Countdown to 2019 IUFB Kickoff: Six Days (Donavan Hale and James Head)
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Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
It’s officially Game Week as w e hit six days until IU kicks off against Ball State. We double-dip this Sunday as we take a look at Donavan Hale and James Head.
2019 Countdown - #6
Name – Donavan Hale
Position – Wide Receiver (Redshirt Senior)
Hometown – Largo, Florida (Largo)
Height –6’4”
Weight – 218 pounds
Donavan Hale came to IU as part of the 2015 recruiting class as an athlete playing quarterback. About halfway through that season coaches moved him to wide receiver and while he only had one catch, you could see the potential.
As a redshirt freshman in 2016, Hale saw more playing time and caught 13 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown. Expectations were beginning to form heading into the 2017 season.
The 2017 season started with a bang for Hale, who made five catches for 67 yards against Ohio State in the season opener and followed that performance up with two catches for 49 yards and a touchdown in a win against Virginia. However, he would play in just one more game in 2017 and be forced to take a medical redshirt. His season was finished with seven catches for 116 yards.
Last season Hale stayed healthy and showed what he could do with a full-season of games. The Largo native became a go-to target for Peyton Ramsey and was arguably IU’s best receiver. He set career highs in catches (42), yards (508) and touchdowns (six).
Hale comes into the 2019 season looking to continue his success from 2018. When wide receiver coach Grant Heard talked about Hale this spring he said, “(Hale has) lost some weight. He probably needs to lose another five pounds, but he’s lost weight. It’s not all the pounding on his legs and carrying all that heavy weight and he’s an older guy so there is nothing that I can throw at him defensively that he hasn’t seen. He can play fast and not think. He’s a smart kid, but him losing weight has helped him tremendously.”
Hale looked smoother and faster in the spring, which given his 6’4” frame should make him one of the better receivers in the conference.
2019 Countdown - #6
Name – James Head
Position – Defensive Line (Sophomore)
Hometown – Miami, Florida (Southridge)
Height –6’5”
Weight – 259 pounds
When James Head walked on the field for practice as an early enrollee he had the look of an upper classman. He just had that look physically that he belonged on a Power Five field. Head had an impactful freshman season as he made 17 tackles, including three for a loss.
The Hoosiers defense need head to be more disruptive in the offensive backfield this season if he wants to win the starting job. For the defense to take that next step to becoming a top 25-unit, Head has to be in the double digits in tackles for loss. He has the frame and the talent to do so. The great thing is, he is still only a sophomore.
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