Never Daunted: An Indiana Hoosiers Dynasty (NCAA 14)

[apate93]

Quote: Originally Posted by gsutiger

Sad to see you fall in the Natty. 4 turnovers never help. Great season non the less. Hopefully you guys can finish strong in recruiting in the off season and bounce back with another good season next year.

Yeah, I hope so too. This was my best team I've had, and we're losing a bunch of seniors. But I think we'll be able to do some new things next season, especially on the offensive end. And hopefully our recruiting class will help as well.

[apate93]

Bowl results
New Mexico Bowl- UCF 31, San Jose State 29
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl- Colorado State 38, Ball State 31
Poinsettia Bowl- Fresno State 38, SMU 7
Beef O'Brady's Bowl- Louisiana Tech 34, Marshall 31 OT
New Orleans Bowl- UL-Lafayette 35, FAU 18
Las Vegas Bowl- Colorado 34, Air Force 27
Hawaii Bowl- Western Kentucky 42, Wyoming 28
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl- Kent State 45, Michigan State 31
Holiday Bowl- Stanford 51, Kansas State 27
Military Bowl- Wake Forest 38, Buffalo 31 OT
Belk Bowl- North Carolina 42, Alabama 24
BBVA Compass Bowl- Old Dominion 45, Houston 28
Advocare V100 Independence Bowl- San Diego State 34, Louisville 21
Russell Athletic Bowl- USF 24, Virginia 17 OT
Meineke Car Care Bowl- Iowa 38, Temple 35
Armed Forces Bowl- UAB 45, Boise State 21
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl- Navy 37, California 17
Alamo Bowl- West Virginia 38, Washington 21
GoDaddy.com Bowl- Toledo 52, Texas State 35
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl- Baylor 38, Michigan 31
Music City Bowl- South Carolina 49, NC State 17
Sun Bowl- Pittsburgh 55, Oregon 20
AutoZone Liberty Bowl- Missouri 31, Middle Tennessee State 20
Chick-fil-A Bowl- Georgia Tech 28, Texas A&M 19
Gator Bowl- LSU 41, Wisconsin 34
Heart of Dallas Bowl- Illinois 41, Northern Illinois 16
Outback Bowl- Minnesota 45, Ole Miss 38
Capital One Bowl- Arkansas 38, Nebraska 13
Rose Bowl- Florida State 45, UCLA 14
Fiesta Bowl- Tennessee 59, Oklahoma 24
Allstate Sugar Bowl- Georgia 45, Ohio State 31
AT&T Cotton Bowl- TCU 50, Florida 36
Orange Bowl- Clemson 38, USC 3
BCS National Championship- Notre Dame 17, Indiana 10

This week's headlines
Irish eyes are smiling- Notre Dame finishes perfect season with BCS title
Too easy- Clemson sails to Orange Bowl win over USC
Sweet as sugar- Georgia breaks away in fourth to win Sugar Bowl
Oklahoma can't stay perfect, loses to Tennessee in Fiesta Bowl
Home field advantage doesn't help UCLA as Florida State rolls in Rose Bowl
Too little, too late- Ole Miss' comeback effort not enough to beat Gophers
LSU just gets past Wisconsin in Gator Bowl
Right at home- Georgia Tech defends Atlanta with Chick-fil-A Bowl win
Baylor rallies with three TD fourth to beat Michigan
USF scores late touchdown to force OT, beats Virginia

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Final top 25

1. Notre Dame (13-0)
2. Florida State (10-3)
3. Clemson (11-3)
4. Tennessee (10-3)
5. Indiana (13-1)
6. Georgia Tech (11-2)
7. Oklahoma (13-1)
8. Georgia (12-2)
9. TCU (10-3)
10. Stanford (9-4)
11. Toledo (12-2)
12. UCLA (11-3)
13. Ohio State (10-3)
14. Virginia (11-3)
15. Navy (11-3)
16. Western Kentucky (11-3)
17. Minnesota (10-4)
18. USC (9-4)
19. Baylor (9-4)
20. North Carolina (8-5)
21. Louisiana Tech (10-3)
22. UL-Lafayette (10-3)
23. USF (9-4)
24. Arkansas (9-5)
25. Fresno State (10-4)

