckum and freshman defensive tackle Marlandez Harris led the way with six tackles apiece. Fifth-year senior cornerback Richard Council, junior cornerback Matt Ernest, redshirt freshman linebacker Damon Sims and fifth-year senior safety Aaron Burks each had five stops.
Fifth-year senior defensive lineman Deonte Mack recorded the only sack of the scrimmage, while true freshman linebacker Chase Hoobler and true freshmen cornerback Brian Williams both forced a fumble.
Sophomore Nick Freeland and redshirt freshman Mitch Ewald each connected on both of their field goal attempts.
"We have had a great camp," Lynch said. "We made a real emphasis on giving the young kids a lot of reps. Some of them really showed themselves well today, on both sides of the ball. We'll give them tomorrow off, and then Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be the final three days of camp, and then we'll start to focus on Towson."
Indiana opens the 2010 season against Towson on Thursday, Sept. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Season tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling 866-IUSPORTS. Students can also add season tickets to their Bursar account during class registration.
IU had the third-largest one-year percentage increase in average attendance nationally in 2009, increasing by 10,051 to 41,833. It marked the Hoosiers' largest home attendance since 1992 (44,074) and the first time they exceeded 40,000 since the same year.
Indiana also sold out an expanded student section twice, against Ohio State (11,000 seats) and again vs. Purdue (15,200 seats). The Purdue total was the fourth-largest student section in Memorial Stadium history and the largest since 1989.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
WR Leaves Program
It has been announced that Tyler Adetona has left the Hoosier program. Personally I think he could have developed into a good slot receiver for the Hoosiers. Although it is never good news when a player leaves the program, due to the Hoosiers quality depth at the position it would have made it difficult for him to see extended playing time. Stay tuned for updates.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Phillips Brothers Remember Fallen Father
A very sad loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Phillips family.
http://spty.tw/7Yr
http://spty.tw/7Yr
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Getting to Know Andre Kates
One of the players I am most excited for this season has to be Andre Kates. Once a big time heralded recruit coming out of high school, Kates has definitely had an interesting road to Bloomington. Here is a great article written by Adam Rittenberg to help you get to know him better:
Indiana has spent most of the training camp practicing in oppressive heat, but Andre Kates doesn't mind.
When the Hoosiers' strength and conditioning staff demands one more rep in the weight room, Kates willingly obliges.
And when Kates' new teammates whine about the size of their uniforms, the cornerback just shakes his head and smiles.
"They're like, 'Man, it's too tight,'" Kates said. "In junior college, we had to put tape around our uniforms to try to make it tight."
Kates has no complaints about the rigors of preseason camp at a Big Ten school. After what he has been through the last few years, this is the easy part.
Kates' road to Indiana started near Washington D.C., made a U-turn in Gainesville, Fla., nearly stretched to California and eventually reached junior colleges in upstate New York and Brooklyn. He faced academic hurdles and, for a time, questioned whether he still wanted to play, but he's finally ready for the spotlight.
"I have big plans," Kates said.
Kates also had big plans at Surrattsville High School outside Washington D.C., where he thrived in a number of positions, including quarterback, wide receiver, return specialist and even long snapper. Recruited as an athlete, Kates verbally committed to play for national powerhouse Florida.
But he failed to qualify academically, putting his plans on hold.
"I thought I was going to get away with it," he said. "Since I was a big-time football player in high school, I thought, ‘Aw, man, I’m alright. They’ll let me through, they’ll let me through.’ But it didn’t happen. It was real tough, thinking you’re about to go in and play at a big-time program like that, and then you turn around and realize you’re not eligible.
"After the Florida thing, I was done. I didn’t want to play any more."
Kates considered "life as a regular teenager" but was steered back by several people, including his uncle, Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis, and his best friend, Joe Haden, who went on to star for Florida at cornerback.
"They were saying, ‘Dre, you’ve got to stick in there. Go to a junior college, get your mind right," Kates said.
The original plan called for Kates to attend Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, Calif., but financial issues forced him to stay home and help support his family. He eventually enrolled at Erie Community College, which has campuses both in and near Buffalo, N.Y.
Kates recorded three interceptions in his first season as a defensive player, earning all-conference honors. He also became Indiana's first commit for the 2010 class, pledging in May 2009, but his academics remained an issue.
"When he first committed to us, I traveled to Erie and his first transcript wasn't great," Hoosiers co-defensive coordinator Joe Palcic recalled. "I told him, 'Hey, you need to get this many hours and a C or better in all your classes to transfer. He told me, 'Coach, I can do it.'"
Kates needed 61 transferable credits to enroll at Indiana and no grades below a C. After a year at Erie, he transferred to ASA College in Brooklyn, N.Y., which could offer him scholarship money. The problem: ASA only accepted six of the 24 credits Kates had earned at Erie.
Kates began taking a full course load at ASA and also enrolled in online courses elsewhere to make up ground. He finished junior college with a 3.4 GPA and earned his associate's degree.
"I was taking 18 credits during the school year and six credits on the side, just to get here," he said. "So I had the will to want to do it."
On the field, Kates continued to excel, earning junior college All-America honors for ASA with 64 tackles, two interceptions, nine pass breakups, four blocked field goals and two blocked punts. Named Junior College Player of the Year by Triumphant Sports, he received 18 offers from FBS programs, including Miami and Clemson, but stuck with Indiana.
Having the chance to face the Hoosiers' talented wide receivers in practice lured Kates, but Palcic was the biggest reason why he came to Bloomington.
"He was one coach I always respected," Kates said. "Every contact period he had, he gave me a call and let me know they really need me, and now I’m here."
Although Kates was Indiana's first verbal, he took visits elsewhere and raised anxiety among Hoosiers fans, not to mention Palcic.
"I wasn’t 100 percent confident," Palcic said. "He kept telling me, ‘Indiana's it, Indiana's it,’ but until that final week, I wasn’t sure."
