Top Five: Sleepers Heading into IU Football Spring Practice

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Our next ‘Top Five’ list will take a look at who we think are the five sleepers on the Indiana football team that fans need to follow. My definition of a sleeper is a player who has gone under the radar, has been forgotten about or one that can play a big role, but needs to step up in order to do so.

1. Craig Nelson, RB- The Hoosiers have some talented runners coming into spring in the backfield with Morgan Ellison, Cole Gest, Mike Majette and Ricky Brookins  all returning. IU will also have the services of four-star running back Ronnie Walker who enrolled early. So, it is easy to see why Craig Nelson gets forgotten (don’t worry I am guilty of it too).

Nelson was part of the Hoosiers’ 2017 recruiting class and redshirted this past season. The five-foot-10 175-pound redshirt freshman is from football powerhouse Booker T. Washington in Miami, FL. There he amassed 1,674 total yards and 15 touchdowns en route to all-Dade County honors as a senior.

The Hoosiers need a speed back and Nelson can give them just that. IU lost Devonte Williams and Alex Rodriguez to transfers. There is a spot in the rotation for the taking. Even if Nelson is “fourth” on the depth chart coming out of spring, there is a need a kick returner after Williams’ departure.

2. Peyton Hendershot, TE- The Hoosiers will need to replace the production that was lost when Ian Thomas graduated. Hendershot redshirted last season after coming in as the 10th best high school player in Indiana, finishing his high school career with 157 catches for 2,170 yards and 22 touchdowns.

He is a tremendous athlete and at six-foot-four he has great length to be a weapon in the passing game. He will need to add the bulk needed to be a factor in protection and the rushing attack, but he is still very young.

Indiana does have some options at tight end with Ryan Watercutter, Austin Dorris and Shaun Bonner all returning, however this spring will be the time for Hendershot to make his impression on the staff.

3. Jerome Johnson, DT- Johnson was a late add in the Hoosiers 2016 recruiting class and redshirted his first year on campus. After sitting out the 2016 season, Johnson became a regular role player along the defensive line in 2017. Johnson played in all 12 games, making 18 total tackles (10 solo) and 3.5 tackles for a loss.

The Hoosiers will need someone to step in for Nate Hoff, who graduated and Johnson could be one of those guys. At six-foot-three and 295 pounds, Johnson can be that big stopper in the middle. If he can get up above 300 pounds, that would go a long way to being a starter in 2017.

4. Caleb Jones, OT- Jones falls into more of the category of someone who needs to step up into a bigger role, but is still kind of a sleeper. Jones is a massive tackle at six-foot-eight and 370 pounds. He has the size for sure, but has Jones developed his raw talent into skills that can keep a Hoosier quarterback clean against Big Ten opponents? We’ll just have to find out this spring.

If the Indianapolis native can become a factor at tackle, it would allow the Hoosiers to potentially move Brandon Knight in to a guard position giving the Hoosiers an interior line of Wes Martin, Nick Linder and Knight. If Jones improves, the run game will improve as well.

5. Raheem Layne, CB- Layne is another player who saw the field in 2017 and was quite impressive. The Hoosiers have a starting spot open with the graduation of All-Big Ten corner Rashard Fant.

Layne played in all 12 games with a start in the 41-0 win over Rutgers in the home finale. He made 13 total tackles (12 solo). He has burner speed and at six-foot-one, has the size to be a really good corner in the Big Ten. Layne has a chance to step into a starting role this spring. He will battle it out with A’shon Riggins, Andre Brown and LaDamion Hunt. Layne could also get a shot at returning kicks and/or punts as well.

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