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We have reached the conclusion of our Redshirt Preview series. I hope everyone has enjoyed being reintroduced to some players who will play a big role for the Hoosiers in 2016. So we will close this series out with offensive lineman Simon Stepaniak.
Read MoreDefensive coordinator Tom Allen was brought to Bloomington to help change the culture around the Hoosiers’ maligned defensive unit. After just three spring practices the change is palpable. On Sunday, at the Hoosiers’ open practice, Allen’s voice, as well as defensive line coach Mark Hagen’s, could be heard bouncing off the limestone walls of Memorial Stadium. The defensive intensity could easily been seen as well, as nearly every time an offensive player got the ball a gang of defenders closed in and went after the ball with aggression and violence. The defensive attitude also led to tempers flaring and even a few punches being thrown during team drills.
Read MoreHunter Littlejohn was Indiana’s fifth signee in the class of 2015. An outside guard from Powell, Ohio, Littlejohn played for Olentangy Liberty where he was team captain and led his team to their first playoff win in school history. He earned Second Team All-Conference and an honorable mention for All-District. He was rated a three star offensive lineman by both Rivals and 247sports and ranked the 53rd best offensive guard nationally by 247. He received eleven other offers including Purdue, Duke, Minnesota, and Illinois. He committed to Indiana University in the summer after his junior year, on June 18, 2014.
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Last season’s defense was far from acceptable, and there were very few solid areas of the unit. While they were prone to give up big plays, the linebackers were generally considered to be the “strength” of the defense last season. The 2016 group will be almost identical to one in 2015, which is either a good or bad thing depending on your viewpoint. While the defense hasn’t been good, it doesn’t mean it can’t improve this season.
Read MoreIt does not seem like that long ago, just 60 days in fact, since the Hoosiers were in action on the gridiron. Well you have successfully navigated another January and February without Indiana Football, but the wait is coming to an end. Spring practice opened today for the Hoosiers, but your first chance to see the team will be at 1:30pm tomorrow afternoon inside Memorial Stadium, prior to the hoops matchup between Indiana and Maryland. This is a golden opportunity to see many of the newcomers who look to make an impact this coming fall.
Read MoreBrandon Wilson
6’4”/252 lbs./DE from Winter Garden, FL.
The Indiana coaching staff has had a lot of success recruiting the Sunshine State and they hope Brandon Wilson, a defensive end from Winter Garden, Florida, will be the next success story from down South. Wilson committed to the Hoosiers as a member of the 2015 recruiting class and he chose IU over offers from Wisconsin, Mississippi State, North Carolina and Virginia. He was rated as the 50th best defensive end in the country and was considered a 3-star recruit that was a good fit for IU’s Bandit position. However, Brian Knorr’s 3-4 defense is no more and the Bandit position is no longer an option for Wilson. While we can’t be sure about his future position, adding some bulk and converting to a “Bull” defensive end makes the most sense and Wilson may be relied upon immediately.
Read MoreThe Indiana Hoosier defensive line will look immensely different in 2016 than it did at the end of 2015. Gone are the likes of Nick Mangieri, Darius Latham, Adarius Rayner, and Zack Shaw. Those four players combined to play in 50 games and make 153 tackles, including 17.5 sacks and 36 tackles for loss. Their production will be missed upfront and the Hoosiers will look for answers from some old friends and new faces.
Indiana also sports a new(ish) defensive line coach in Mark Hagen, who replaces Larry McDaniel. The Hoosiers also add a new defensive coordinator, Tom Allen, who will try to implement a new defensive scheme— his 4-2-5 defense. This means the emergence of the new “Bull” position, which will be like a Bandit, but more of a true defensive end.
While the issue that stood out the most with the Hoosiers in 2015 was on the back end of the defense, the defensive line has to create some havoc in the offensive backfield. A good pass rush will help the still young secondary out by forcing throws a little quicker.
We at Hoosier Huddle thought it would be beneficial to take a look at each of the redshirt freshmen that didn’t see any game action during the 2015 season. Joe Belden is the next redshirt freshman we’ll take under the microscope in this new regular feature: The Redshirts Are Coming!
Read MoreOmari Stringer is an outside linebacker from Crete, Illinois. He was ranked a three-star prospect and the 34th top prospect in the state by 247Sports. He was ranked the 16th top prospect by Rivals.com. In high school, Stringer played defensive back for coach John Konecki. He was named to the 2014 All-State and All-Conference selection his senior year, as well as being apart of the 2012 Class 6A state championship team. Stringer had 15 college offers including Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, and Minnesota. On June 30th of 2014, he committed to Indiana University.
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