Heban, Hughes, and Ewald Speak at Media Day
/Written By Sammy Jacobs (@sammyj108)
During the Big Ten Media Days it is custom for the head coach to bring three players that he thinks will be leaders on the team for the upcoming season. On Thursday, the second day of Big Ten Media Day, Hoosier seniors Greg Heban, Kofi Hughes, and Mitch Ewald, each talked about their expectations and roles on the 2013 Hoosier football team.
Greg Heban, Senior, Safety
Heban, who lead the team in tackles in 2012 with 91, is the heart and soul of a Hoosier defensive unit that needs to be better in 2013, he says "as a senior leader on this defense I feel like it's my job to continue to get this defense improving." The former baseball player turned starting safety leads by example and has credited "Coach (Mark) Hill and his staff" on doing "a great job getting us bigger, a lot stronger, and in shape." This Hoosier team needs another heroic effort from Heban this fall in order for the squad to even think about a bowl game.
Kofi Hughes, Senior, Wide Receiver
Hughes is the elder statesman for a very talented and very deep receiving corps for the Hoosiers. The senior receiver is quick to say "the strength staff has been amazing, they really push our team past the point we think we can go." The strength and conditioning staff led by coach Mark Hill are arguably the most important people in the program. Having a team that puts in the work during the offseason could be the difference in winning or losing close games in the fall. Hughes a native of Indianapolis also talks about how important it is to defend home field, especially with an eight game home slate.
Mitch Ewald, Senior, Kicker
The Illinois native returned to his home state to see his career at Indiana come full circle. Ewald has been one of the most consistent kickers in the Big Ten the last three years. Ewald is confident in what he calls a "very solid" special teams unit. Hopefully, Ewald can live up to the hype of being a three-time Groza Award member and put up the numbers he needs to in order to be named a finalist later in the season. The senior kicker is saddled with the tough responsibility of being a leader while not being a full time position player, however his experiences over the last four seasons with the Hoosiers should help him to mold younger players looking to help the Hoosier team.
The three Hoosier seniors represented Indiana University well and it has been a treat watching them over their careers. Now it is time for them to ride off into the sunset on what could be the most successful Hoosier football team in recent memory.