Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 9 Days (Jonathan Crawford and Mike Fiacable)

Written By Alex Compton

#9 

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kick-off is nearly complete! There are now just 9 days until the Indiana Hoosiers kick-off the 2017 season against the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes. Today’s countdown takes a look at IU’s center-fielder: Jonathan Crawford.

JONATHAN CRAWFORD

-Height: 6'2”

-Weight: 203 pounds

-Hometown: Largo, Florida

-Position: Safety

The best position group on Indiana’s team besides the wide receivers is undoubtedly the secondary. With Rashard Fant and A’Shon Riggins both back along with others including Tyler Green and Andre Brown Jr. at cornerback, those guys will give opposing QB’s fits all year long. The back end of the secondary will be just as strong, as Tony Fields and #9 Jonathan Crawford both return. Crawford has been a mainstay starter since he arrived as a freshman, and now the true junior will be one of IU’s best players this season.

Crawford has always tremendous length, but he is now going to be playing with a filled-out frame. He added on a bunch of muscle, and is now over 200 pounds for the first time in his career. For a guy that has his nose around the ball so much, that really is a big deal. Crawford’s job on this Indiana team will be to take the ball away, and with great corners on the outside, he should get plenty of chances to do just that over the middle of the field. I am extremely excited to see what Crawford brings to the field this fall, as he does have even more room to grow and become one of the best safeties in the league. Check out his bio on IUHoosiers.com for last season below:

"Honorable mention All-Big Ten (media) ... earned Indiana’s Terry P. Cole Award (Old Oaken Bucket Game MVP). Topped the Hoosiers with seven takeaways, four fumble recoveries (1st in the Big Ten, T-2nd nationally) and three interceptions (T-1st on the team) ... made 71 tackles (4th on the team), 45 solo, a half-tackle for loss and seven pass breakups (T-4th on the team) ... started all 13 games ... accounted for all three of the team’s takeaways in the Purdue win with two interceptions and one fumble recovery ... the only Big Ten player and one of only nine in the FBS with three takeaways in a game in 2016 ... became the first Hoosier with two fumble recoveries in a game since 2009 in the Ball State victory ... broke up a career-high three passes at Northwestern and two against No. 10 Penn State ... posted a career-high nine stops in back-to-back wins against Maryland and at Rutgers ... added a career-high eight solos vs. the Terrapins ... collected seven tackles, five solo, with an INT and PBU against No. 10 Nebraska ... closed the season with six solo stops and recovered a fumble that he forced in the Foster Farms Bowl vs. No. 19 Utah ... tallied seven tackles in the season-opening victory at Florida International, against Wake Forest (1 PBU) and at No. 2 Ohio State ... three-time IU defensive player of the week (Wake Forest, Nebraska and Purdue) ... two-time game captain (Wake Forest and Michigan State)."

MIKE FIACABLE

-Height: 6'1”

-Weight: 205 pounds

-Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

-Position: Quarterback

Richard Lagow is the starter, and Peyton Ramsey is his backup. Behind Ramsey, it appears that true freshman Nick Tronti is the third-stringer while Austin King is at #4. Barring something wild, Mike Fiacable is your #5 quarterback and likely won’t see any game action this year. That, however, doesn’t mean the redshirt sophomore doesn’t have value.

Fiacable is a valuable member of the scout team, and his mobility at the QB position makes him able to replicate some looks that teams will try and give IU this season. He works hard in practice to make the team the best it can be, and that’s always worth a tip of the cap. Here’s his IUHoosiers.com bio: "Quarterback for head coach Chris Svarczkopf at Bishop Dwenger High School ... first team all-state and all-conference selection ... passed for 2,800 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior ... rushed for 610 yards and 15 TDs ... holds school single-season records in total yardage and total touchdowns ... set Bishop Dwenger’s single-game passing yardage mark ... team finished state runner-up his senior campaign ... three-year football and four-year basketball letterwinner ... served as a football and basketball team captain ... parents are Cathy and Steve Fiacable ... brother, Steve, was an IU offensive lineman (2009-10)."