2015 B1G Conference Previews: Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana Hoosiers (East Division)

Location: Bloomington, IN

Stadium: Memorial Stadium (52,929)

Coach: Kevin Wilson (5^th year): 14-34 at Indiana/overall, 6-26 v B1G, 0-4 v OSU

2014 Results (4-8)(1-7) East Division                                    2015 Indiana Hoosiers

28        Indiana State               10                                S5        Southern Illinois

42        at Bowling Green        45                                S12      Florida International

31        at Missouri                  27                                S19      Western Kentucky

15        Maryland                     37                                S26      at Wake Forest

49        North Texas                 24                                O3       Ohio State

29        at Iowa                         45                                O10     at Penn State

17        Michigan State             56                                O17     Rutgers

10        at Michigan                  34                                O24     at Michigan State

  7        Penn State                    13                                O31

23        at Rutgers                     45                                N7        Iowa

27        at Ohio State                 42                                N14      Michigan

23        Purdue                           16                                N21      at Maryland

                                                                                      N28      at Purdue

The Indiana Hoosiers have high hopes this is the year they get to a bowl game for the first time, and despite the loss of 2000-yard runner Tevin Coleman, Indiana returns quite a few talented performers on the offensive side of the ball. 

The Hoosiers return not one, but two experienced signal callers under center.  Last year, Nate Sudfeld started out, and when he was injured, was replaced by the capable Zander Diamont.  Sudfeld figures to be full go this year and, with the loss of Coleman, Coach Wilson will probably elect to have him air it out quite a bit.  Although J-Shun Harris has shown promise (18 receptions in 2014), the Hoosiers will rely on him as their lone receiver with significant experience.  That doesn’t seem to bother the Indiana offensive coaches, however, as the Hoosiers will have a few capable WR vying for playing time.  Camion Patrick, Simmie Cobbs, Dominique Booth, and Ricky Jones figure to greatly contribute and Sudfeld will greatly benefit from having experienced senior TE Michael Cooper.  So, look for Indiana, with more stability at the QB position, to put up better numbers in the passing game despite the relative inexperience of the receiving corps.  UAB transfer Jordan Howard will attempt to fill Coleman’s shoes in the running game.  Howard ran for almost 1600 yards in 2014 while earning All-CUSA honors and the Hoosiers will also have incoming freshmen Ricky Brookins and Tommy Mister.  While they won’t match Coleman’s numbers, the Hoosiers will still be able to feature a respectable running game.  Indiana returns their top offensive lineman in senior LT Jason Spriggs and along with senior center Jake Reed and junior RG Dan Feeney have a combined 102 career starts.  RT Tim Gardner and LG Dimitric Camiel round out the line.  Without Coleman, but with a more experienced and healthy Sudfeld, look for fewer sacks, but also less production in the running game at least in the early part of the season.

                                               Nate Sudfeld

Indiana’s defensive line looks to be the most improved unit on the entire team in 2015, thanks to the return of seven out of eight in the two-deep.  This will greatly help to offset the loss of all around great Bobby Richardson.  Senior DE Nick Mangieri takes over leadership of this unit (37 tackles and two sacks in 2014).  He is not alone on the line, with sophomore Nate Hoff returning at NT and Junior Darius Latham coming back at DT.  Richardson’s spot is still up for grabs, but senior Zach Shaw looks to have the upper hand going into preseason practice.  Last year, this unit allowed 183 yards per game on the ground (4.9 yards per rush), so with the experience returning, look for that number to improve this year.  Indiana will have to break in two new starters at linebacker and they figure to be sophomore Tegray Scales and first-time starter, senior Zack Shaw.  However, junior MLB TJ Simmons 972 tackles, 4.5 TFL) returns.  With Simmons (second in tackles) and Scales (seventh) and also adding in Nile Sykes (who originally signed with Notre Dame), they figure to have more speed at linebacker.  Chris Covington will also add a good pass rushing ability as he will move to the strong side from being a backup QB.  Indiana returns do-it-all junior SS Antonio Allen, who led the team in tackles with 74, but will have to replace the other three positions.  The corners will appear to be first-time starters sophomore Rashard Fant at the weak-side cornerback, and true freshman Tyler Green as the strong-side cornerback.  Sophomore Chase Dutra was impressive during spring practice and figures to take over at FS.

                                                       Nick Mangieri

The Hoosiers appear to be in good shape with special teams.  Sophomore Griffin Oaks will return as kicker, with a cannon for a leg, as he hit a school-record 58-yard field goal last year, while hitting on 13 of his 18 field goal attempts.  Senior Erich Toth is back handling the punting chores and he averaged 39.5 yards on 48 punts in 2014.

Despite losing quite a few seniors and returning just 12 starters, the Hoosiers figure to improve on last year’s 4-8 record.  Last year, they upset a top 20 team on the road (Missouri) and played Ohio State tough on the road before falling.  Providing Sudfeld stays healthy, the new RB Howard produces, and the majority of the defense stays healthy, Indiana will have a shot at a bowl game for the first time since 2007.

2015 Projection : 6-6 (3-5) 5^th in East Division