Five Things We Learned About the Offense in IU's Spring Game

Image: Indiana University Athletics

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers held their first spring football game since 2019 on Thursday night in Bloomington. It was just enough of a taste for fans to whet their appetite for the fall. Head coach Curt Cignetti described the game as a glorified practice. Here are five things that we learned about IU’s offense on Thursday night.

1. The Running Backs Look Athletic and Explosive

All spring the coaching staff said they felt good about the Hoosiers running back room. The performance on Thursday night helped ease (and explain) the loss of Trent Howland to the transfer portal. Kaelon Black and Ty Son Lawton looked like a good 1-2 punch with Elijah Green and Justice Ellison also fighting for carries. The backs made plays in the run and pass game and helped in protecting the quarterback as well.

“I just think our running back room is faster, more dynamic, good at pass pro, good at catching the ball out of the backfield, can break tackles. We have more speed and athleticism back there. All three of those guys just love football. They're football nuts. Tough guys. They're tough guys.” Curt Cignetti said after the game. 

2. The Quarterback Room is in Good Hands

All three quarterbacks played with their respective groups. Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke ran with the ones, Tayven Jackson with the twos and true freshman Tyler Cherry with the threes. Rourke and Jackson each had their moments of brilliance including Jackson starting hot by completing 10 of 11 passes. Rourke led the offense on their game winning drive at the end of the game, before Jackson took the victory formation snap. Cherry, as expected, looked like a true freshman.

“I think there's a healthy competition there heading into summer and fall camp. Competition is a great thing. We need more competition at all positions. That was one of our issues this spring is we have some guys that played some football in the past that didn't have the kind of competition we'd like to see to motivate them to go out every day, every play, focused in, best effort, improving.” Cignetti said of the quarterbacks.

3. The Wide Receiver Room is Deep and Talented

This is something we kind of knew coming into the spring game and our thoughts were confirmed. IU is going to spread the ball around and the scheme on offense gets players open and in space to make moves to get yards after the catch. Newcomers Miles Cross and Elijah Surratt each made several catches while incumbents like Donaven McCulley and Andison Coby had big plays with the second team. E.J. Williams did not play de to an injury, but this room is deep enough to survive without him.

4. The Offensive Line is a Strength

It has been a long time since IU fans and coaches can feel confident in the offensive line. A long time. Thursday night was a great showing for the big men in the trenches as they opened up holes in the running game and kept a pretty clean pocket for the quarterback. With Nick Kidwell coming back from injury in the fall the line can go eight deep, with several players who can play multiple positions.

“ That would be hard for me to evaluate that until I watch the tape. I know, when we ran the ball, we ran it really well. It seemed like the ball was moving forward.” Cignetti said.

5. Tight Ends Have a Bigger Impact

Horton and all the tight ends made their presence felt on Thursday night with several big catches and key blocks to help the offense in key situations. Incoming transfer Zach Horton can do it all at the position while James Bomba and Trey Walker each made the plays in the passing game as well.

“Our offense is built to love tight ends as much as running backs and receivers.” Quarterback Kurtis Rourke said. “So you know, just kind of taking what the defense has given us and just having the tight ends be open. And when you can get the ball in tight ends hands, they usually good things can usually come from that.”

The Hoosiers wrapped up spring practice on a high note and enter a summer that will see them look to plug the roster holes  in the transfer portal and improve in the weight room and practice field.