The Impact of Marcus Oliver and Devine Redding Leaving for the NFL on Indiana

Written By David Sugarman

The nature of the beast that is the carousel of college football players coming and going started spinning at full speed this past Friday when running back Devine Redding and linebacker Marcus Oliver declared for the upcoming NFL Draft. For a team with a mostly new coaching staff, it’s helpful to lean on the veterans who have made an impact on the program and the Hoosiers just lost two big ones. As the college football season gets ready to come to a close tonight, we take a look at what these losses mean for the program as the Hoosiers head into the offseason.

Devine Redding:

Was he Jordan Howard? No. Was he Tevin Coleman? No. But there are plenty of backs around the nation that won’t be able to say they were as good as Devine Redding. Despite some ball security issues in 2016, Redding still managed to rack up over 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season. Redding was often a forgotten man because the Hoosiers did so much of their run game by committee and much of the excitement came from the “surf and girth” package of Zander Diamont and Tyler Natee. But it can’t be overlooked that Redding racked up 18 total touchdowns in the last two seasons and had some of his biggest games when the lights were at their brightest. With Jordan Howard out for the home stretch of last season, Redding assumed the starting role and had a monster performance in the Pinstripe Bowl going for 227 yards and a touchdown.

With Redding gone paired with the retirement of Zander Diamont, Indiana’s run offense may finally feature Camion Patrick in the leading role. Patrick had been dubbed Indiana’s best player by former head coach Kevin Wilson before even stepping on the field. The former junior college transfer has had to work through several injuries since coming to Bloomington, but showed flashes of greatness in limited time this year. In a second half comeback win against Rutgers Patrick made this highlight reel touchdown grab.
 

If he can go through a healthy offseason, expect Patrick to be the lead back. Still expect help from the supporting cast of Tyler Natee, Mike Majette, Alex Rodriguez, Devonte Williams and Ricky Brookins though, who all made important contributions at different points this past season. 

Marcus Oliver:

The Indiana defense made King Kong length strides this year on the defensive side of the football. After being one of the worst defenses in the nation for the majority of the Kevin Wilson era, Indiana finished this season 45th in the nation in total defense thanks in no small part to Marcus Oliver. The Hamilton, Ohio product leaves with the program record for forced fumbles, 12, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention this season. It’s worth mentioning Oliver was being productive even before the rest of the defense got their act together. In 2015 Oliver recorded a career best 112 tackles to go with four forced fumbles and two interceptions. 

Losing Oliver will hurt, but as of now Tegray Scales, All-Big Ten second team linebacker this season, is still with the program as is star cornerback Rashard Fant. Fans can look to Chris Covington, and Dameon Willis to fill Oliver’s role. Covington is a rising senior who started against Michigan where he had a sack and forced a fumble. Between Scales looking like he is staying at school, Covington’s and Willis's roles should be expanded and the addition of some solid linebacker commitments in the form of Thomas Allen, coach Allen’s son, and JUCO transfer Mike McGinnis, Indiana should find ways to pick up the slack. There will likely be a step back in year one of the Tom Allen era in the linebacking core, but not one that should cause fans to hit the panic button.

Impact on the Program as a Whole

The Indiana Hoosiers have had six draft picks in the NFL Draft since 2014, and if Oliver and Redding can be added to that list it will only bolster the reputation of the program. It would be tremendous for the program if Oliver could get drafted as the Hoosiers have not had a defensive player picked since the Denver Broncos took Jamie Kirlew in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft.