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After a record-setting sophomore season in 2019, Indiana tight end Peyton Hendershot admitted he didn't play up to his standards in 2020. But with a full offseason in the weight room and a summer spent getting on the same page with quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Hendershot is eager to show he can be counted on for big catches in IU's offense. "I feel probably the best I've ever felt my entire life," Hendershot said. "My speed, my strength, everything." Hendershot credited an offseason working with IU strength coach Aaron Wellman for his physical transformation. After playing at 265 pounds as a sophomore and 240 pounds last season, Hendershot entered fall camp at 252 pounds. "For a long time, I was really trying to figure out a good weight for me, a perfect weight," Hendershot said. "It's a really good weight for me, especially for running routes."

IU tight ends coach Kevin Wright expects the increased strength this season to show up in Hendershot's ability to block in the run game as well. "He's always been able to catch the football," Wright said. "He's always had good ball skills. But I think that what you will see is one of the better blocking tight ends in the Big Ten, and I think that's just a byproduct of all the work he's put in in the offseason. He's just one of the strongest guys on our team in general. So good ball skills, he's stronger, he's more physical and just he's played like a veteran throughout camp." Hendershot still finished with 23 catches for 151 yards and four TDs last season, including a two-TD game against Rutgers, to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors. - Herald Bulletin

(DS#25 TE) rSr/2022

TE Peyton Hendershot, Indiana
News Source: Herald Bulletin
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08/28/21 - Stephen Carr, rSr/2022, Indiana, 6-0, 211 (DS#66 RB) + More +

Carr's track record coming out of USC is proven. He endured some injuries, including back and foot issues that sidelined him for a handful of games over the last three seasons. But with 1,329 yards rushing and 12 TDs rushing and 57 catches for 421 yards and one TD receiving, Carr brings a dual-threat element to the position that could spark IU's run game, which lacks big-play ability. The Hoosiers ranked 12th in the Big Ten in rushing at 108.6 yards per game and 13th in yards per carry at 3.1. "His strengths are he's very explosive," McCullough said. "His change of direction is high end, his ability to obviously make people miss. He runs with power. He runs with decisiveness...His pass protection is where I want it to be also. Obviously, he has great hands. We'll be able to see those on display as we continue to go through the season. The things to continue to work on is all the finer points of our offense, just continuing to work on those, seeing signals, different things like that, not relying on the quarterback to tell him the plays." Carr has already developed a rapport with his new teammates, who are fond of calling him "booda," a family nickname he earned before birth. "My mom, my big sister used to go up to her stomach when I was inside of her, used to go up to her stomach and say booda, booda, booda," Carr said. "It just stuck." - Herald Bulletin

(DS#66 RB) rSr/2022

RB Stephen Carr, Indiana
News Source: Herald Bulletin
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08/24/21 - Jonathan Haynes, rSr/2023, Indiana, 5-11, 204 (DS#63 SS) + More +

Jones said new IU defensive back Jonathan Haynes, who he coached at Ole Miss, is doing his best to adapt quickly after arriving from Ole Miss last week as a graduate transfer. "He's running around. He's giving us great effort," Jones said. "He's putting the time in. He's studying the defense, so he knows what's going on. He's a physical player where we can roll him into the box where teams are running the football. He doesn't mind coming down mixing it up." Haynes said he's looking forward to playing for the Hoosiers. "I felt like I needed a better opportunity, and coming here was a big opportunity for me playing in the Big Ten," Haynes said. "Even though I came from the SEC, I felt like the Big Ten can help me way more." - Herald Bulletin

(DS#63 SS) rSr/2023

SS Jonathan Haynes, Indiana
News Source: Herald Bulletin
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08/24/21 - Kurtis Rourke, rSr/2025, Indiana, 6-4, 220 (DS#11 QB) + More +

Kurtis Rourke wasn't known for his rushing abilities last season. In three games, he rushed for only 17 yards on 14 carries and struggled when running the ball himself. The redshirt sophomore used Tuesday as an opportunity to improve his rushing ability. Rourke worked on his movement and tried to get comfortable using his legs rather than his arm. Rourke wants his weakness from last season to become a strength. If he can round out his run game, Rourke can match fellow quarterback Armani Rogers in dual-threat ability. - The Post

(DS#11 QB) rSr/2025

QB Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
News Source: The Post
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08/23/21 - Stephen Carr, rSr/2022, Indiana, 6-0, 211 (DS#66 RB) + More +

Indiana's first intrasquad football scrimmage of fall camp revealed a high-charged offense and the emergence of Southern California transfer running back Stephen Carr. Indiana coach Tom Allen said Monday the offense had the upper hand on the defense Saturday when the first and second teams squared off at Memorial Stadium. "Probably the first time that that's happened throughout fall camp with an extended amount of plays, so that was good to see as well," Allen said. "I thought our defense responded very well (Monday) to that, so it's a typical back and forth, but being the first full scrimmage, it's really the most amount of live tackling that we've done. Tackling was OK but needs to get better, which is usually the case for the first one."

Allen said the strong offensive execution began with the play of all three quarterbacks on the depth chart. Starter Michael Penix Jr., backup Jack Tuttle and freshman third-stringer Donaven McCulley all took snaps in the scrimmage. Allen said the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Carr has created some separation in the position battle for starting running back. "It's pretty obvious," Allen said. "He's a good back, and the thing about him is he does a lot of things well. He obviously can run the football, but he can pass pro(tect), and he has really good hands and just understands football, has played a lot of football, and some guys have that knack to them. He did some good things for sure." - Herald Bulletin

(DS#66 RB) rSr/2022

RB Stephen Carr, Indiana
News Source: Herald Bulletin
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08/20/21 - Beau Robbins, rSr/2024, Indiana, 6-5, 272 (DS#999 DE) + More +

Early in camp, two under-the-radar players have stood out on Indiana's defensive front. Beau Robbins, a third-year sophomore from Carmel, and Weston Kramer, a grad transfer from Northern Illinois, have been making the most of their opportunities in practice according to IU defensive line coach Kevin Peoples. Peoples said the 6-foot-5, 260-pound Robbins, a four-star prospect and the No. 4 player from Indiana coming out of high school in 2019, is starting to tap into his potential. "Beau, just from Day 1 has improved drastically," People said. "His pass rush is much better. He's playing with much more confidence. He started playing better at the end of last season. He actually got into the bowl game, so I think, you know, Beau is just steady, and he's what this program is about, a guy that works hard, that loves Indiana football, that is smart and is going to give us everything he's got." - Herald Bulletin

(DS#999 DE) rSr/2024

DE Beau Robbins, Indiana
News Source: Herald Bulletin
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08/19/21 - Jonathan Haynes, rSr/2023, Indiana, 5-11, 204 (DS#63 SS) + More +

The IU secondary added a veteran piece late in the offseason as coach Tom Allen announced former Ole Miss safety Jon Haynes joined the program on Thursday. Haynes, a 5-11, 205-pound safety comes to Bloomington as a graduate transfer after playing two seasons at Ole Miss. Haynes was a three-star recruit out of Jones College in Ellisville, Miss. The senior is using his extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of the COVID-19 pandemic to join the Hoosiers. Haynes played in 21 games during his Ole Miss career, amassing 86 tackles, two interceptions, five pass deflections and one tackle for loss. His last game with the Rebels was against IU in the Outback Bowl. - Indianapolis Star/News

(DS#63 SS) rSr/2023

SS Jonathan Haynes, Indiana
News Source: Indianapolis Star/News
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08/16/21 - Tiawan Mullen, Sr/2023, Indiana, 5-09, 181 (DS#56 CB) + More +

The first thing noticeably different about All-Big Ten Indiana junior cornerback Tiawan Mullen this season is his upper body. Mullen only put on four pounds from last season, but it shows up most in his shoulders and arms. Now at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, Mullen credited IU strength coach Aaron Wellman and team nutritionist Isaac Hicks for the strength gains. "We took a lot of time figuring out what I need, the body mass. They had guys coming in to measure up everything," Mullen said, "I ate four to five times a day, hydrated, slept well, great nutrition." Mullen's favorite meal? "Chicken alfredo pasta," he said. Mullen said the weight gain was by design, to withstand the rigors of the Big Ten.

The Hoosiers played eight games in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season but could play up to 13 or 14 games this season, depending on their level of success. "Just playing in the Big Ten you need a strong body, a fit body, to be able to last," Mullen said. "So I think it's going to help me a lot, put on more extra weight, great healthy weight. I can still move efficient, so it's not bad for me." Mullen displayed his versatility in his breakout sophomore season, posting 3.5 sacks, three interceptions and one forced fumble in 2020. New IU defensive coordinator Charlton Warren intends to use Mullen all over the field in the secondary again, a role he welcomes. - Herald Bulletin

(DS#56 CB) Sr/2023

CB Tiawan Mullen, Indiana
News Source: Herald Bulletin
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08/09/21 - D.J. Matthews Jr., rSr/2023, Indiana, 5-10, 160 (DS#999 WR) + More +

Florida State transfer wide receiver D.J. Matthews gives IU a proven playmaker on special teams. Matthews returned 37 punts for 457 yards in three seasons at FSU, including a 74-yard punt return for a TD against Miami. Indiana special teams coach Kasey Teegardin said Matthews will compete with Reese Taylor, who returned nine punts for 73 last season to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten special teams honors.

"He's confident overall," Teegardin said. "He looks comfortable back there fielding the ball. We did a better job last year (than) two years ago, when the ball was kicked and rolling around. I think Reese did a better job. We call it hidden yardage, is where the ball bounces and how much yardage we can actually lose from giving our offense that starting field position. "We want to field every single punt we possibly can. He is confident enough in himself and his abilities to go do that. I think Reese was obviously an all-conference punt returner as well, so there will be a little bit of a battle there, but I think the depth overall is better than what we've had." - Herald Bulletin

(DS#999 WR) rSr/2023

WR D.J. Matthews Jr., Indiana
News Source: Herald Bulletin
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08/09/21 - Jaylin Williams, rSr/2023, Indiana, 5-10, 184 (DS#43 CB) + More +

Returning All-Big Ten cornerback Jaylin Williams, facing misdemeanor OWI charges from a February arrest, will begin practicing with the rest of Indiana's team when fall camp starts Friday. "Right now, he's fully with the team," Indiana football coach Tom Allen said. "We've gone through all the processes we need to go through with him off the field and handled that as a program, and so he's with us today, and he'll be with us moving forward." In late June, the same vehicle Williams drove during his OWI arrest was involved in a hit-and-run accident in downtown Bloomington.

However, the vehicle, an orange 2010 Jeep Wrangler with a Tennessee license plate, was abandoned shortly after the accident. The victim suffered bleeding from his face and hands, according to a Bloomington Herald-Times report, but his injuries were not life threatening. Police are still investigating to determine the driver of the vehicle. According to Monroe County Court records, a pretrial conference for Williams' February OWI arrest is set for Aug. 10. The Class C misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of 60 days in jail and maximum fine of $500. - Herald Bulletin

(DS#43 CB) rSr/2023

CB Jaylin Williams, Indiana
News Source: Herald Bulletin
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08/05/21 - Caleb Jones, rSr/2022, Indiana, 6-9, 370 (DS#51 OT) + More +

Jones found himself on the periphery of NFL draft discussions in the offseason between 2019 and 2020, and why not? A mammoth strong-side tackle, he anchored the line that helped IU to the Gator Bowl, and at 6-8 he has the sort of frame and reach that make linemen at that spot so in demand at the next level. But last fall was not so successful. Jones, like many of his teammates along Indiana's offensive line, struggled for consistency. The Hoosiers' front five excelled at times but also struggled badly in key moments.

In hindsight, it shouldn't have been terribly surprising. Numerous linemen, on both sides of the ball and both at IU and elsewhere, have said this offseason that COVID restrictions on things like facility access and coach contact made it difficult to maintain a healthy playing weight. Jones himself said last spring that he played 40-50 pounds above his ideal. Jones has lost that weight now. And restrictions on things as basic as being able to practice all offseason together as one offensive line unit - something Indiana literally could not do for most of 2020 - have been lifted. If that line is to improve substantially in 2021, Jones figures to be a big piece of the equation. - Indianapolis Star/News

(DS#51 OT) rSr/2022

OT Caleb Jones, Indiana
News Source: Indianapolis Star/News
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07/21/21 - Ty Fryfogle, rSr/2022, Indiana, 6-1, 209 (DS#51 WR) + More +

Four different IU football players were named to watch lists of major college football awards on Monday. Wide receiver Ty Fryfogle and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. were named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, given to college football's top offensive player. On defense, linebacker Micah McFadden and cornerback Tiawan Mullen were named to on the Bednarik Award Watch list, given to college football's top defensive player. Fryfogle enjoyed a breakout 2020 season for the Hoosiers, with 37 catches for 721 yards and 7 TDs to earn Big Ten wide receiver of the year honors. - Herald Bulletin

(DS#51 WR) rSr/2022

WR Ty Fryfogle, Indiana
News Source: Herald Bulletin
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07/11/21 - Micah McFadden, Sr/2022, Indiana, 6-1, 234 (DS#9 ILB) + More +

As a three-star prospect, there was some doubt on how successful McFadden could be in the Big Ten. He proved doubters wrong, making an immediate impact in his underclassmen years and building a campaign as one of the country's top linebackers. As a sophomore he earned a starting position, topping the Hoosiers with 61 tackles (42 solos), 10 tackles for loss and two interceptions. He was awarded IU's Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year and voted first-team All-Big Ten by coaches and media. He played his best ball last season, as he topped the Big Ten in sacks (6), becoming the first Hoosier to lead the conference in sacks since Greg Middleton in 2007. He also tied for second in solo stops and shared third in TFLs and tied for eighth in interceptions. McFadden's biggest performance of last season came against top-10 opponents. Against No. 8 Penn State, he finished with a game-high 11 solo tackles (a career best) and one for loss in the season-opening win. At No. 3 Ohio State he collected a game-high 10 stops (all solo) and one for loss. - Cleveland Plain Dealer

(DS#9 ILB) Sr/2022

ILB Micah McFadden, Indiana
News Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
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06/08/21 - Stephen Carr, rSr/2022, Indiana, 6-0, 211 (DS#66 RB) + More +

New Indiana running back Stephen Carr admitted it was a tough decision to leave USC. It was Carr's dream school, the one the former five-star recruit from Gardena, California, committed to the moment he was offered a scholarship there. But after four up-and-down seasons with the Trojans, Carr decided this offseason to end his college football career at Indiana as a graduate transfer. He'll be reunited with new IU running backs Deland McCullough, who coached him at USC in 2017 as a freshman before leaving for an NFL job with the Kansas City Chiefs. But Carr, who arrived on IU's campus last week to begin offseason workouts, said Tuesday playing under McCullough wasn't the only factor in his decision to play for the Hoosiers. "Being away from my family and friends, not being able to hang out with them so easily, I feel like this is a great opportunity to focus on myself and learn a lot about myself and really determine if I want it that bad, which I think I do - which I know I do," Carr said.

The 6-foot, 215-pound Carr will begin that process this offseason, where he will compete for the starting running back job at IU with returning junior Sampson James and returning sophomores David Ellis and Tim Baldwin. IU could end up taking more of a running backs-by-committee approach with the departure of workhorse running back Steve Scott III, who signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in April. "I can't wait for these next five months to see the end result of these next five months, but I'm just being patient, taking it day by day," Carr said. "Just trying to stack my coins, little by little, as much as I can, get better 1% every day." - Herald Bulletin

(DS#66 RB) rSr/2022

RB Stephen Carr, Indiana
News Source: Herald Bulletin
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05/29/21 - Stephen Carr, rSr/2022, Indiana, 6-0, 211 (DS#66 RB) + More +

Each of the returners in the running back room offered something a little different. James has flashed a mix of burst and power. Baldwin is smooth and savvy, capable of recognizing his cutback lane and picking up yards in chunks. Ellis is a unique hybrid, a natural receiver who can make plays in space. What makes Carr unique is, in his ideal form, he's a little bit of all of those things. The former five-star prospect just never quite put it all together in four years at USC. Repeated injuries and the depth of the Trojans' backfield made it hard for Carr to settle in as a three-down back. But he was highly regarded as a recruit because he flashed an ability to do it all, turning on a dime and making people miss, churning out tough yards, when necessary. What he's proven most is his ability to catch passes out of the backfield.

Carr's upside potential is intriguing, especially with the departure of Scott. But at the very least, Carr's arrival brings competition to IU's running back room. Yes, James has the makings of an every-down back. But he could never quite surpass Scott for carries. Yes, Baldwin and Ellis have talent. But they don't have a ton of experience. Carr will push James, Baldwin, and Ellis to their maximum, and he will also serve as insurance against failure. But if the situation merits, it's not out of the question that McCullough splits carries between two or three. Devine Redding and Jordan Howard were both 1,000-yard rushers in 2015. Along with Tevin Coleman's 2,000-yard season in '14, D'Angelo Roberts had 107 runs for 493 yards. - Herald-Review Times

(DS#66 RB) rSr/2022

RB Stephen Carr, Indiana
News Source: Herald-Review Times
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