2017 B1G Previews: Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana Hoosiers (East Division)

Location: Bloomington, IN

Stadium: Memorial Stadium (52,929)

Coach: Tom Allen (1^st year): 0-1 at Indiana/overall

2016 Indiana Hoosiers (6-7)(4-5)                              2017 Indiana Hoosiers

34        at Florida International           13                    A31      Ohio State (Thursday Night)

30        Ball State                                 20                    S9        at Virginia

28        Wake Forest                            33                    S16      Florida International

24        Michigan State                        21 (OT)           S23      Georgia Southern

17        at Ohio State                           38                    S30      at Penn State

22        Nebraska                                 27                    O7       idle

14        at Northwestern                      24                    O14     Michigan

42        Maryland                                36                    O21     at Michigan State

33        at Rutgers                               27                    O28     at Maryland

31        Penn State                               45                    N4        Wisconsin

10        at Michigan                             20                    N11      at Illinois

26        Purdue                                     24                    N18      Rutgers

24        Utah                                        26                    N25      at Purdue

            (Foster Farms Bowl)

            Tom Allen, who served as defensive coordinator, took over for the departed Kevin Wilson for Indiana’s bowl game and he has brought in Mike DeBord as offensive coordinator from Tennessee and he has held similar positions at Michigan and Northwestern.  DeBord will get to work with an experienced quarterback in Richard Lagow who passed for 3362 yards and 19 touchdowns last season.  Lagow, however, had trouble in the interception category, as he tossed 17 picks.  With junior WR Simmie Cobbs Jr returning from injury and leading receiver, junior Nick Westbrook coming back, Lagow has experienced receivers to help him out there.  Westbrook came up just shy of 1000 yards receiving on 54 receptions.  Junior Luke Timian returns to his WR post after garnering 19 catches for 277 yards in 2016.  The next task is continuing a strong running tradition that featured Tevin Coleman, Jordan Howard, and Devin Redding in recent seasons.  Senior Camion Patrick. Coming back from a torn ACL a year ago, will attempt to fill their big shoes.  Junior Mike Majette and redshirt freshman Cole Gest will see action as well from that spot.  Majette, as a backup last year to Redding, played in eight games and had 180 yards rushing.  Gest, out of St. Edward High School in Ohio, is a quick, lighter version, of former Indiana runner Mike Dunbar.  Despite the loss of Dan Feeney, the offensive line returns some experience, headed by junior center Brandon Knight, LG Wes Marin, and RT Delroy Baker.  Sophomore LT Coy Cronk and RG Simon Stepaniak impressed enough in spring practice, they have been penciled in as starters.  The key will be how well they can protect Lagow to cut down on his interceptions, while adjusting to a new offensive scheme and coaching staff.

                                                            QB Richard Lagow

Mark Hagen is Indiana’s new defensive corrdinator, and has his work cut out for him as the Hoosiers allowed 27.2 points per game a year ago after giving up over 35 per game in 2015.  The defensive line returns experienced senior DT Greg Gooch and DE Nate Hoff.  Hoff led the defensive line with 38 tackles, six TFLs and a pair of sacks, while Gooch chipped in 26 to go with 5.5 tackles for loss.  Junior Jacob Robinson returns at the other DE spot with 17 tackles, five of which were sacks.  The NT position was wide-open during spring drills and it appears freshman Jerome Johnson has the edge (6-3, 300 lbs).  The linebacking corps will feature a potential All-American candidate in senior Tegray Scales who led the nation wiuth 93 solo tackles and 23.5 tackles for loss.  He’ll be joined by sophomore Marcelino Ball, third on Indiana in tackles with 75 and two interceptions.  Seniors Jonathan Ball and Tony Fields return at the safety spots and each had over 70 tackles to lead an experienced Hoosier secondary.  Experienced senior CB Rashad Fant also returns after picking up 33 tackles, three interceptions and 17 PBU.  Sophomore A’Shon Riggins impressed enough in spring ball to apparently lock down the other corner spot.  Riggins managed 37 tackles, nine TFLS and an interception last year.

                                            LB Tegray Scales

The venerable Griffin Oakes returns for his senior season after going 16 for 26 on his field goal attempts and experienced junior punter Joseph Gedeon is back after averaging just over 40 yards on his 61 punts.

There is always at least some uncertainty with any coaching change and the schedule doesn’t do Indiana any favors.  Right away, the Hoosiers have Ohio State, then they go to Virginia.  Indiana’s bye week is sandwiched between going to Penn State and a home game against Michigan.  Wisconsin comes to town on November 4 and they finish up with rival Purdue on the road.  It won’t be easy for Coach Allen to get the Hoosiers back to the post season this year.

PREDICTION: 5-7 (3-6) 6^th in B1G East