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Season recap

Final conference standings
ACC
Atlantic
x- Clemson, 11-3 (7-3)
Florida State, 10-3 (6-3)
NC State, 7-6 (5-4)
Louisville, 7-6 (5-4)
Wake Forest, 7-6 (3-6)
Boston College, 3-9 (2-7)
Syracuse, 2-10 (1-8)

Coastal
Georgia Tech, 11-2 (8-1)
Virginia, 11-3 (8-2)
Pittsburgh, 8-5 (5-4)
North Carolina, 8-5 (5-4)
Miami (FL), 5-7 (4-5)
Virginia Tech, 5-7 (3-6)
Duke, 4-8 (2-7)


American
North
x- Navy, 11-3 (8-2)
Temple, 8-5 (6-3)
Army, 5-7 (4-5)
Marshall, 6-7 (4-5)
Connecticut, 4-8 (2-7)
ECU, 3-9 (2-7)

South
USF, 9-4 (7-2)
Houston, 7-7 (7-3)
SMU, 6-7 (5-4)
UCF, 7-6 (4-5)
Tulane, 6-6 (4-5)
Memphis, 2-10 (2-7)


Big 12
North
West Virginia, 8-6 (7-3)
Kansas State, 8-5 (5-4)
Cincinnati, 5-7 (4-5)
BYU, 3-9 (3-6)
Iowa State, 5-7 (2-7)
Kansas, 1-11 (0-9)

South
x- Oklahoma, 13-1 (10-0)
TCU, 10-3 (7-2)
Baylor, 9-4 (6-3)
Texas, 4-8 (4-5)
Texas Tech, 5-7 (4-5)
Oklahoma State, 4-8 (3-6)


Big Ten
East
x- Indiana, 13-1 (10-0)
Ohio State, 10-3 (7-2)
Michigan, 7-6 (5-4)
Michigan State, 6-7 (4-5)
Rutgers, 5-7 (3-6)
Penn State, 5-7 (3-6)
Maryland, 4-8 (2-7)

West
Nebraska, 8-5 (6-3)
Minnesota, 10-4 (6-4)
Wisconsin, 8-5 (5-4)
Iowa, 8-5 (5-4)
Illinois, 8-5 (5-4)
Purdue, 5-7 (3-6)
Northwestern, 1-11 (0-9)


C-USA
East
Middle Tennessee State, 7-6 (7-1)
UAB, 9-5 (7-2)
FAU, 8-5 (6-2)
Old Dominion, 8-5 (5-3)
FIU, 6-6 (4-4)
Southern Miss, 5-7 (3-5)

West
x- Western Kentucky, 11-3 (7-2)
Louisiana Tech, 10-3 (6-2)
UTEP, 5-7 (3-5)
Rice, 5-7 (2-6)
UTSA, 2-10 (1-7)
North Texas, 3-9 (1-7)
Tulsa, 4-8 (1-7)


Independent
Notre Dame, 13-0


MAC
East
Kent State, 7-7 (6-3)
Buffalo, 7-6 (5-3)
Ohio, 5-7 (4-4)
UMass, 5-7 (4-4)
Miami (OH), 6-6 (4-4)
Akron, 5-7 (4-4)
Bowling Green, 3-9 (2-6)

West
x- Toledo, 12-2 (8-1)
Ball State, 7-6 (5-3)
Northern Illinois, 7-6 (5-3)
Central Michigan, 7-5 (5-3)
Western Michigan, 3-9 (2-6)
Arkansas State, 3-9 (2-6)
Eastern Michigan, 2-10 (1-7)


Mountain West
Mountain
x- Air Force, 10-4 (9-1)
Wyoming, 7-6 (6-3)
Boise State, 7-6 (6-3)
Colorado State, 7-6 (5-4)
Utah State, 5-7 (4-5)
New Mexico, 2-10 (2-7)

West
Fresno State, 10-4 (7-3)
San Jose State, 6-7 (5-4)
San Diego State, 8-5 (4-5)
UNLV, 4-8 (3-6)
Hawaii, 4-8 (2-7)
Nevada, 4-8 (2-7)


Pac-12
North
Washington, 10-4 (7-3)
Stanford, 9-4 (6-3)
Oregon State, 5-7 (5-4)
Oregon, 7-6 (5-4)
California, 6-7 (4-5)
Washington State, 5-7 (2-7)

South
x- UCLA, 11-3 (8-2)
USC, 9-4 (7-2)
Colorado, 7-6 (5-4)
Arizona, 5-7 (3-6)
Arizona State, 3-9 (2-7)
Utah, 3-9 (1-8)


SEC
East
x- Georgia, 12-2 (9-1)
Tennessee, 10-3 (6-3)
Florida, 7-6 (5-4)
South Carolina, 7-6 (4-5)
Missouri, 7-6 (4-5)
Kentucky, 4-8 (3-6)
Vanderbilt, 4-8 (2-7)

West
Arkansas, 9-5 (7-3)
Ole Miss, 6-7 (5-4)
Texas A&M, 6-7 (5-4)
LSU, 8-5 (5-4)
Alabama, 6-7 (4-5)
Auburn, 5-7 (3-6)
Mississippi State, 4-8 (2-7)


Sun Belt
x- UL-Lafayette, 10-3 (6-1)
Texas State, 6-7 (5-2)
Idaho, 6-6 (4-3)
South Alabama, 5-7 (3-4)
Georgia State, 4-8 (3-4)
Troy, 5-7 (3-4)
New Mexico State, 5-7 (3-4)
UL-Monroe, 3-9 (1-6)

x- Conference champion


Indiana season stats
Passing
Leonard Bell, 154/216, 1,643 yds., 16 TD, 17 INT
Joe Long, 11/16, 200 yds., 1 TD, 0 INT
Mario Watson, 0/1, 0 yds.

Rushing
Michael Keenan, 385 ATT, 2,217 yds. (#1 in NCAA), 17 TD
Danny Novak, 101 ATT, 666 yds., 10 TD
Alex Williams, 38 ATT, 148 yds., 3 TD
Joe Long, 8 ATT, 41 yds., 1 TD
Cody Wynn, 1 ATT, 4 yds.
Lionel Barrett, 4 ATT, 3 yds.
Leonard Bell, 28 ATT, -89 yds., 2 TD

Receiving
Donald Dickens, 64 REC, 807 yds., 7 TD
Scott Hicks, 51 REC, 651 yds., 4 TD
Michael Keenan, 21 REC, 109 yds., 2 TD
Greg Clark, 10 REC, 90 yds., 2 TD
Bret Rodriguez, 9 REC, 90 yds., 2 TD
Danny Novak, 4 REC, 22 yds.
Vince Pressley, 3 REC, 35 yds.
Thurman Armstrong, 2 REC, 33 yds.
Lionel Barrett, 1 REC, 6 yds.

Pancake blocks
Alex Williams, 13
Charles McMahan, 11
Will Lloyd, 9
Thad Ford, 7
Greg Clark, 6
Ty Palmer, 5
Calvin Evans, 4
David Mason, 3
Greg Kendrick, 2
Cody Wynn, 1

Tackles (top 5)
C.J. Harrison, 57 (54 solo, T#2 in NCAA)
Brent Young, 54
Tyler Thomas, 49
Nick Seward, 39
Michael Sims, 37

Sacks
Brandon Thomas, 10.0 (#6 in NCAA)
Deon Jackson, 9.0
Brian Jackson, 7.0
Erik McCarty, 5.0
Michael Sims, 4.0
Scott Durbin, 2.0
Brett Harris, 1.0
Jerrell Silva, 1.0
Ross Davis, 1.0
James Richardson, 1.0
James Harris, 1.0
C.J. Harrison, 1.0

Interceptions
C.J. Harrison, 4
Nick Seward, 4
Roshaun Brant, 3
Jerrell Silva, 3
Tyler Thomas, 3
Michael Sims, 1
James Harris, 1

Kicking
Marty Hampton, 21/22 FG, 51/51 XP

Punting
Marty Hampton, 10 punts, 503 yds., 391 net, 39.1 average, 4 downed inside 20, 3 touchbacks, 77 yd. long

Kick return
Bret Rodriguez, 33 returns, 1,065 yds., 32.2 average, 3 TD
Robert Medlock, 1 return, 1 yd.
Danny Novak, 1 return, 0 yd.

Punt return
Bret Rodriguez, 36 returns, 389 yds., 10.8 average

Team awards
Offensive MVP: Michael Keenan
Defensive MVP: C.J. Harrison
Freshman MVP: Roshaun Brant


National recruiting
Top 10 recruits
1. Jermaine Brewer- WR- Alabaster, AL- Evangel Christian School- Committed:
2. Donald Everson- DE- Venice, FL- Venice HS- Committed:
3. Matt Robertson- ATH- Henryetta, OK- Henryetta HS- Committed:
4. Richard Cruz- DT- Washington, DC- St. John's College HS- Committed:
5. Marcus McKinney- ATH- San Dimas, CA- San Dimas HS- Committed:
6. Brandon Henry- ATH- Converse, TX- Judson HS- Committed:
7. Kyle Warren- ATH- San Antonio, TX- St. Gerard Catholic HS- Considering:

8. William Smith- HB- Merritt Island, FL- Merritt Island HS- Committed:
9. David Tompkins- WR- Bedford, TX- L.D. Bell HS- Committed:
10. Nathan Bennett- QB- Weddington, NC- Weddington HS- Committed:


Indiana recruiting
Committed
Marcus Thomas- OLB- 73 OVR (4*)- Duncanville, TX- Duncanville HS
Jason Boyd- DT- 74 OVR (4*)- Swainsboro, GA- Swainsboro HS
Steve Stanley- CB- 68 OVR (3*)- Monessen, PA- Monessen HS
Donald Jones- MLB- 65 OVR (3*)- West Covina, CA- West Covina HS
Kevin Smith- OLB- 65 OVR (3*)- Brook Park, OH- Berea-Midpark HS
Marquis Pollard- DT- 63 OVR (3*)- Ocoee, FL- Ocoee HS
Kevin Morton- DT- 65 OVR (3*)- Danville, KY- Danville HS
Jeremy Hill- T- 65 OVR (3*)- Harrisonburg, VA- Harrisonburg HS
Bryant Swan- P- 81 OVR (1*)- Broadview Heights, OH (JUCO)- John Carroll University

Considering (currently have IU #1)
Jason Kirby- WR- 76 OVR (5*)- Robinson, TX- Robinson HS
Kevin Hawk- ATH- 74 OVR (4*)- Hayward, CA- Mount Eden HS
Jeremy Roberts- WR- 64 OVR (3*)- Stuttgart, AR- Stuttgart HS
Chris Parks- WR- 65 OVR (3*)- McAlester, OK- McAlester HS
Rhett Ramsey- OLB- 63 OVR (3*)- Greenwood, IN- Greenwood HS
Nick Williams- OLB- 64 OVR (3*)- Fair Haven, VT- Fair Haven Union HS
Michael Hollins- CB- 60 OVR (3*)- Houghton, MI- Houghton HS
Kevin Russell- DE- 65 OVR (3*)- Royal Pines, NC- Christ School
Robert Johnson- DE- 67 OVR (3*)- Suitland-Silver Hill, MD- Suitland HS
Jermaine Norwood- FS- 52 OVR (1*)- Solon, OH (JUCO)- Case Western Reserve University

[apate93]

Mills takes Oklahoma State job, Jones in at DC

Bloomington- In what has become a yearly tradition, the Hoosiers will have a new defensive coordinator in 2021.

Former Indiana DC Jeff Mills has accepted the head coaching job at Oklahoma State after just one season in Bloomington.

Mills is the third straight IU defensive coordinator to leave after one year at Indiana. Indiana had the top defense in the nation under Mills in 2020.

"We're sad to see him go, but I think he's going to be a really good fit at OSU," said coach Pate. "We wish him all the best."

Indiana didn't look far for Mills' replacement, picking up former Maryland head coach Jason Jones to head the Hoosier defense. Jones was fired after the Terps went 4-8 in 2020.

"Obviously being from another Big Ten school, he knows the competition we're up against," said Pate. "That's something we value a lot, so having someone who knows the conference is a big asset."

Indiana is no stranger to picking up coaches from the Big Ten, hiring John Butler from Penn State to the defensive coordinator position two years ago.

Mills, who was the defensive coordinator at South Carolina before joining the Hoosiers, joins several former IU coaches in the head coaching ranks. John Butler is currently the head coach at Florida, Doug Mallory is at Pittsburgh, and Paul Chryst is the head man at Nebraska after a successful stint at South Alabama.

Meanwhile, coach Pate has signed a 7-year contract extension with Indiana to remain the head coach of the Hoosiers through at least 2027.