Kates now finds himself in a six-man cluster for two starting cornerback spots that Palcic calls the most competitive position race on the team. Indiana returns two veterans in Richard Council and Adrian Burks, and brought in another juco corner, Lenyatta Kiles, who went through spring drills.
Kiles and Kates have bonded, reviewing video of every practice together after the regular review with the team. Both players should see plenty of field time this fall.
"He came in surprisingly polished," Palcic said of Kates. "He has great backpedal, quick feet, he's explosive coming out of his breaks. I'm impressed with his ability to pick up the defense."
Kates credits his support system for helping him to this point: Portis, Haden, his parents and his sister. He also continues to play football as a tribute to his brother, Cameron, who died of a brain tumor in 1996.
"He's been a big-time motivation," Kates said.
It has been a long road, but Kates has no regrets.
"I've started a new chapter," he said.
Indiana has spent most of the training camp practicing in oppressive heat, but Andre Kates doesn't mind.
When the Hoosiers' strength and conditioning staff demands one more rep in the weight room, Kates willingly obliges.
And when Kates' new teammates whine about the size of their uniforms, the cornerback just shakes his head and smiles.
"They're like, 'Man, it's too tight,'" Kates said. "In junior college, we had to put tape around our uniforms to try to make it tight."
Kates has no complaints about the rigors of preseason camp at a Big Ten school. After what he has been through the last few years, this is the easy part.
Kates' road to Indiana started near Washington D.C., made a U-turn in Gainesville, Fla., nearly stretched to California and eventually reached junior colleges in upstate New York and Brooklyn. He faced academic hurdles and, for a time, questioned whether he still wanted to play, but he's finally ready for the spotlight.
"I have big plans," Kates said.
Kates also had big plans at Surrattsville High School outside Washington D.C., where he thrived in a number of positions, including quarterback, wide receiver, return specialist and even long snapper. Recruited as an athlete, Kates verbally committed to play for national powerhouse Florida.
But he failed to qualify academically, putting his plans on hold.
"I thought I was going to get away with it," he said. "Since I was a big-time football player in high school, I thought, ‘Aw, man, I’m alright. They’ll let me through, they’ll let me through.’ But it didn’t happen. It was real tough, thinking you’re about to go in and play at a big-time program like that, and then you turn around and realize you’re not eligible.
"After the Florida thing, I was done. I didn’t want to play any more."
Kates considered "life as a regular teenager" but was steered back by several people, including his uncle, Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis, and his best friend, Joe Haden, who went on to star for Florida at cornerback.
"They were saying, ‘Dre, you’ve got to stick in there. Go to a junior college, get your mind right," Kates said.
The original plan called for Kates to attend Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, Calif., but financial issues forced him to stay home and help support his family. He eventually enrolled at Erie Community College, which has campuses both in and near Buffalo, N.Y.
Kates recorded three interceptions in his first season as a defensive player, earning all-conference honors. He also became Indiana's first commit for the 2010 class, pledging in May 2009, but his academics remained an issue.
"When he first committed to us, I traveled to Erie and his first transcript wasn't great," Hoosiers co-defensive coordinator Joe Palcic recalled. "I told him, 'Hey, you need to get this many hours and a C or better in all your classes to transfer. He told me, 'Coach, I can do it.'"
Kates needed 61 transferable credits to enroll at Indiana and no grades below a C. After a year at Erie, he transferred to ASA College in Brooklyn, N.Y., which could offer him scholarship money. The problem: ASA only accepted six of the 24 credits Kates had earned at Erie.
Kates began taking a full course load at ASA and also enrolled in online courses elsewhere to make up ground. He finished junior college with a 3.4 GPA and earned his associate's degree.
"I was taking 18 credits during the school year and six credits on the side, just to get here," he said. "So I had the will to want to do it."
On the field, Kates continued to excel, earning junior college All-America honors for ASA with 64 tackles, two interceptions, nine pass breakups, four blocked field goals and two blocked punts. Named Junior College Player of the Year by Triumphant Sports, he received 18 offers from FBS programs, including Miami and Clemson, but stuck with Indiana.
Having the chance to face the Hoosiers' talented wide receivers in practice lured Kates, but Palcic was the biggest reason why he came to Bloomington.
"He was one coach I always respected," Kates said. "Every contact period he had, he gave me a call and let me know they really need me, and now I’m here."
Although Kates was Indiana's first verbal, he took visits elsewhere and raised anxiety among Hoosiers fans, not to mention Palcic.
"I wasn’t 100 percent confident," Palcic said. "He kept telling me, ‘Indiana's it, Indiana's it,’ but until that final week, I wasn’t sure."
Kates now finds himself in a six-man cluster for two starting cornerback spots that Palcic calls the most competitive position race on the team. Indiana returns two veterans in Richard Council and Adrian Burks, and brought in another juco corner, Lenyatta Kiles, who went through spring drills.
Kiles and Kates have bonded, reviewing video of every practice together after the regular review with the team. Both players should see plenty of field time this fall.
"He came in surprisingly polished," Palcic said of Kates. "He has great backpedal, quick feet, he's explosive coming out of his breaks. I'm impressed with his ability to pick up the defense."
Kates credits his support system for helping him to this point: Portis, Haden, his parents and his sister. He also continues to play football as a tribute to his brother, Cameron, who died of a brain tumor in 1996.
"He's been a big-time motivation," Kates said.
It has been a long road, but Kates has no regrets.
"I've started a new chapter," he said.
Saffold Gets Injured
According the nbcsports.com former Hoosier left tackle Rodger Saffold has suffered a back injury that could leave him on the sidelines for a while.
Due in large part to the failure of last year's pick in the first round, Jason Smith, to develop quickly as a left tackle, the Rams had to use the first pick in the second round on another potential left tackle.
And now said left tackle, Rodger Saffold, could be out for a while after suffering a back injury in practice on Monday.
"[W]hat I was told was somebody fell into his back when he was engaged," coach Steve Spagnuolu said in comments distributed by the team. "It's a concern. We'll see what happens when they take an x-ray."
