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BLOOMINGTON — The Indiana football team is about to embark on a new era under coach Curt Cignetti with a roster that bares little resemblance to the one that closed out the season with a 35-31 loss to Purdue.
The Hoosiers only brought back 10 of the 22 players who started last year’s regular-season finale. They lost more than 30 players overall between players transferring out and exhausting their eligibility.
That means there will be competition for playing time up and down the roster this spring.
Here are three position battles The Herald-Times is keeping an eye on — outside of the high stakes battle at quarterback — when camp opens on Thursday at Memorial Stadium:
More: Why new quarterback Kurtis Rourke got reps at Indiana football’s 2024 pro day
Nov 5, 2022; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; James Madison Dukes running back Kaelon Black (6) runs the ball against Louisville Cardinals defensive back Kei’Trel Clark (13) during the first half at Cardinal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
New blood could power Indiana’s revamped running back room
Departing: Josh Henderson, Christian Turner, Jaylin Lucas (Florida State)
Returning: Trent Howland (R-Jr); David Holloman (R-Jr)
Transfers: Ty Son Lawton (R-Sr); Elijah Green (R-Sr); Justice Ellison (Sr); Kaelon Black (R-Jr);
Freshman: Khobie Martin (Summer enrollee)
Trent Howland returned to a much different running back room after taking his name out of the transfer portal.
Howland was IU’s leading rusher last year with 75 carries for 354 yards (4.7 yards per carry) thanks to a late season surge. There’s no guarantee he will remain at the top of the depth chart as the new staff sorts through the group’s strengths and weaknesses.
“We are deep at running back,” Cignetti told The Herald-Times. “We wanted to improve the speed and quickness there and not have…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/indiana-footballs-most-important-position-080334177.html
Author : The Herald-Times
Publish date : 2024-03-20 08:03:34
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