Countdown To Kickoff: 67 Days (Dan Feeney)

Dan Feeney will help anchor a line that should be the strength for the Hoosiers. Image: IUHoosiers.com

Written By T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

#67

There are 67 days until IU kicks off the 2015 season against the Salukis of Southern Illinois. Today’s countdown feature takes a look at one of the better (perhaps the best) players on IU’s best position group, redshirt junior Dan Feeney.

Dan Feeney

-Height: 6’4”

-Weight: 305 pounds

-Hometown: Orland Park, Illinois

-Year/Position: RS Junior/OL

Dan Feeney was a standout offensive and defensive tackle at Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Illinois before coming to Indiana to be a Hoosier. Feeney’s play during his high school career earned him second team all-state and all-conference recognition and he was rated as the #16 prospect in Illinois as a senior.

Feeney wasn't expected to immediately contribute but he stood out in preseason camp and ended up starting all 12 games at right guard during the 2012 season. The 12 games started as a freshman is a school record for an offensive lineman. He excelled and didn’t give up a single sack during the season, earning multiple Freshman All-America honors. Unfortunately, Feeney suffered a foot injury prior to the 2013 season and was forced to sit out the entire year. He received a medical redshirt and came back to start all 12 games in 2014 as a redshirt sophomore. Feeney allowed just one sack in 801 snaps and helped Tevin Coleman and the Hoosiers set a new school record with 3,163 rushing yards. Feeney received All-Big Ten honorable mention honors and earned the team’s Hoosier Iron Award, given for outstanding weight room performance.

Dan Feeney is one of the best guards in the B1G and Kevin Wilson thinks he’s an integral, and underappreciated part, of IU’s run game continuing to excel. “I think the running game will be fine,” Wilson told reporters after spring practices. “I don’t think people realize how good Feeney and Spriggs are. I am a line guy and that line is pretty good.”

Feeney is a steady rock for the Hoosiers and he’ll lock down the right guard position as a redshirt junior. The expectations are high for this IU offensive line and for Feeney in particular. He’s achieved significant postseason honors after both seasons that he’s played and anything less after the 2015 season would be a surprise.

The Hoosier Huddle continues tomorrow as we reach day #66. Come back to Hoosier Huddle often as we keep the great preseason coverage coming!