The injury could force Smith to flip from the right side back to the left side.
Due in large part to the failure of last year's pick in the first round, Jason Smith, to develop quickly as a left tackle, the Rams had to use the first pick in the second round on another potential left tackle.
And now said left tackle, Rodger Saffold, could be out for a while after suffering a back injury in practice on Monday.
"[W]hat I was told was somebody fell into his back when he was engaged," coach Steve Spagnuolu said in comments distributed by the team. "It's a concern. We'll see what happens when they take an x-ray."
The injury could force Smith to flip from the right side back to the left side.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Ranking Big Ten QB's
Do you guys agree? Disagree? From Adam Rittenberg:
As you might have noticed, we're all about quarterbacks today at ESPN.com, and it's time to rank the Big Ten signal callers.
This hasn't been a Big Ten strength in recent years, but things could change this fall. Quarterbacks like Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor, Iowa's Ricky Stanzi and Wisconsin's Scott Tolzien all have proven they can win at a high level, and Ben Chappell (Indiana) and Kirk Cousins (Michigan State) put up some strong numbers last fall.
The criteria are the same I used for the top 25 preseason rankings: past performance and 2010 potential. You can gripe all you want about the top four choices, but you shouldn't be surprised because all four quarterbacks were ranked in the exact same order in June/July. The Big Ten blogger is not a hypocrite. One final note: These are individual player rankings, but I consolidated the quarterback candidates at Michigan and Penn State to make it easier.
I fully expect this list to be different in early January, but here goes:
Terrelle Pryor's performance in the Rose Bowl solidified his rank as the Big Ten's best quarterback.
1. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State: How can I rank Pryor at No. 1 based on one great performance? For starters, it took place in a huge game, the Rose Bowl, against a top 10 opponent in Oregon. Plus, I think Pryor will go forward rather than backward and become a more complete quarterback this fall. He has more natural ability than anyone else on this list, and while he'll never be a model passer, he only needs to improve a little to become a lot more dangerous.
2. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa: It's very close between Stanzi and Tolzien, but Stanzi's 18-4 mark as Iowa's starting quarterback sets him apart. Yes, you can point to the mistakes, and there were a lot of them, but no quarterback in the country made more big plays in the fourth quarter than No. 12. I expect a smarter and more efficient Stanzi in 2010. Plus, he's a damn fine American.
3. Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin: Simply stated, he's the perfect quarterback for Wisconsin. Tolzien is smart, extremely efficient and totally aware of his role in the offense. He executes the play-action well and can thread the needle when he needs to. Tolzien still needs to prove himself against the Big Ten's best defenses, but I expect a very strong senior season from him.
4. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State: Take away a few late-game mistakes and a poor second half against Penn State, and Cousins turned in a very strong season as a first-year starter. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is strong (19-9), and he'll only get better with more experience. Plus, he has an excellent group of receivers and tight ends at his disposal this fall.
5. Ben Chappell, Indiana: Chappell is the Big Ten's leading returning passer (2,941 yards in 2009), and he ranks second in completion percentage (62.6) among returning starters. He needs to cut down on his interceptions and make better throws in the red zone, but all that should come this fall. Chappell has some great receivers to work with, namely Tandon Doss, but would really benefit from a consistent run game.
6. Adam Weber, Minnesota: Some Gophers fans have given up on Weber after a poor junior season, but I still have faith in No. 8, who happens to be a record holder at the U. It hasn't been easy with three offensive coordinators in as many seasons, and the system last year would have been tough for any quarterback to run. Weber still has a ton of talent, but he needs to regain the confidence we saw for most of 2008, when he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. He also needs to prove himself without star receiver Eric Decker.
7. Robert Marve, Purdue: Marve clearly doesn't grade high in past performance after struggling at Miami in 2008, but his potential this fall is very high. He'll benefit from working in Purdue's spread offense, and he'll have no shortage of targets in Keith Smith, Justin Siller, Cortez Smith and others. The ability always has been there with Marve, and we'll start to see results this fall.
8. Tate Forcier/Denard Robinson, Michigan: No starter has been named, and while head coach Rich Rodriguez has a bit of evidence from 2009, he'll be selecting a No. 1 quarterback based on who he believes has greater potential in 2010. Both players can run, although Robinson is more explosive on the move. Forcier was far and away the better passer in 2009, but he struggled to make plays when he wasn't freelancing. Robinson should be a better passer this fall.
9. Dan Persa, Northwestern: This isn't a knock against Persa, who has done everything right to prepare himself for this moment. I just need to see more from him in game situations, especially if Northwestern relies on him as much as it did Mike Kafka in 2009. Persa very well could be the most ideal fit for Northwestern's spread offense since Zak Kustok.
10. Kevin Newsome/Matt McGloin/Paul Jones/Robert Bolden, Penn State: The competition remains wide open, and the group has virtually no game experience aside from Newsome. Talent shouldn't be a problem, as Newsome, Jones and Bolden all were highly-touted recruits, while McGloin, a former walk-on, has made significant strides in State College. Who can handle the pressure of quarterbacking in the Big Ten? We'll find out soon.
11. Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois: Again, not a knock against Scheelhaase, but his past performance is confined to practices and scrimmages. He's one of the most mature redshirt freshmen I've covered, but he's obviously got to prove himself in the game spotlight. Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino sees shades of Stefan LeFors in Scheelhaase. If that's the case, he'll soar up this list.
As you might have noticed, we're all about quarterbacks today at ESPN.com, and it's time to rank the Big Ten signal callers.
This hasn't been a Big Ten strength in recent years, but things could change this fall. Quarterbacks like Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor, Iowa's Ricky Stanzi and Wisconsin's Scott Tolzien all have proven they can win at a high level, and Ben Chappell (Indiana) and Kirk Cousins (Michigan State) put up some strong numbers last fall.
The criteria are the same I used for the top 25 preseason rankings: past performance and 2010 potential. You can gripe all you want about the top four choices, but you shouldn't be surprised because all four quarterbacks were ranked in the exact same order in June/July. The Big Ten blogger is not a hypocrite. One final note: These are individual player rankings, but I consolidated the quarterback candidates at Michigan and Penn State to make it easier.
