ESPN College Football

2011 record: 1-11
2011 conference record: 0-8 (sixth, Leaders Division)
Returning starters: offense: 7; defense: 8; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

QB Tre Roberson, RB Stephen Houston, WR Kofi Hughes, CB Lawrence Barnett, DT Larry Black, DT Adam Replogle, S Mark Murphy

Key losses

OL Andrew McDonald, LB Jeff Thomas, LB Leon Beckum, WR Dre Muhammad

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Stephen Houston* (802 yards)
Passing: Ed Wright-Baker (1,029 yards)
Receiving: Kofi Hughes* (536 yards)
Tackles: Jeff Thomas (80)
Sacks: Adam Replogle* (4)
Interceptions: Greg Heban* (2)

Spring answers

1. Improved defense: The Hoosiers had nowhere to go but up after fielding one of the worst defenses in the country last year. Some junior college transfers, especially linebackers David Cooper and Jacarri Alexander, injected some much-needed talent and energy into the unit this spring. The defense showed much better execution and fundamentals overall, thanks in large part to some young players getting baptized by fire last fall. This is still not a dominating group by any stretch, but with some solid players up front such as Larry Black and Adam Replogle and in the back end such as Mark Murphy and Lawrence Barnett, the Hoosiers hope to have far fewer major breakdowns this season.

2. Depth at running back: Stephen Houston led the team in rushing last season despite showing up a little out of shape in the summer from junior college. That spoke both to his skills and the lack of competition around him. That's not the case now, as Indiana has a much healthier stable of backs to work with, including a healthy Matt Perez and transfer Isaiah Roundtree, who had a big spring game. Add in mobile quarterback Tre Roberson, and the Hoosiers could have an effective ground attack in 2012.

3. Better off Ted: Tight end Ted Bolser had a promising freshman year with 27 catches for 407 yards and five touchdowns, but those numbers dipped to just 14 catches for 165 yards last year. Some of that was probably due to a largely ineffective passing game. Bolser had a strong spring, capped by a six-catch performance in the spring game, and was targeted often in the offense. The 6-foot-6, 255-pounder could become a go-to guy for new offensive coordinator Seth Littrell.

Fall questions

1. Quarterback competition: Roberson seized the starting job midway through last season and showed so much promise that two other young quarterbacks -- Ed Wright-Baker and Dusty Kiel -- transferred. He has a strong presence and the potential to be a star. But the coaching staff insisted that junior college transfer Cameron Coffman was right in the thick of the race to be the starter this season after a nice spring. Coffman is a better pure passer than Roberson, who needs to work on that aspect of his game.

2. Bringing the heat: Indiana had just 18 total sacks last season and often had trouble generating much of a pass rush, which was part of the reason it gave up so many big plays. While Black and Replogle make a nice tandem at tackle, the search is still on for playmakers who can get to the quarterback. Ryan Phillis showed some things late in his freshman year, including a big game in the finale against Purdue, and Bobby Richardson made a nice transition from tackle to end as a freshman. Maybe the linebackers can help in the pass rush as well. But the Hoosiers need to make other teams uncomfortable in the passing game without blitzing to improve on defense.

3. Overall talent and depth: Head coach Kevin Wilson has his work cut out for him after failing to win a single game against FBS competition his first season in Bloomington. Wilson played 32 true and redshirt freshmen in 2011 and had many players going through spring practice for the first time this year. The extra seasoning will no doubt help them get better, but this is still a roster that doesn't look like the top Big Ten contenders. Indiana will need to stay healthy, get some breaks and see its young players mature quickly to make any noise in the league this season.

