Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers hit the field for the start of Fall Camp to prepare for the 2021 season on Friday in Bloomington. The Hoosiers are coming off a 6-2 season and a final AP ranking of 12th in the nation. Expectations are high for the Hoosiers who will start the season inside the top-25 again. However, like every team in the country, there are critical questions facing the Hoosiers that will determine how high the ceiling is in 2021. Here they are:

1. Can the Offensive Line Improve?

It’s an important year for the Hoosiers upfront. 2020 saw the group struggle to protect quarterback Michael Penix and open up holes in the run game (although a lack of an explosive back hurt as well). While the Hoosiers did not give up many sacks in 2020, they give up 21 quarterback hurries in eight games. The IU rushing attack ranked 12th in the Big Ten and must be better to balance out the attack.

In 2021 the Hoosiers have to find a way to get their best five offensive linemen on the field at the same time. That means finding a way to get Matthew Bedford, Caleb Jones, Zach Carpenter, Dylan Powell and Luke Haggard on the field together. It may mean moving Bedford to guard.

The Hoosiers should have depth along the line as well as Mike Katic has starting experience and reserves Aiden Rafferty and Tim Weaver have turned heads in spring practice.

If the Hoosiers can solve this question in fall camp, it could lead to a really big year on the field.

2. What will the Running Back Rotation Look Like?

The concept of a running back rotation was non-existent under the coaching of Mike Hart as he leaned on Stevie Scott for the last three seasons. In 2020 Scott carried the ball 156 times while no other running back had more than 32 attempts. That figures to change under new running backs coach Deland McCullough.

The Hoosiers lost Scott to the NFL, but return a bevy of backs who can tote the rock. So who will lead the way? The Hoosiers can go in many directions.

Former four-star running back Sampson James has been hampered by injuries during his two seasons at IU and if he can get healthy and regular work he can be a difference maker. James will have to battle Stephen Carr, a transfer from Southern California, for the starting spot.

Tim Baldwin showed what he could do against Maryland, but saw little action before or after that game, while David Ellis has been used sparingly at the position.

The Hoosiers bring in two true freshmen who may be in the mix for carries in David Holloman and Trent Howland who is coming off an ACL injury. So the cupboard is not bare and the use of a true rotation should give Indiana a more diverse rushing attack.

3. Can Michael Penix Get and Stay Healthy?

This is probably the number one question on every other persons’ preseason question list, but I put it third to make you all read. Indiana quarterback Michael Penix is arguably the top signal caller in the Big Ten and his health is paramount to Indiana’s success on offense. Penix said at Big Ten Media Days that he will be 100-percent for the season opener at Iowa. That’s great news for Hoosier fans, but still leaves a lot to be answered.

Will Penix be a full-go at the start of camp? Is he cleared for contact? Is he really going to be 100-percent before September 4th? How much practice time will he need to be ready? And the BIGGEST question, can he stay healthy?

All of these answers will reveal themselves over the next few weeks and the final answer will depend a lot upon the questions listed at one and two above.

4. What will the Defensive Line Rotation Look Like?

Switching to the defensive side of the ball, we look at the rebuilt defensive line for the Hoosiers. IU lost a handful of impact players to both the NFL Draft and the transfer portal. However, reinforcements arrived via the portal at various points of the offseason. The Hoosiers added defensive end Ryder Anderson from Ole Miss, bull Stone Handy from Auburn and All-Mac defensive tackle Weston Kremer from Northern Illinois. All three of these newcomers have the potential to be impact players and quite frankly, Indiana will need them to be.

I would expect Indiana to rotate often on the defensive line as they return Sio Nofoagatotoa, Demarcus Elliot, James Head and others who have extensive starting and playing experience.

5. Who Replaces Jamar Johnson at Safety?

The biggest loss on the IU defense is that of Jamar Johnson who was taken in the NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. The Hoosiers played without Johnson at times last year, extensively in the Michigan game after he got ejected early. While the Hoosier defense still played well, there was a noticeable difference when Johnson was out.

Juwan Burgess and Raheem Layne will be the first in line to take over the safety position opposite Monster Matthews. Both have played a ton of football at Indiana even though Layne missed all of 2020 with an injury. Burgess played in six games and made eight tackles in 2020 after making 29 in 2019. He lacked the vision and instincts that Johnson had, but maybe more time on task will help him grow in that area. Layne has played in 37 games in his career at IU and has 82 tackles to his name. He moved to safety prior to last season after struggling at cornerback. The move may just be what the doctor ordered for Layne though as he has good instincts and knows the defense well. Freshman Bryson Bonds stepped into the role last year, but looked lost at times as he was still picking up the defense. After a year in the system and a full spring practice, Bonds could move into the regular rotation here.

6. Who Will Win Special Teams Battles?

The Hoosiers do not have many position battles on special teams. Charles Campbell is a lock at kicker and D.J. Matthews will probably be the primary punt returner after transferring in from Florida State. However, the Hoosiers have to replace punter Haydon Whitehead and must find a productive kick returner.

James Evans, who has never played American football, comes in from New Zealand to try and take over the punting duties. He has a big leg, but has not faced a rush and is still getting used to the ways of the sport. He should win the job, but Chase Wyatt has been in the program a couple of years and while he may not have the tools Evans has, he is more comfortable with the game.

The Hoosiers have not returned a kickoff for a touchdown since 2012. That’s nearly a decade. The kick return is becoming a lost art, but that is hard to believe given some of the athletes that have come through the program since then. David Ellis will be 100-percent healthy this year and will get the first crack at the job while Jacolby Hewitt will back him up. If they can’t get the job done the Hoosiers have a number of athletes they could try out at the position including D.J. Matthews. This aspect of the game doesn’t have to be elite, but they need to do more to alleviate pressure from the offense. If that means getting out to the 30 instead of the 20, it could help the offense become more efficient.

The Huddle

As the Hoosiers Open Fall Camp There are Questions That Need to be Answered

Hoosier Huddle