I fully expect this list to be different in early January, but here goes:
Terrelle Pryor's performance in the Rose Bowl solidified his rank as the Big Ten's best quarterback.
1. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State: How can I rank Pryor at No. 1 based on one great performance? For starters, it took place in a huge game, the Rose Bowl, against a top 10 opponent in Oregon. Plus, I think Pryor will go forward rather than backward and become a more complete quarterback this fall. He has more natural ability than anyone else on this list, and while he'll never be a model passer, he only needs to improve a little to become a lot more dangerous.
2. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa: It's very close between Stanzi and Tolzien, but Stanzi's 18-4 mark as Iowa's starting quarterback sets him apart. Yes, you can point to the mistakes, and there were a lot of them, but no quarterback in the country made more big plays in the fourth quarter than No. 12. I expect a smarter and more efficient Stanzi in 2010. Plus, he's a damn fine American.
3. Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin: Simply stated, he's the perfect quarterback for Wisconsin. Tolzien is smart, extremely efficient and totally aware of his role in the offense. He executes the play-action well and can thread the needle when he needs to. Tolzien still needs to prove himself against the Big Ten's best defenses, but I expect a very strong senior season from him.
4. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State: Take away a few late-game mistakes and a poor second half against Penn State, and Cousins turned in a very strong season as a first-year starter. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is strong (19-9), and he'll only get better with more experience. Plus, he has an excellent group of receivers and tight ends at his disposal this fall.
5. Ben Chappell, Indiana: Chappell is the Big Ten's leading returning passer (2,941 yards in 2009), and he ranks second in completion percentage (62.6) among returning starters. He needs to cut down on his interceptions and make better throws in the red zone, but all that should come this fall. Chappell has some great receivers to work with, namely Tandon Doss, but would really benefit from a consistent run game.
6. Adam Weber, Minnesota: Some Gophers fans have given up on Weber after a poor junior season, but I still have faith in No. 8, who happens to be a record holder at the U. It hasn't been easy with three offensive coordinators in as many seasons, and the system last year would have been tough for any quarterback to run. Weber still has a ton of talent, but he needs to regain the confidence we saw for most of 2008, when he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. He also needs to prove himself without star receiver Eric Decker.
7. Robert Marve, Purdue: Marve clearly doesn't grade high in past performance after struggling at Miami in 2008, but his potential this fall is very high. He'll benefit from working in Purdue's spread offense, and he'll have no shortage of targets in Keith Smith, Justin Siller, Cortez Smith and others. The ability always has been there with Marve, and we'll start to see results this fall.
8. Tate Forcier/Denard Robinson, Michigan: No starter has been named, and while head coach Rich Rodriguez has a bit of evidence from 2009, he'll be selecting a No. 1 quarterback based on who he believes has greater potential in 2010. Both players can run, although Robinson is more explosive on the move. Forcier was far and away the better passer in 2009, but he struggled to make plays when he wasn't freelancing. Robinson should be a better passer this fall.
9. Dan Persa, Northwestern: This isn't a knock against Persa, who has done everything right to prepare himself for this moment. I just need to see more from him in game situations, especially if Northwestern relies on him as much as it did Mike Kafka in 2009. Persa very well could be the most ideal fit for Northwestern's spread offense since Zak Kustok.
10. Kevin Newsome/Matt McGloin/Paul Jones/Robert Bolden, Penn State: The competition remains wide open, and the group has virtually no game experience aside from Newsome. Talent shouldn't be a problem, as Newsome, Jones and Bolden all were highly-touted recruits, while McGloin, a former walk-on, has made significant strides in State College. Who can handle the pressure of quarterbacking in the Big Ten? We'll find out soon.
11. Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois: Again, not a knock against Scheelhaase, but his past performance is confined to practices and scrimmages. He's one of the most mature redshirt freshmen I've covered, but he's obviously got to prove himself in the game spotlight. Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino sees shades of Stefan LeFors in Scheelhaase. If that's the case, he'll soar up this list.
IndyStar Article on Replogle
A good article from Terry Hutchens. I will be coming back from vacation in a few days and will start writing my pieces to gear you up for the season.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- If senior linebacker Tyler Replogle had opted to redshirt this season, he could have had the rare opportunity to play college football alongside two brothers.
Call it Replogle cubed.
As it is, Tyler and Adam Replogle will start at linebacker and tackle at Indiana. A third brother, Mike, a high school senior linebacker in Centerville, Ohio, has committed to IU and can sign in February. That could assure the Replogles having at least one IU player for eight consecutive seasons through 2014.
As much fun as three Replogles roaming Bloomington could have been, Tyler is focused on a different goal. He hopes to finish his career the way it started -- by playing in a bowl game. And he wants to do it in four years.
"We've worked really hard this summer and the one thing that I've found about this group is that they like to work hard and they like to have fun," Tyler Replogle said. "I'm really close to my brothers, and while playing with all of them would have been neat, I want to finish what I started with the guys I came in with."
Replogle was a freshman on the 2007 IU team that broke a 14-year postseason drought by playing in the Insight Bowl. IU finished 7-6 that season but has combined to win just seven games in the past two.
Changes in personnel and scheme will make a return to a bowl game more challenging. Gone are defensive ends Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton, linebacker Matt Mayberry, and defensive backs Ray Fisher, Austin Thomas and Nick Polk. There's a new 3-4 scheme, too.
"I like the 3-4 from the point of view of the linebacker because with so much movement the offensive line doesn't really know where we'll be coming from," Tyler Replogle said. "It should cover up the linebackers more and let the defensive linemen get through more."
Both brothers played well last season. Tyler was second on the team with 80 tackles. Adam, who started 11 games as a freshman, was third with four sacks.
They huddle up off the field, too. About the only time they are apart is in class. Tyler is an accounting major while Adam's major is criminal justice.
