Countdown to 2019 IUFB Kickoff: 28 Days (A'Shon Riggins and Kristian Pechac)

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

We are exactly a month away from Indiana’s first football game of the 2019 season. Fall camp is here and before you know it fans will be heading into Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium to catch their Hoosiers face the Ball State Cardinals. We double-dip on this Saturday as we look at defensive back A’Shon Riggins and running back Kristian Pechac.

2019 Countdown - #28

Name – A’Shon Riggins

Position – Defensive Back (Senior)

Hometown – Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton)

Height – 6’

Weight – 187

A’Shon Riggins is entering his senior season having played 29 career games for the Hoosiers. After an injury riddled sophomore year in 2017, where he only played in six games, Riggins was healthier in 2018 and played in 11. Last season he made 20 tackles and broke up three passes. For his career Riggins has 71 tackles, two for a loss and an interception. Heading into fall camp he will need to perform well in order to win back the starting corner job. Indiana head coach Tom Allen has called IU’s secondary “the strongest overall in terms of depth and high-end players. That sticks out to me. We've got more talent and better depth. That jumps out."

If Riggins can return to the level of production that led him to All-Big Ten freshman honors, the Hoosier secondary is that much better and can rotate that much more.

Name – Kristian Pechac

Position – Running Back (RS Freshman)

Hometown – Indianapolis, Indiana (Avon)

Height – 5’11”

Weight – 209

Pechac, whose father Mike is IU’s director of football player development and academic enhancement, was a beneficiary of last year’s new redshirt rule. Pechac got his feet wet by playing in four games late in the season last year, mainly on special teams. He earned his way onto the field with strong scout team performances. He was offensive scout team player of the week leading up to the win at Rutgers and the special teams scout team player of the week heading into the homecoming matchup with Iowa.

Pechac continued his good play on the practice field this spring and topped it off with a big spring game as he scored a touchdown. Pechac is part of a loaded running backs room for the Hoosiers and he will have to continue to find his way on to the field on special teams and earn his way into the offensive rotation. Pechac had a stellar high school career at Bloomington South as he ended his career with 3,293 yards and 45 touchdowns.