You can find links to spring game coverage in our spring game recaps throughout the day. Here are some more links:

• Bob Asmussen grades the Illinois position groups on their spring-game performances. Josh Ferguson was in Ron Zook's doghouse last year but is on Tim Beckman's good side.
• Lawrence Barnett has gotten the message about Indiana's need to improve in the offseason.
• Tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz is emerging as a potential centerpiece to the Iowa offense. An optimistic and pessimistic view of Hawkeyes football.
• Thomas Rawls gives Michigan a true power back. Denard Robinson wearing the No. 1 jersey? It's possible.
• Defense won the day at Michigan State's first spring scrimmage. How much was Jerel Worthy really worth to the Spartans' defense?
• In an effort to drum up interest, Jerry Kill is the only Big Ten coach who allows fans and media to attend spring practices.
• Steven M. Sipple says that Nebraska should let fans watch an August practice after canceling the spring game. Rex Burkhead belongs in any discussion of Heisman contenders, Lee Barfknecht writes.
• Northwestern got a commitment from highly sought-after quarterback Matt Alviti, an ESPN 150 watch list prospect.
• Ohio State students enjoyed their up-close look at the team over the weekend. The Buckeyes receivers still need a lot of improvement.
• Making the case for Matt McGloin as Penn State's starting quarterback. The Nittany Lions got a commitment from a Hershey offensive lineman.
• Danny Hope was pleased with Purdue's effort this spring.
• Wisconsin's quarterbacks struggled in the team's first major spring scrimmage.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- After going 1-11 last season, Indiana probably needed a little kick in the pants.

The Hoosiers got it during winter conditioning when they went through an exercise program led by former Navy SEALs. Cornerback Lawrence Barnett recalls one demanding day when the players were summoned to the pool at 4:30 a.m. to swim laps and then do movements in sync with their teammates. If anyone messed up, the team had to jump back in the pool and do more laps.

Head coach Kevin Wilson got the idea from watching IU's basketball team go through the same program in the fall. Wilson admires basketball coach Tom Crean and how he led the Hoosiers back from a few difficult seasons to a Sweet 16 berth in this year's NCAA tournament. The inspiration doesn't stop there.

"He comes out to practice every day and tells us that just like the basketball team, we can turn our program around," defensive back Kenny Mullen said. "But we have to want to do it ourselves."

In truth, it's going to take a little more than that for a team that has only been to one bowl game since 1993. The Hoosiers have a long way to go, but they're hopeful they got over the toughest part of the journey last year.

Indiana didn't beat a single FBS team in Wilson's first season as coach and finished 114th nationally in scoring defense, allowing more than 37 points per game. If the players seemed like novices at times, that's because they were; no other team in the country played more rookies than the Hoosiers, who threw 32 true and redshirt freshmen into the fire.

"It was tough for us, but it was a good way to get our feet wet and get ready for this year," Barnett said.

That's the theme of the spring in Bloomington, where the roster is still young but at least is not lacking in game experience. That's translating into fewer missed assignments and mistakes during spring practice.

"We're so much further along than we were anywhere in the fall," co-defensive coordinator Doug Mallory said. "We don't have to go back to step one as much with our teaching."

Wilson is not sure he took the right steps last spring. He admits that some of the veteran players might not have bought into his program, and team chemistry wasn't great as the youngsters started taking over all the playing time. Some of that could have been smoothed over in the preseason.

"Last year, we were trying to learn an offense and a defense, and this year we're talking more about how to build a team," Wilson said. "Maybe we did that in reverse order. In this day and age of multiplicity and justifying all the video we've got to watch, it's always scheme, scheme, scheme. Now we're trying to do a better job building team unity."

To that end, "Team" is the simple slogan Wilson is using this spring to promote cohesion. That's also where the Navy SEALs training came in. Having suffered through losing last year, the players say they forged a bond, and it helps that many of them were going through similar experiences in seeing the field for the first time.

But the Hoosiers remain young and need leaders to emerge. Wilson has to remind himself that though many of his starters played last year, this is still their first collegiate spring ball. He has the team practice every other day so it can get much-needed strength training done on the off-days.

There are some good building blocks on hand, like promising quarterback Tre Roberson, who took the reins of the offense as a true freshman; running back Stephen Houston, who ran for more than 800 yards last year despite showing up late from junior college; safety Mark Murphy, who showed great instincts for the game while playing three positions as a true freshmen a year ago; and junior-college imports David Cooper and Jacarri Alexander, who are shoring up the linebacker spot and adding energy to the defense this spring.

Yet Indiana is still light years away from having the kind of overall depth and talent of Big Ten Leaders Division rivals Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin. At least the basketball-mad school has finally made a commitment to football, with the new north end-zone complex at Memorial Stadium and a massive weight-room facility.