"It has been great to play together and have each other's backs the way we have in college," Adam Replogle said. "That definitely makes the whole experience that much more fun."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- If senior linebacker Tyler Replogle had opted to redshirt this season, he could have had the rare opportunity to play college football alongside two brothers.
Call it Replogle cubed.
As it is, Tyler and Adam Replogle will start at linebacker and tackle at Indiana. A third brother, Mike, a high school senior linebacker in Centerville, Ohio, has committed to IU and can sign in February. That could assure the Replogles having at least one IU player for eight consecutive seasons through 2014.
As much fun as three Replogles roaming Bloomington could have been, Tyler is focused on a different goal. He hopes to finish his career the way it started -- by playing in a bowl game. And he wants to do it in four years.
"We've worked really hard this summer and the one thing that I've found about this group is that they like to work hard and they like to have fun," Tyler Replogle said. "I'm really close to my brothers, and while playing with all of them would have been neat, I want to finish what I started with the guys I came in with."
Replogle was a freshman on the 2007 IU team that broke a 14-year postseason drought by playing in the Insight Bowl. IU finished 7-6 that season but has combined to win just seven games in the past two.
Changes in personnel and scheme will make a return to a bowl game more challenging. Gone are defensive ends Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton, linebacker Matt Mayberry, and defensive backs Ray Fisher, Austin Thomas and Nick Polk. There's a new 3-4 scheme, too.
"I like the 3-4 from the point of view of the linebacker because with so much movement the offensive line doesn't really know where we'll be coming from," Tyler Replogle said. "It should cover up the linebackers more and let the defensive linemen get through more."
Both brothers played well last season. Tyler was second on the team with 80 tackles. Adam, who started 11 games as a freshman, was third with four sacks.
They huddle up off the field, too. About the only time they are apart is in class. Tyler is an accounting major while Adam's major is criminal justice.
"It has been great to play together and have each other's backs the way we have in college," Adam Replogle said. "That definitely makes the whole experience that much more fun."
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Best WR's in the Country?
From LaMond Pope | The Journal Gazette
BLOOMINGTON – Ben Chappell smiled as the question was asked: Does he think Indiana has the best group of receivers in the Big Ten?
“I think it might be the best in the nation, personally,” Chappell said. “I’m a little biased.”
Whether he’s biased or not, the statistics are impressive. The combined yardage of Tandon Doss (962), Terrance Turner (443) and North Side graduate Damarlo Belcher (770) is the sixth most for a returning trio nationally (2,175). Their combined 184 receptions rank fifth nationally.
“It’s good to have that (status) in the preseason,” Turner said. “Hopefully it will lead to some wins and people can remember us as the group that led Indiana to our dream goal.”
Doss pointed to depth as the strength of the group. Expect Harding graduate Dre Muhammad and freshman Duwyce Wilson, who was redshirted last year, to be among those playing large roles.
“We are truly a group,” Belcher said. “We all believe in each other. We all know we can make plays.”
No one on Indiana’s roster made more plays than Doss. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media after leading the Hoosiers in yards and catches (77). He finished tied with Belcher for the team lead in touchdown catches with five.
“He’s a really good route runner,” Turner said. “He’s a fast guy and big for his size. To have that speed and size is an added bonus for him. And he has really good hands. He has the whole package.”
Juniors Doss and Belcher are two of the six Hoosiers who have played since they were true freshmen in the last three years.
Belcher used his size (6-foot-5) and strength (215 pounds) to haul in 61 passes.
“Jump balls, ain’t nobody going to jump with him,” Doss said. “He’s a great catcher, got great hands. And his after-yard moves, he’s a little flashy.”
Turner is the veteran of the group. The senior had 46 catches last season, including his first career touchdown.
“He’s a great leader,” Belcher said. “When I came here freshman year, I didn’t know anything. He helped me out a lot.”
It’s a role he enjoys.
“It’s easy to get juiced up on Saturdays, but during practice, there are days you don’t feel like running 100 routes. To be the group we want to be, we have to do that,” Turner said. “I tell them to keep their heads straight, stay focused.”
Like Turner, Muhammad provides an inside target.
“He’s a very crisp route runner,” Doss said. “When I run my routes, I’ll watch him and take stuff from him.”
Wilson, who is 6-foot-3, is more of a deep threat. Chappell called him the darkhorse of the group. Tyler Adetona and Jamonne Chester are also listed as backups on IU’s preseason depth chart.
It all adds up to lofty expectations.
“It puts pressure on you that you like,” Turner said. “It’s a good pressure.”
BLOOMINGTON – Ben Chappell smiled as the question was asked: Does he think Indiana has the best group of receivers in the Big Ten?
“I think it might be the best in the nation, personally,” Chappell said. “I’m a little biased.”
Whether he’s biased or not, the statistics are impressive. The combined yardage of Tandon Doss (962), Terrance Turner (443) and North Side graduate Damarlo Belcher (770) is the sixth most for a returning trio nationally (2,175). Their combined 184 receptions rank fifth nationally.
“It’s good to have that (status) in the preseason,” Turner said. “Hopefully it will lead to some wins and people can remember us as the group that led Indiana to our dream goal.”
Doss pointed to depth as the strength of the group. Expect Harding graduate Dre Muhammad and freshman Duwyce Wilson, who was redshirted last year, to be among those playing large roles.
“We are truly a group,” Belcher said. “We all believe in each other. We all know we can make plays.”
No one on Indiana’s roster made more plays than Doss. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media after leading the Hoosiers in yards and catches (77). He finished tied with Belcher for the team lead in touchdown catches with five.
“He’s a really good route runner,” Turner said. “He’s a fast guy and big for his size. To have that speed and size is an added bonus for him. And he has really good hands. He has the whole package.”
Juniors Doss and Belcher are two of the six Hoosiers who have played since they were true freshmen in the last three years.
Belcher used his size (6-foot-5) and strength (215 pounds) to haul in 61 passes.