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Notable offseason coaching changes
Coach, Old school > New school (hired to same position unless noted)
HC Doug Nussmeier, Toledo > Texas A&M
HC Jim Chaney, UL-Lafayette > Alabama
DC John Papuchis, Clemson > Virginia Tech HC
HC Matt Rhule, Temple > Penn State
HC Bill O'Brien, Penn State > Temple
OC Steve Sarkisian, Oklahoma > BYU HC
HC Les Koenning, Western Kentucky > Toledo
OC Aaron Perry, Notre Dame > Syracuse HC
DC Todd Orlando, Notre Dame > Cincinnati HC
HC Bret Bielema, FAU > Maryland
DC David Elson, Western Kentucky > Western Kentucky HC
DC Jeff Mills, Indiana > Oklahoma State HC
OC Travis Bush, UL-Lafayette > UL-Lafayette HC
OC Louis Ayeni, Toledo > Northwestern HC
HC Jason Jones, Maryland > Indiana DC
HC Gus Malzahn, Eastern Michigan > Florida State OC
HC Lane Kiffin, New Mexico > Minnesota OC
HC Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern > Texas DC

Notable firings and retirements
Nick Saban (Alabama) retires
Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech) retires
Bill O'Brien (Penn State) fired
Tommy Tuberville (Cincinnati) retires
Les Miles (Kansas) retires
Kyle Whittingham (BYU) fired
Jason Jones (Maryland) fired
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern) fired
Guz Malzahn (Eastern Michigan) fired
Lane Kiffin (New Mexico) fired

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Players leaving

All seniors unless noted
RG Billy Hubbard, freshman, transfer (playing time)- South Alabama
WR Scott Hicks, NFL Draft
QB Leonard Bell, NFL Draft
HB Michael Keenan, NFL Draft
FS Brent Young, NFL Draft
RT Ty Palmer, NFL Draft
RT Gerald Pennington, graduation
LG David Mason, graduation
FB Alex Williams, graduation
RG Will Lloyd, graduation
CB Nick Seward, graduation
ROLB Michael Sims, graduation
LE Brandon Thomas, graduation
C Charles McMahan, graduation
P/K Marty Hampton, graduation
MLB Scott Wilson, graduation
LOLB James Bullock, graduation
WR Donald Dickens, graduation
DT Brian Jackson, graduation
RG Calvin Evans, graduation
RG Greg Kendrick, graduation

[apate93]

Record number of Hoosiers sign pro deals on draft day

Los Angeles, CA- After having no players drafted a year ago, five Hoosiers heard their names called at the 2021 NFL Draft in Los Angeles.

Receiver Scott Hicks, who had considered entering the Draft last year before deciding to return for his senior season, was the first Hoosier taken, going 44th overall in the second round to the Arizona Cardinals.

Quarterback Leonard Bell, despite a few rocky patches during his senior year, was the next Hoosier called, going to the Miami Dolphins in the third round, the 89th overall pick.

2019 Heisman-winner and Indiana's all-time leading rusher Michael Keenan was the third IU player to be selected, going in the 5th round, 145th overall, to the Denver Broncos.

Safety Brent Young will stay close to his alma mater, as he was taken in the sixth round by the Indianapolis Colts, 197th overall.

The sixth round also saw tackle Ty Palmer selected, going 205th overall to the Houston Texans.

Joining their fellow Hoosiers in the pro ranks are several other former Hoosiers, who signed undrafted free agent deals. Left end Brandon Thomas signed with the Baltimore Ravens, kicker and Guy Award-winner Marty Hampton signed with the Los Angeles Rams, center Charles McMahan signed with the Chicago Bears, receiver Donald Dickens signed with the New Orleans Saints, and All-American tackle Brian Jackson will be heading north, signing a deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

A total of ten Hoosiers from the 2020 national runner-up, all seniors, will be taking their talents to the next level. Indiana's coach Pate said of the group, "We aren't surprised at all. This team had a ton of talent, so to see these guys get to continue their football careers at the highest level, I think it's very well deserved. I'm always proud of our players, and this is definitely no exception."


Players drafted
WR Scott Hicks, 2nd round, 44th overall, Arizona Cardinals
QB Leonard Bell, 3rd round, 89th overall, Miami Dolphins
HB Michael Keenan, 5th round, 145th overall, Denver Broncos
FS Brent Young, 6th round, 197th overall, Indianapolis Colts
RT Ty Palmer, 6th round, 205th overall, Houston Texans

Free agent signings
LE Brandon Thomas, Baltimore Ravens
K Marty Hampton, Los Angeles Rams
C Charles McMahan, Chicago Bears
WR Donald Dickens, New Orleans Saints
DT Brian Jackson, Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL)