2016 Offensive Line Preview: Once Again The Big Guys Upfront Will Pave the Way For IU's Offense

Written By Lydia Knoll

Indiana has had some star offensive players the last couple of years, including recent NFL draftees Jordan Howard and Nate Sudfeld just to name a few. But the offensive players that are sometimes overlooked also happen to be the guys who make it possible for players like Howard and Sudfeld to show off their skills. These guys are the building blocks of a steady football program, the offensive linemen. 

Indiana’s offensive line allowed the least amount of sacks in the Big Ten last year, allowing only 13 sacks. With the help of their line, they were able to generate the most productive total offense in the Big Ten with a total 6,556 yards, averaging 504.3 yards/game and 6.23 yards every play. The 6,556 total yards also happened to be 746 yards more than the second highest total offense in the Big Ten. The offensive line also opened up holes to allow for the second best rushing offense in the Big Ten averaging 210.46 yards/game. Unfortunately, Indiana has lost one of their best offensive lineman, Jason Spriggs, to the Packers but with a strong core of veterans, including All-American Dan Feeney, this group continues to be the bedrock on which IU builds their offense. 

Projected Starters

Dan Feeney (67)

All-American offensive lineman Dan Feeney is the best guard in the Big Ten and arguably in the nation. Feeney did not allow a sack in 475 called pass attempts and finished with the team best 102 knockdowns last season, and for that matter Feeney has only allowed on sack in his career (2,719 snaps). Feeney could have entered the draft after last season, but he has decided to finish his eligibility of college football here at Indiana.

Feeney gives stability to a line that is losing an All-American in Jason Springs to the NFL and their starting center with Jake Reed now in camp with the Atlanta Falcons. 

Jacob Bailey (70)

At left guard is redshirt senior Jacob Bailey from Carmel, Indiana. Bailey started the last seven games of the 2015 season and proved he to be a valuable player a long the line when he is healthy. Bailey is making the most of his last hurrah in Bloomington, telling IUHoosiers.com, “It's been really fun. Being here for my fifth year, as the older guy, you realize as time goes on that football is fun. Some of the younger guys are out here thinking that it's work, but there's nothing I'd rather be doing right now.” 

Wes Martin (76)

Martin is going to be Bailey’s biggest competition at guard. Martin started the first six games there in 2015 while playing in all thirteen contests. Martin is a younger player, just a redshirt sophomore, who line coach Greg Frey has high hopes for. Martin excels off the field as well as he was named an Academic All-Big Ten Selection.  

Dimitric Camiel (77)

Dimitric Camiel always has a smile on his face when he is around the football field. While he gets lost in the shuffle when discussing great iU lineman, his name should be in the discussion. Camiel has played in 37 games in his career, making 17 starts in his IU career, mostly at right tackle, with one start at left tackle. This season Camiel was one of thee Hoosiers to represent IU at Big Ten Media Days and has been put on the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List. 

Brandon Knight (62)

Brandon Knight is only a true sophomore, yet he is already embedded into IU lore with his touchdown reception in last season’s Old Oaken Bucket Game after playing most of the season at tight end after IU lost Danny Friend for the season. This season Knight, who is a highly regarded tackle, will be tasked with willing the hole left by All-American Jason Spriggs. Knight had an excellent spring, but has been hampered by a foot injury that has limited him in fall camp. 

Wes Rogers (65)

Another senior along the line, Rogers has seen time at center and should be the front-runner to win the job. Rogers has become a leader on the o-line, and wants “to make sure the younger guys know what the standard is. That includes how our offense and offensive line plays, how they work, practice, play, lift, and go to meetings. We're really just trying to set the example for the younger guys and make sure they know what they're supposed to be doing.”

Reinforcements

Coy Cronk (54)

Coy Cronk was the prize of the 2015 recruiting class that line coach Greg Frey worked his rear end off to get to Bloomington.  According to 247’s composite rankings, Cronk was the 48th best offensive tackle in the nation and the sixth best player in Indiana. Cronk has been running with the first team offense as Knight recovers from a foot sprain. He has turned many heads in camp and has drawn rave reviews from the coaching staff, as Wilson has called him the best lineman they have had as a freshman. 

Simon Stepniak (72)

Stepaniak, 6’4” 310 pounds, redshirted last season and impressed claiming two scout team players of the week honors, with the Hoosiers and has been used at several positions along the offensive line in fall camp, but will likely be the first guy off the bench at guard. 

Hunter Littlejohn (68)

Indiana has to replace center Jake Reed from last year’s team, and they have been using a number of players there in camp. Redshirt freshman Hunter Littlejohn, 6’3” 300 pounds, has a good chance at securing at the least a backup role on this year’s team, and gaining valuable experience for a run at a 2017 starting spot.

Devondre Love (52)

Love is a redshirt freshman out of Missouri, who had an outstanding high school career for Affton High. The expectation for Love is to be a rotation piece this year. He has been consistently with the second team offense at tackle. Love, at 6’7” and 315 pounds, has the frame to be a Big Ten force. However, he has been passed by Coy Cronk as the first sub at the tackle position, but should be right behind him rotation wise.

Delroy Baker (71) 

The redshirt sophomore is going to be a good rotation piece for the Hoosiers this year, as they will try and keep some of the veteran players fresh. Baker redshirted in 2014 and appeared in one game last year. However, Baker is a vocal hype man on the sideline, but will be looking to be doing more on the field to fire up his squad. Baker has been working at tackle and is similar to starting tackle to Dimitric Camiel.

Most Likely to Redshirt

Mackenzie Nworah (51)

Coming from Manvel High School in Houston, Texas, Nworah was named his team’s top offensive lineman and helped lead them to an 11-3 record and state quarterfinals. Receiving over a dozen offers, Nworah first committed to Missouri before flipping to Indiana. Scout rated Nworah the 31st offensive guard prospect nationally. At 6’4” and 335 pounds, Nworah has the size and skill to see the field as a true freshman. Indiana has enough quality depth along the line, so I expect Nworah to redshirt this season to help rebuild the line depth in 2017 and beyond.

Grayson Stover (56)

Standing at 6’6” and 300 pounds as an incoming freshman, Stover is one of, if not the largest recruit in the Indiana 2020 class. Stover had over twenty offers and was rated the 77th offensive tackle prospect in the nation by 247’s Composite ranking. In his senior year at Hudson High School in Florida, Stover led an offensive line that helped produce two 1,000-yard rushers. In addition to his size, Stover also has great footwork that will make him an excellent addition to the line and a solid contender for playing time as a true freshman. It is unusual for true freshman linemen to play in the Big Ten, while Stover has the skills and size to be a very good lineman in the future, he would benefit most by using a redshirt year to bulk up and improve under Greg Frey’s watchful eye.