“Jump balls, ain’t nobody going to jump with him,” Doss said. “He’s a great catcher, got great hands. And his after-yard moves, he’s a little flashy.”
Turner is the veteran of the group. The senior had 46 catches last season, including his first career touchdown.
“He’s a great leader,” Belcher said. “When I came here freshman year, I didn’t know anything. He helped me out a lot.”
It’s a role he enjoys.
“It’s easy to get juiced up on Saturdays, but during practice, there are days you don’t feel like running 100 routes. To be the group we want to be, we have to do that,” Turner said. “I tell them to keep their heads straight, stay focused.”
Like Turner, Muhammad provides an inside target.
“He’s a very crisp route runner,” Doss said. “When I run my routes, I’ll watch him and take stuff from him.”
Wilson, who is 6-foot-3, is more of a deep threat. Chappell called him the darkhorse of the group. Tyler Adetona and Jamonne Chester are also listed as backups on IU’s preseason depth chart.
It all adds up to lofty expectations.
“It puts pressure on you that you like,” Turner said. “It’s a good pressure.”
Thoughts and Prayers to the Phillips Family
A statement from IU's media relations department:
The father and brother of Indiana freshman tight end Paul Phillips were among nine passengers aboard a small plane that crashed in the Alaskan wilderness on Monday evening. Phillips' father, Bill Sr., was among five, including former United States Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), who passed away in the crash, while his brother, Willy, was among the four survivors. IU Football Head Coach Bill Lynch informed the team of the tragedy in a meeting this evening and Paul has left Bloomington to be with his family.
"The thoughts and prayers of the entire Indiana University community are with Paul, his family and everyone touched by this tragedy," Lynch said. "Please be respectful of the family as they deal with this private matter."
Paul Phillips, a native of Darnestown, Md., is in his first year with the Hoosiers after starting for three years at Georgetown Prep. He was a first team all-state selection his senior year. His father played football at Evansville from 1972-76, while his mother, Janet, was a swimmer in college and is a competitive equestrian. His two older brothers, Andrew and Colter, are football players at Stanford University and the University of Virginia, respectively. Andrew is a senior offensive guard and Colter is a sophomore tight end.
The father and brother of Indiana freshman tight end Paul Phillips were among nine passengers aboard a small plane that crashed in the Alaskan wilderness on Monday evening. Phillips' father, Bill Sr., was among five, including former United States Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), who passed away in the crash, while his brother, Willy, was among the four survivors. IU Football Head Coach Bill Lynch informed the team of the tragedy in a meeting this evening and Paul has left Bloomington to be with his family.
"The thoughts and prayers of the entire Indiana University community are with Paul, his family and everyone touched by this tragedy," Lynch said. "Please be respectful of the family as they deal with this private matter."
Paul Phillips, a native of Darnestown, Md., is in his first year with the Hoosiers after starting for three years at Georgetown Prep. He was a first team all-state selection his senior year. His father played football at Evansville from 1972-76, while his mother, Janet, was a swimmer in college and is a competitive equestrian. His two older brothers, Andrew and Colter, are football players at Stanford University and the University of Virginia, respectively. Andrew is a senior offensive guard and Colter is a sophomore tight end.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Willis Going Green?
A good article by Terry Hutchens.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Nobody will ever mistake Darius Willis for a vegetarian.
Indiana's Darius Willis rushed for 67.4 yards per game last season. His plan to stay on the field for the Hoosiers this year? More vegetables (sometimes smothered in hot sauce), less pizza and wings.
Not a chance.
The Indiana redshirt sophomore tailback has spent his life despising vegetables of all shapes and colors. Carrots? Not happening. Green beans? Not in this mouth. Broccoli? He'd probably rather wear black and gold.
But in the past few months, Willis has learned he no longer has a choice. What his mother couldn't force him to do as a child, football might.
After suffering a variety of injuries, IU's leading returning rusher has decided healthier eating could improve his chances of staying on the field. That means limiting fried foods and revamping a steady diet of wings, pizza or sandwiches.
"I'm convinced that not eating well was hurting my recovery time on some of my injuries," Willis said. "I think eating better could make me a different player."
So he is going green. Kind of.
"I cut the vegetables into small pieces and then I mix everything with hot sauce," Willis said, sporting a sly grin. "When I finally get around to eating them, I just take a lot of little baby bites until I get used to it."
Willis' aversion to vegetables started early. When he was a toddler, the smells drove him a different direction and no matter what his mother tried, Willis wouldn't budge.
"He would eat corn, either in the can or on the cob, but that was it," said Tracy Wynn, Willis' mother. "I tried and tried, but I couldn't get him to eat them. A few times I would catch him scooping the vegetables off his plate and on to the floor so the dog would get them.
"He was pretty much impossible when it came to vegetables of just about any kind."
Now he's eating asparagus, carrots, celery, collard greens, green beans and peas.
He hopes the ankle, rib and shoulder problems will become a thing of the past. Even with those injuries, the former Franklin Central High School standout ran for 607 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He topped 100 yards against Michigan, Northwestern and Purdue.
"I just want to play all four quarters of every game so I can help my team out as much as I can," Willis said. "I missed too many games last year and I just don't want that to happen again."
IU opens practice today, and a healthy Willis thinks he has the potential to be a part of a potent offense.
"When you have playmakers like Tandon (Doss), Damarlo (Belcher) and (Ben) Chappell, we have a chance to be in every game,'' Willis said. "And when you have that kind of talent at receiver, I just think it opens up a lot more things for the running game. I think we could score a lot of points this year.''
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Nobody will ever mistake Darius Willis for a vegetarian.
Indiana's Darius Willis rushed for 67.4 yards per game last season. His plan to stay on the field for the Hoosiers this year? More vegetables (sometimes smothered in hot sauce), less pizza and wings.
Not a chance.
The Indiana redshirt sophomore tailback has spent his life despising vegetables of all shapes and colors. Carrots? Not happening. Green beans? Not in this mouth. Broccoli? He'd probably rather wear black and gold.
