Five Things Indiana Football Has to Check Off in Spring Practice

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

It may seem like the 2020 Indiana Football season just ended, and it did about seven weeks ago, but spring football is right around the corner. This is what happens when you play in a January Bowl game. Timelines get compressed. The Hoosiers have some work to do when they hit the field again for spring practice after coming off a very impressive 6-2 season that saw the Hoosiers finish 12th in the AP poll and participate in the Outback Bowl. Here are five items Indiana Football will need to check off this spring practice session:

1. Acclimate the New Coaches

The Hoosiers are breaking in two new hires on their on-field coaching staff in defensive coordinator Charlton Warren and running backs coach Deland McCullough (also associate head coach).

McCullough has already had a tour of duty in Bloomington (2011-2016) which was very successful. He knows what it takes to revamp the Indiana rushing attack as he coached some of the best running backs in school history. After finishing 12th in the conference in rushing in 2020, McCullough will be tasked with improving that phase of the game along with run-game coordinator and offensive line coach Darren Hiller.

Warren’s job is a bit more complicated as he is coming in from the University of Georgia and replacing Kane Wommack who had an outstanding 2020 campaign. Warren will have plenty to work with, but will have to find replacements for safety Jamar Johnson and defensive tackles Jerome Johnson and Javon Swann. Warren needs to use the spring to put his touch on Tom Allen’s 4-2-5 defense and build relationships with players. Also at the top of his list will be finding the best spot to play Marcelino Ball, but we’ll get to that later. 

2. Continue to Install Sheridan’s Offense

It is hard, if not impossible, to quantify how much losing practice time to the COVID-19 Pandemic affected the Hoosiers. However, the missed all but four spring practices, summer workouts were not the same and in fall camp the Hoosiers could not practice like normal which affected units like the offensive line. It definitely had an effect on how much of Nick Sheridan’s offense could be installed.

In 2020 the Hoosier offense looked great at times and moribund at others. Inconsistent play along the offensive line, a lack of a running game and injuries to Michael Penix and Jack Tuttle (in the bowl game) clearly took its toll. Is 2020 what the IU offense is, a unit dependent upon the huge pass play and the arm of Penix or can it be the offense that Kalen DeBoer blew life into in 2019. Nobody will mistake Sheridan for DeBoer, but the offense has to become better and with a (hopefully) full spring practice that should begin to change. It’s difficult to install a full playbook when spring practice is cancelled and the offensive line can work as a unit.

3. Start Gelling the Offensive Line

This is the biggest task to focus on in spring practice. While spring ball may not be the best way to gauge the performance of the line, IU needs to figure out a way to use the practices to beef up this unit.

The good news is that the Hoosiers return a ton of experience along the line, even though starting center Harry Crider has entered the 2021 NFL Draft. It would help if freshman Kahlil Benson can participate in spring practice after missing the 2020 season with a knee injury and early enrollees Joshua Sales and Vinny Fiacable could push some of the veterans to the next level. Indiana will also have Michigan transfer Zach Carpenter available as well, which will bolster depth.

4. Get Tuttle Reps

It’s hard to believe that quarterback Michael Penix will be ready to go full bore for spring practice after tearing his ACL in late November, so getting Jack Tuttle first team reps becomes a priority while also getting reps for Dexter Williams.

Tuttle is entering his third spring with the Hoosiers, but he has not had as much practice time as that would indicate. His first spring was cut short due to a bout with mononucleosis and last spring was cut short due to COVID-19. It is vital that the Hoosier take advantage of the reps available to Tuttle and get him ready just in case Penix is not 100% in the fall. Tuttle showed flashes of his talent in his two starts last season, but still has only played in eight games as a Hoosier.

5. Plug in Players Returning from Injury

The name that jumps off the page here is Marcelino Ball, who returns to IU after injuring his knee prior to the 2020 season. If Ball can fully participate, all eyes should be on how new defensive coordinator Charlton Warren uses him. Ball was supposed to be what Mullen was as a blitzer. A player too quick for the offensive line to block, but also skilled enough to make plays in space and can cover if necessary. He plays angry and with an edge and if Warren can harness that into production, IU could add an All-Big Ten caliber player to the rotation again.

The other defensive back coming back in Raheem Layne who missed the entire 2020 season, but did dress for the Outback Bowl. Layne was the Hoosiers 2019 Special Teams Player of the Year and adds an experienced defensive back to a group that lost Jamar Johnson. Offensive lineman Kahlil Benson will be another player returning from injury to keep an eye on.