IUFB Pro Day Primer: Tight End Ian Thomas
Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)
Ian Thomas joined the Indiana Hoosiers as a JUCO product along with quarterback Richard Lagow. Thomas is a Baltimore, Maryland native. He played tight end at Digital Harbor High School. He also played basketball and track and field. Ian Thomas as raised by his older siblings. His parents passed at a young age, and he and his eight siblings were forced to fend for themselves. Thomas persevered through all forms of adversity.
IUFB Pro Day Primer: Cornerback Rashard Fant
Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)
Rashard Fant fully embodied what it means to be a Hoosier during his college football career in Bloomington. Fant always carried himself with the utmost professionalism on the field and in the classroom. When Fant officially became a member of Indiana football as part of the 2013 recruiting class, the Hoosiers knew they were getting a good one. The multi-sport athlete from Our Lady of Mercy High School just south of Atlanta was one of the best football players in the state of Georgia. 247 Sports rated Fant as the 13th best athlete in his class and one of the top 150 football players in the entire country according to ESPN. An extremely decorated high school career earned Fant his status among fellow football recruits.
IUFB Pro Day Primer: Defensive Lineman Robert McCray III
Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)
Robert McCray was an unheralded two-star recruit from Rockdale County High School in Georgia. McCray took an official visit to Bloomington and immediately fell in love with Indiana University. He committed to the Hoosiers and signed his National Letter of Intent just five days after visiting campus. McCray played linebacker and on the defensive line in high school. He earned All-Area and All-Region honors as a senior. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound lineman would far exceed expectations by the time he finished his Indiana career.
IUFB Pro Day Primer: Defensive End Greg Gooch
Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)
Greg Gooch earned himself a laundry list of scholarship offers thanks to his stellar play as an inside and outside linebacker. Ultimately, the Longwood, Florida linebacker chose the Hoosiers. Standing 6-foot-3, 240-pounds as a three-star recruit, Gooch would prove to be one of many pieces the Indiana defense needed. He was named to the All-Area team as a senior at Lyman High School. Gooch’s size and speed had him ranked as the 30th best inside linebacker of the 2014 recruiting class. He was ready to make an immediate impact for the Hoosiers.
IUFB Pro Day Primer: Safety Chase Dutra
Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)
Chase Dutra came to Indiana University as a talented recruit with a lot to prove in 2013. The multi-sport athlete did a little bit of everything for Brownsburg High School. He excelled in basketball for three years before focusing on football full-time. Dutra played safety and wide receiver. He racked up over 1,800 rushing yards, 1,000 receiving yards, and 33 total touchdowns. Three of those touchdowns came on punt returns. Dutra’s playmaking ability and versatility made him one of the best players in the state by his senior year of high school. He finished his high school career as a the 79th best safety in the country and the 19th best player in Indiana per 247 Sports. He was also named to the all-conference team twice while helping Brownsburg win back-to-back conference championships.
IUFB Pro Day Primer: Kicker Griffin Oakes
Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)
Griffin Oakes has a very interesting case to make for NFL scouts. Oakes has had a rollercoaster career in Bloomington, where he was able to finish on a high note as a senior. Oakes has flashed some occasionally brilliant accuracy throughout his kicking career, although he’s most known for having a canon for a leg. Oakes was a three-year letter winner at Greenwood High School in Indiana where he made over 72% of his field goals, including a school record 50-yarder. Oakes joined Indiana football as a walk-on. He redshirted his first collegiate season in 2013.
IUFB Pro Day Primer: Safety Tony Fields
Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)
Tony Fields is hungry to continue his football career as he will participate in IU’s Pro Day on April 3 in Bloomington. Fields joined Indiana University as part of the 2014 recruiting class. He joined IU as a top-100 defensive back from Amos P. Godby High School in Tallahassee, Forida, was brought into IU to provide stability in the secondary. Fields was a two-time All-State selection as a safety in high school, where he earned a spot as the 44th best safety of his class. He had a successful two-year basketball career before devoting his athleticism entirely to football. Fields was extremely diligent growing up, both on and off the field. He won an academic award his senior year of high school on top of being an honors student for four straight years. Indiana knew they were getting a stand-up guy, and Tony Fields would further prove himself in Bloomington as a stellar football player and outstanding individual.
IU Pro Day Primer: Quarterback Richard Lagow
Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)
Quarterback Richard Lagow is preparing to open the eyes of NFL scouts at Indiana’s Pro Day on April 3 in Bloomington. Lagow took a long and winding road that ultimately led him to IU for the final two seasons of his college career. The young QB is battle-tested and ready to take whatever road it takes to earn a spot on an NFL roster next fall.
Five Hoosiers Performed at the NFL Scouting Combine this Past Weekend, Here’s What They Did
Written By Dustin Schutte (@SchutteCFB)
Five former Indiana football stars were invited to participate in the 2018 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, which began last week and concluded on Monday.
Wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. was the only Hoosier to participate in all seven drills, while Ian Thomas was involved in five. Linebackers Tegray Scales and Chris Covington took part in only the bench press and 40-yard dash. Cornerback Rashard Fant was unable to participate due to a torn pectoral muscle.
Here are the results from Indianapolis, along with a brief scouting report on each player from the past week. Indiana will also have its pro day on April 3.
Indiana Football Record-Tying Five Hoosiers Will Be Headed to the NFL Combine
IU Athletics Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr., linebacker Chris Covington, cornerback Rashard Fant, linebacker Tegray Scales and tight end Ian Thomas will participate in the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium from Tuesday-Monday, Feb. 27-March 5.