But in the past few months, Willis has learned he no longer has a choice. What his mother couldn't force him to do as a child, football might.
After suffering a variety of injuries, IU's leading returning rusher has decided healthier eating could improve his chances of staying on the field. That means limiting fried foods and revamping a steady diet of wings, pizza or sandwiches.
"I'm convinced that not eating well was hurting my recovery time on some of my injuries," Willis said. "I think eating better could make me a different player."
So he is going green. Kind of.
"I cut the vegetables into small pieces and then I mix everything with hot sauce," Willis said, sporting a sly grin. "When I finally get around to eating them, I just take a lot of little baby bites until I get used to it."
Willis' aversion to vegetables started early. When he was a toddler, the smells drove him a different direction and no matter what his mother tried, Willis wouldn't budge.
"He would eat corn, either in the can or on the cob, but that was it," said Tracy Wynn, Willis' mother. "I tried and tried, but I couldn't get him to eat them. A few times I would catch him scooping the vegetables off his plate and on to the floor so the dog would get them.
"He was pretty much impossible when it came to vegetables of just about any kind."
Now he's eating asparagus, carrots, celery, collard greens, green beans and peas.
He hopes the ankle, rib and shoulder problems will become a thing of the past. Even with those injuries, the former Franklin Central High School standout ran for 607 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He topped 100 yards against Michigan, Northwestern and Purdue.
"I just want to play all four quarters of every game so I can help my team out as much as I can," Willis said. "I missed too many games last year and I just don't want that to happen again."
IU opens practice today, and a healthy Willis thinks he has the potential to be a part of a potent offense.
"When you have playmakers like Tandon (Doss), Damarlo (Belcher) and (Ben) Chappell, we have a chance to be in every game,'' Willis said. "And when you have that kind of talent at receiver, I just think it opens up a lot more things for the running game. I think we could score a lot of points this year.''
Doss Gets Pre-Season Publicity
From iuhoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana junior wide receiver Tandon Doss has been named to the 2010 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced today. The award is presented annually to the top receiver in college football.
This is the fourth time in five seasons a Hoosier has appeared on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. Doss joins James Hardy (2006, 2007 - semifinalist) and Andrew Means (2008).
From the initial list, the Biletnikoff Selection Committee will trim the list to 10 semifinalists on Nov. 15 and from there, three finalists will be announced on Nov. 22. The Biletnikoff Award winner will be announced on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 9.
Doss, a first team All-Big Ten selection by the conference media in 2009, led the Hoosiers in receptions in nine games and receiving yards eight times. He paced the team with 962 yards, 77 receptions, five touchdowns and 80.2 yards per game. Doss finished second in the Big Ten and 27th nationally in yards per game and third in the league and tied for 21st nationally in catches per game (6.64).
The Indianapolis native's 962 yards were 14th in the country and the second most for an underclassman. Doss closed out the year second on IU's single-season receptions list, just two shy of Hardy's record of 79 in 2007, and fifth in the school's single-season yardage rankings.
Along with his three 100-yard receiving games, Doss owned 533 kick return yards, 127 rushing yards, 44 punt return yards and led the conference with 138.8 all-purpose yards per contest. He finished ninth on IU's single-season list with 1,666 all-purpose yards, surpassed 100 all-purpose yards in seven of the last nine games and eight times in 2009, including a season-best 242 against Purdue.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana junior wide receiver Tandon Doss has been named to the 2010 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced today. The award is presented annually to the top receiver in college football.
This is the fourth time in five seasons a Hoosier has appeared on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. Doss joins James Hardy (2006, 2007 - semifinalist) and Andrew Means (2008).
From the initial list, the Biletnikoff Selection Committee will trim the list to 10 semifinalists on Nov. 15 and from there, three finalists will be announced on Nov. 22. The Biletnikoff Award winner will be announced on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 9.
Doss, a first team All-Big Ten selection by the conference media in 2009, led the Hoosiers in receptions in nine games and receiving yards eight times. He paced the team with 962 yards, 77 receptions, five touchdowns and 80.2 yards per game. Doss finished second in the Big Ten and 27th nationally in yards per game and third in the league and tied for 21st nationally in catches per game (6.64).
The Indianapolis native's 962 yards were 14th in the country and the second most for an underclassman. Doss closed out the year second on IU's single-season receptions list, just two shy of Hardy's record of 79 in 2007, and fifth in the school's single-season yardage rankings.
Along with his three 100-yard receiving games, Doss owned 533 kick return yards, 127 rushing yards, 44 punt return yards and led the conference with 138.8 all-purpose yards per contest. He finished ninth on IU's single-season list with 1,666 all-purpose yards, surpassed 100 all-purpose yards in seven of the last nine games and eight times in 2009, including a season-best 242 against Purdue.
ESPN Power Rankings
From Adam Rittenberg:
It's that time again. Let's take a look at the power rankings as camps are under way throughout the Big Ten.
1. Ohio State: There isn't a glaring weakness on this team. History shows the defense will be extremely stingy, and if quarterback Terrelle Pryor continues to develop, the offense should be more than capable of putting up points. A bona fide national title contender.
2. Iowa: The core from the Orange Bowl championship team returns, led by defensive end Adrian Clayborn and quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Iowa must reload at offensive line but has a strong tradition there. A Week 3 test at Arizona could be tricky, but Iowa will be a BCS bowl contender if it defends its home turf.
3. Wisconsin: No Big Ten team returns more individual stars than the Badgers. A balanced offense led by one of the nation's best lines could be unstoppable if John Clay, Scott Tolzien and others can stay healthy. The defense is young in spots but talented, and safety Jay Valai promises me they'll lay the wood. Can head coach Bret Bielema take this program from very good to great?
4. Penn State: I had the Lions tied with Michigan State coming out of the spring, but Penn State's historic success on defense and its superior line play provides an ever-so-slight edge right now. Given the inexperience at quarterback, Penn State will need to rely on its run game and its defense. Joe Paterno has won that way a few times before.
