The Indiana football program conducted its ‘Spring Football Saturday’ this weekend that concluded spring practice with a scrimmage.
Indiana head coach Tom Allen is looking to improve on a 4-8 season in 2022, which followed a 2-10 season in 2021. The Hoosiers head into the summer with a good feel for their program after the last few weeks of on the field work.
Indiana opens fall practice on August 2.
Here are some of the key storylines, notes and quotes from Saturday’s events.
The quarterback battle is still ongoing and won’t be decided until the fall. Both Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby came into Saturday looking to build on a good spring and try and create some separation in the competition. Both players had good moments throughout the scrimmage and drills but nothing that separate themselves.
“We aren’t going to name a starter,” Allen said. “But I think we’ll sit down with them and talk with them and kind of tell them where they are and in that part of it from exactly if we’re going to play a game tomorrow kind of thing. We’ll tell those guys that open and honestly. To name a guy, no, we’re not ready to do that yet. I think they have a lot of work ahead of them.”
Andre Carter is going to be a major impact player for the Indiana defense this season. On Saturday, the Western Michigan transfer defensive end was all over the field making play after play. Tom Allen said he and Noah Pierre were the MVPs for the defense in spring practice. His ability to make plays in the backfield will be critical for an Indiana defense that struggled to do so last season.
“He is the biggest, most physical one we’ve had here since I’ve been here,” Allen said. “Very, very disruptive. Got to get him in elite shape. He is not there yet.”
Offensive line is improving but still a work in progress: “It’s always hard when you don’t go full bore. We did some live ghosts throughout the spring. Didn’t do it today on purpose, but I love what I see. I think it’s the cumulative effect of just all of the pod work and all of the reps over and over again, the physicality just over and over and over.”
The Indiana running backs will play a signifiant role for the offense this season. There’s no denying their importance to this team and Saturday showed even more the role they will play. Jaylin Lucas, Josh Henderson and Christian Turner all bring versatility and explosiveness to the field.
“I think the running back room offensively that sticks out to me,” Allen said. “I love the way they come to work every day. They have a lot of group … I want to maximize that room … I like that room a lot and feel like we have more flexibility. We have to run the football. We have to run it effectively. Just with different levels from that for our defense, for our offense, for the team. For late in the game finishing out late fourth quarter games. Huge emphasis, no question.”
Tom Allen on Donaven McCulley: “You have no idea how good you can be.” Allen made it quite clear this spring that McCulley needs to step up for Indiana this season at the wide receiver position. At his size and frame paired with his athleticism, McCulley has the tools to be a significant part of this offense. He made a few big plays on Saturday and flashed more of the potential he showed at times last season.
Indiana got out of spring practice healthy, and that’s significant.
“It’s a big deal getting out of the spring healthy,” Allen said. “Had zero long-term injuries. Had some guys that missed some days, but nothing that’s going to be past probably the next month. So that hasn’t been the case the last several years, so that’s a big deal to get through it, to be able to be healthy, and to come through and have a great, great summer.”
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