5. Michigan State: The Spartans boast more depth at the offensive skill positions than any Big Ten team. Linebacker Greg Jones returns to lead the defense. My only hesitation here is the line play on both sides of the ball. I'm tempted to buy into Michigan State, but I'm going to take a wait-and-see approach for now.
6. Northwestern: Quarterback Dan Persa has done everything right in the offseason. Now he needs to prove himself when it really counts. The secondary and the rushing game concern me, but running back Arby Fields is poised for a big year. This isn't a championship-level team but one that should make a school-record third straight bowl.
7. Purdue: Like Persa, Robert Marve has established himself as a leader before starting his first game at quarterback for the Boilers. If Purdue fills a few gaps on the offensive line, its offense could be very good. The defensive front seven should be better against the run, but Purdue must replace its entire starting secondary, which is never easy.
8. Michigan: Regardless of who wins the starting quarterback job, Rich Rodriguez's offense will put up points. But if the defense doesn't make a major jump in 2010, nothing else will matter. Demar Dorsey's departure from the secondary could hurt, and while I'm interested to see what Cam Gordon and others can do on the field, it's hard to buy into this unit right now.
T-9. Minnesota: There has been too much change in personnel and on Tim Brewster's staff the last two years for me to give the Gophers a stamp of approval at this stage. Quarterback Adam Weber certainly is talented enough to turn things around, especially with some help from the run game and the offensive line. I'm not counting out Minnesota by any means, but a very challenging schedule combined with a lot of new faces creates some concern.
T-9. Indiana: I'm buying into Ben Chappell and the Hoosiers offense. If the unit stays healthy, Indiana will put up points and improve in critical situations (third down, red zone). Not surprisingly, the major concerns come on defense, where Indiana hopes a switch to the 3-4 alignment pays off. A very favorable schedule gives IU a chance to make it back to a bowl game.
11. Illinois: The Grand Experiment begins Sept. 4 against Missouri in St. Louis. Great recruiting classes haven't translated into on-field success for the Illini. Perhaps an upgrade in coaching will make the difference. Linebacker Martez Wilson's return provides a boost, but Illinois needs to help young quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase as much as possible.
Reactions?
It's that time again. Let's take a look at the power rankings as camps are under way throughout the Big Ten.
1. Ohio State: There isn't a glaring weakness on this team. History shows the defense will be extremely stingy, and if quarterback Terrelle Pryor continues to develop, the offense should be more than capable of putting up points. A bona fide national title contender.
2. Iowa: The core from the Orange Bowl championship team returns, led by defensive end Adrian Clayborn and quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Iowa must reload at offensive line but has a strong tradition there. A Week 3 test at Arizona could be tricky, but Iowa will be a BCS bowl contender if it defends its home turf.
3. Wisconsin: No Big Ten team returns more individual stars than the Badgers. A balanced offense led by one of the nation's best lines could be unstoppable if John Clay, Scott Tolzien and others can stay healthy. The defense is young in spots but talented, and safety Jay Valai promises me they'll lay the wood. Can head coach Bret Bielema take this program from very good to great?
4. Penn State: I had the Lions tied with Michigan State coming out of the spring, but Penn State's historic success on defense and its superior line play provides an ever-so-slight edge right now. Given the inexperience at quarterback, Penn State will need to rely on its run game and its defense. Joe Paterno has won that way a few times before.
5. Michigan State: The Spartans boast more depth at the offensive skill positions than any Big Ten team. Linebacker Greg Jones returns to lead the defense. My only hesitation here is the line play on both sides of the ball. I'm tempted to buy into Michigan State, but I'm going to take a wait-and-see approach for now.
6. Northwestern: Quarterback Dan Persa has done everything right in the offseason. Now he needs to prove himself when it really counts. The secondary and the rushing game concern me, but running back Arby Fields is poised for a big year. This isn't a championship-level team but one that should make a school-record third straight bowl.
7. Purdue: Like Persa, Robert Marve has established himself as a leader before starting his first game at quarterback for the Boilers. If Purdue fills a few gaps on the offensive line, its offense could be very good. The defensive front seven should be better against the run, but Purdue must replace its entire starting secondary, which is never easy.
8. Michigan: Regardless of who wins the starting quarterback job, Rich Rodriguez's offense will put up points. But if the defense doesn't make a major jump in 2010, nothing else will matter. Demar Dorsey's departure from the secondary could hurt, and while I'm interested to see what Cam Gordon and others can do on the field, it's hard to buy into this unit right now.
T-9. Minnesota: There has been too much change in personnel and on Tim Brewster's staff the last two years for me to give the Gophers a stamp of approval at this stage. Quarterback Adam Weber certainly is talented enough to turn things around, especially with some help from the run game and the offensive line. I'm not counting out Minnesota by any means, but a very challenging schedule combined with a lot of new faces creates some concern.
T-9. Indiana: I'm buying into Ben Chappell and the Hoosiers offense. If the unit stays healthy, Indiana will put up points and improve in critical situations (third down, red zone). Not surprisingly, the major concerns come on defense, where Indiana hopes a switch to the 3-4 alignment pays off. A very favorable schedule gives IU a chance to make it back to a bowl game.
11. Illinois: The Grand Experiment begins Sept. 4 against Missouri in St. Louis. Great recruiting classes haven't translated into on-field success for the Illini. Perhaps an upgrade in coaching will make the difference. Linebacker Martez Wilson's return provides a boost, but Illinois needs to help young quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase as much as possible.
Reactions?
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Blog Update
I just wanted to give everybody an update on the blog etc... I apologize for the lack of information throughout this summer, I've been interning in Asset Management working some grueling hours. I will also be taking a week long vacation next week and most likely will not have internet access. Once I come back, I am in the process of moving everything over to what will be the new site for the blog HoosierStateOfMind.com. I will be spending a lot of time gearing everybody up for the start of the season and will have another writer with me who will focus on Indiana basketball as well. Once I get back from vacation, it should be Hoosier overload on the site.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
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