IU football has long seemed like a challenge that even Navy SEALs wouldn't touch. But Wilson remains optimistic that the 1-11 record was just a bumpy start.

"I don't think I'm fighting a battle I can't win," he said. "That's why we're not moping around and why we're not feeling sorry for ourselves. We're going to see if we can take some nice steps this year and keep building."

Indiana cornerback Lawrence Barnett talks about the Hoosiers' spring practice.

The first Happy Flight of 2012 is in the books. Here's hoping for many more.

• A pair of Illinois defensive backs could spend some time on offense this season as Tim Beckman searches for playmakers.
• Scrutiny or not, Brian Ferentz was the right hire for Iowa, Pat Harty writes. Everyone's in play for the Hawkeyes at running back.
• Dion Sims has a chance to shine at tight end for Michigan State, provided his wrist is fully healed. DeAnthony Arnett is playing a waiting game right now.
• MarQueis Gray says the next Minnesota athletic director needs to be accessible to players.
• Once a blue-chip recruit, Nebraska's Baker Steinkuhler has been a solid player, but not a superstar. He's not satisfied with that going into his final season. Will Compton played well down the stretch last season, and is drawing praise from Bo Pelini this spring.
• Jibreel Black is taking on a new role by moving inside on the Michigan defensive line.
• Defense is winning at practice as Ohio State's offense continues to learn a new system. John Simon and Zach Boren will likely serve as captains for the Buckeyes.
• Peter Konz showed off a little more strength at Wisconsin's pro day, and likely solidified his draft stock.
• Cornerback Lawrence Barnett brings some consistency to the Indiana defense.
• Danny Hope wished he hadn't redshirted Frankie Williams last season, but the defensive back is glad he waited.
• Receiver Tony Jones is back at full throttle for Northwestern.
• The learning curve is pretty steep this spring for the Penn State tight ends.

The offseason spotlight hits on Indiana, and the need for QB Tre Roberson and CB Lawrence Barnett to have big offseasons.

Here's what Indiana linebacker Jeff Thomas remembers about last year's game at Wisconsin.

"It was really loud," Thomas said. "And it was a lot to a little."

Yep. That just about covers it.

The Indiana-Wisconsin game made national news last fall because of the final score. As Thomas said, Wisconsin had a lot (83 points), while Indiana had a little (20 points).

Indiana allowed the most points in team history and tied for the largest losing margin in team history with another 63-point defeat in 1915. Wisconsin scored the most touchdowns (11) in team history, put up the third-highest total in a Big Ten game in league history and racked up the most points in a Big Ten game since Ohio State scored 83 against Iowa in 1950.

For Thomas and his teammates, it added up to one very painful afternoon.

"It was pretty tough," Thomas said. "You never want to lose by that much. I've never really been on that side of the ball before. But there's nothing you can do about it now."

Indiana returns to Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday to face No. 4 Wisconsin. While the Hoosiers have plenty of reasons to gear up for the game, revenge isn't at the top of their list.

"The motivation we've got going right now is we're 1-5, and we want to win," Thomas said. "That's motivation we need to address more than beating a team that beat us pretty bad last year. Just wanting to get a win in the Big Ten, that's more motivation than anything."

Indiana coach Kevin Wilson wasn't in Madison last year. Wilson, then Oklahoma's offensive coordinator, spent the day enjoying a lopsided, 45-7 win against Texas Tech.

As part of his effort to change the culture at Indiana, Wilson hasn't spent time discussing the team's past struggles. But he has been on both sides of blowout games, and he has seen different approaches to rematches.

"Every time I’ve used the revenge word or been around coaches that did it, I don’t know if we got the [desired] outcome," Wilson said. "We're a team still trying to find our identity. … We're preaching more about how we want to keep moving forward instead of what happened a year ago."

Last year's game sparked questions of whether Wisconsin ran up the score, especially after Badgers coach Bret Bielema faced similar accusations following a game against Minnesota earlier in the season. Bielema reiterated this week that the claims about running up the score stemmed in part because of the perception Wisconsin has a team that rarely puts up such point totals.

Thomas harbors no ill will about what happened.

"It's just part of the game," he said. "They kept scoring. They obviously didn't have their starters in, so it's our job to stop them on defense. I'm not really mad about it. You keep scoring until somebody stops you."

Indiana has tried to foster a new attitude on defense this year, and while the wins haven't come, there have been some promising signs.

The defense forced four turnovers against Virginia in Week 2 and had a 54-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Lawrence Barnett. Indiana recorded two red-zone takeaways against Penn State in Week 5 and limited the Nittany Lions to 16 points.

Wisconsin poses a much greater test and many are forecasting another beat-down, but Thomas and his teammates are excited to face the Badgers.

"It's a potent offense, and it's our job to stop 'em," he said. "It's a huge opportunity."

Just when it appeared that Indiana was going to get a big win in its second game under Kevin Wilson ... well, an Indiana thing happened:

Virginia 34, Indiana 31: The Hoosiers trailed 23-3 in the second half but then rose up and turned in a terrific stretch, scoring 28 straight points. Matt Perez ran for two scores, and Lawrence Barnett took a fumble recovery 54 yards for a touchdown. IU led 31-23 with less than seven minutes left, looking to even its record at 1-1.

But then Virginia drove down for a score and the tying two-point conversion with under two minutes left. And in truly disastrous fashion, Ed Wright-Baker was sacked and lost a fumble as IU tried to make a late drive. The Cavaliers capitalized, kicked a field goal with two seconds left and delivered yet another heart-wrenching loss into the annals of Hoosier history. Oy, vey.

Hey, at least Indiana showed some serious signs of life after laying that egg against Ball State in the opener. Wilson's rebuilding project has a long way to go, but he has something positive to work with now, if the players can somehow get over what a difficult loss this was.

Indiana has released its depth chart for Saturday's season opener against Ball State. Not surprisingly, the chart includes co-starters at quarterback in Dusty Kiel and Edward Wright-Baker. The sophomores have been competing for the job with true freshman Tre Roberson, who isn't listed on the two-deep.

Some other notes:

• Two likely starters, wide receiver Duwyce Wilson and tight end Ted Bolser, aren't listed on the depth chart. Both have been battling injuries during camp. Senior Dre Muhammad is listed as the starter in Wilson's spot ahead of freshman Shane Wynn, while senior Max Dedmond will start at tight end.
• Redshirt freshman Matt Perez, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, is listed as the No. 1 running back ahead of Stephen Houston. Junior Darius Willis is suspended for the opener for conduct detrimental to the team.
• Redshirt freshman Ryan Phillis is listed as a starter at defensive end ahead of veteran Fred Jones. He'll play opposite Darius Johnson. Indiana seems to have some good depth at the defensive tackle position.
• Another redshirt freshman, Chase Hoobler, has secured a starting job for the opener at strong-side linebacker. He'll join senior linebackers Jeff Thomas and Leon Beckum in the starting lineup.
• No major surprises in the starting secondary as sophomores Lawrence Barnett and Greg Heban are listed as the top corners and fifth-year seniors Chris Adkins and Jarrell Drane are listed as the No. 1 safeties.
• Wynn and Perez are listed as the top kick returners, as Indiana must replace the dynamic Tandon Doss on special teams.

Some interesting stuff here. Youth will be served this season in Bloomington as 14 true freshmen or redshirt freshmen appear on the depth chart.

The fresh faces series marches on with Indiana, as we take a look at three players pegged to take on bigger roles this season. These are incoming freshmen, redshirt freshmen, transfers or returnees who should see their playing time increase when the games begin.

OFFENSE: Kofi Hughes, WR, sophomore, 6-2, 205

Hughes really impressed me during a practice this spring, making several big plays for a fast-paced IU offense. One of only two true freshmen to see the field in 2010, Hughes recorded seven receptions for 47 yards, number that should increase substantially this season. The former high school quarterback brings good speed to a receiving corps that already has plenty of size with Damarlo Belcher and Duwyce Wilson. Hughes will give Indiana's new starting quarterback another dynamic option in the passing game.

DEFENSE: Lawrence Barnett, CB, sophomore, 5-10, 191

Barnett moved from safety to cornerback during spring ball and had an impressive session, recording a pick-six in the spring game and making plays in other scrimmages. He appeared in nine games last fall, recording five tackles, but some wondered why he didn't play more as Indiana once again struggled to defend the pass. Indiana returns only one starter in the secondary (safety Donnell Jones), so Barnett should have a much bigger role this fall.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Adam Pines, P, junior, 6-0, 184

Pines handled the punting duties in Indiana's final four games of 2010 and averaged 40.2 yards on 12 attempts, but his role will grow this season following the offseason departure of Chris Hagerup. Pines placed three attempts inside the opponents' 20-yard line last season and showed a decent leg with several punts of 40 yards or longer.

More Fresh Faces

• Michigan State
• Northwestern
• Iowa
• Purdue
• Wisconsin
• Penn State
• Nebraska

The Big Ten preseason position rankings have reached the home stretch as we take a look at the defensive secondaries. Although individual positions like center and defensive tackle could boast more star power, the Big Ten's overall strength in the secondary jumps out.

There's a lot to like about the Big Ten cornerbacks as nearly every team boasts experience and/or exciting young players. The Big Ten loses All-Conference safeties Tyler Sash and Jermale Hines but brings back quite a few solid contributors.

There's definite separation after the top four groups, while Nos. 5-9 are extremely close.

Here's the rundown (coming soon: cornerbacks and safeties rankings) ...

1. Penn State: The Lions' linebackers seem to be generating more preseason buzz, but I really like what Penn State brings back in the defensive backfield. There's plenty of experience with safeties Drew Astorino and Nick Sukay, and cornerbacks D'Anton Lynn and Stephon Morris. Penn State needs Sukay to regain the form he showed in the first half of 2010 before a torn pectoral muscle ended his season. Lynn is a bona fide All-Big Ten candidate. If Malcolm Willis, Chaz Powell and others solidify depth here, Penn State should have an elite secondary.

2. Ohio State: This is a group the Buckeyes rarely have to worry about, even after losing three starters. The good news is several key players return from injuries, including safeties Tyler Moeller, C.J. Barnett and Christian Bryant. Moeller should provide a major boost at the "star" position. The cornerback spots should be fun to watch as Travis Howard and Dominic Clarke fend off some challengers for the starting jobs.

3. Nebraska: Like Ohio State, Nebraska can rely on having an elite pass defense under the Pelini brothers, even after losing several standout players. All-American corner Prince Amukamara will be missed, but Alfonzo Dennard is ready for a starring role. Nebraska needs Ciante Evans to follow what Dennard did in 2010. The Huskers likely will use more linebackers this year, but they'll need to fill holes at safety as Austin Cassidy, Courtney Osborne and others are in the mix.

4. Wisconsin: The Badgers' secondary took a major step forward in Chris Ash's first season on the staff. The key is continued progress, continued playmaking and becoming a truly elite group like Ohio State and Nebraska. Wisconsin seems to have the pieces in place with veteran Aaron Henry at safety, as well as All-Big Ten selection Antonio Fenelus and Devin Smith at cornerback. The Badgers must fill the other safety spot, and speedster Shelton Johnson could fill in there.

5. Michigan State: The secondary triggered Michigan State's 2010 turnaround, improving from 112th nationally in pass defense in 2009 to 60th last season. After recording 17 interceptions last year, the Spartans must stick to their MAP motto -- Make A Play -- as they aim for a repeat championship this fall. Safety Trenton Robinson is among the league's most experienced defensive backs, and hopes are high for cornerback Johnny Adams, who had an excellent spring. The unit could hinge on young players like Darqueze Dennard, Isaiah Lewis and Tony Lippett.

6. Iowa: The bad news is Iowa loses veteran safeties Sash and Brett Greenwood from a defense that slipped to 84th nationally against the pass in 2010. The good news is All-Big Ten cornerback Shaun Prater returns along with playmaking junior Micah Hyde. Prater could be a shut-down corner this fall, and Hyde, whose pick-six won the Insight Bowl, could play either corner or safety. Iowa must build depth around them with Jordan Bernstine, Greg Castillo, Tanner Miller and others.

7. Purdue: One of the Boilers' big question marks entering 2010 turned out to be a pleasant surprise, and the secondary could be a big strength this fall. Here's a group that could make a move up these rankings by November. Cornerback Ricardo Allen is a budding superstar who recorded two pick-sixes last year. Safety Logan Link is always around the football, and Josh Johnson could take a significant step as he complements Allen.

8. Illinois: I'm tempted to rank Illinois a few notches higher, and if the Illini address several questions in the secondary, I'll gladly do so after the season. If safety Supo Sanni returns to form and both he and cornerback Terry Hawthorne stay healthy, this could be an excellent group. Tavon Wilson returns to his preferred position of cornerback and could have a big year, while Trulon Henry brings experience to the safety spot.

9. Northwestern: Given the question marks in the front seven, Northwestern needs its veteran secondary to step up. Players like cornerback Jordan Mabin and safety Brian Peters should answer the bell this fall. Both multiyear starters can make plays on the football and change games. There's good competition between David Arnold and Ibraheim Campbell at the other safety spot, while Jeravin Matthews emerged this spring to win the starting corner job opposite Mabin.

10. Michigan: I'll probably take some heat from Wolverines fans, who will point to the return of cornerbacks Troy Woolfolk and J.T. Floyd, the emergence of young players like Carvin Johnson and a defensive makeover under Brady Hoke and Greg Mattison. All of that could lead to better results, but Michigan still has fewer certainties in the secondary than do most teams on this list. This unit has been a disaster the past few years, and it'll take a lot of things to go right to get things back on track.

11. Minnesota: Linebacker looks like a strength for the Gophers' defense, but there are questions both up front and in the secondary. The secondary will need more help from a line that generated no pass rush in 2010, but the defensive backs must help themselves, too. Cornerback Troy Stoudermire had a good spring and adds a big hitter to the group. Minnesota really needs big things from safety Kim Royston, who wants to lead the way after receiving a sixth year of eligibility. Building depth around Stoudermire and Royston will be vital in preseason camp.

12. Indiana: Fixing this group is arguably the biggest challenge for new coach Kevin Wilson and co-defensive coordinators Mike Ekeler and Doug Mallory. Indiana simply hasn't had enough Big Ten-caliber defensive backs in recent years, and the results have been ugly. The Hoosiers surrendered a league-worst 27 touchdown passes in 2010 and finished 114th nationally in pass defense efficiency. Sophomore safety Greg Heban is a nice piece, but Indiana will need a boost from Lawrence Barnett, Lenyatta Kiles and others.

The Hope and Concern series continues with the Indiana Hoosiers.

Biggest reason for hope: Wide receivers and tight ends

One group new IU coach Kevin Wilson doesn't have to worry about is wide receiver. Indiana once again will boast one of the Big Ten's deepest and most talented collections of wideouts. Despite losing NFL draft pick Tandon Doss as well as Terrance Turner, Indiana brings back Damarlo Belcher, the Big Ten leader in receptions last fall, along with sophomore Duwyce Wilson and sophomore Kofi Hughes, who took a step forward during spring practice. Tight end Ted Bolser also returns to the mix after a 27-catch performance as a freshman in 2010. Although Indiana still doesn't know its starting quarterback, whoever wins the job will have options at his disposal.

Biggest reason for concern: Depth on defense

While Indiana must figure out its starting offensive backfield, defense remains the No. 1 area of concern with this team until proven otherwise. The Hoosiers exited the spring feeling good about several individual defenders -- linebackers Jeff Thomas and Leon Beckum, defensive end Darius Johnson, defensive backs Greg Heban and Lawrence Barnett, to name a few -- but whether they have enough depth to get through the season remains to be seen. Injuries will crop up in Big Ten play, and Indiana hasn't shown the ability to survive them on defense in recent years. The summer will be essential as the Hoosiers try to find insurance throughout the unit.

More Hope and Concern

• Purdue

Indiana

2010 overall record: 5-7

2010 conference record: 1-7 (11th)

Returning starters

Offense: 7; defense: 6; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

WR Damarlo Belcher, WR Duwyce Wilson, RB Darius Willis, T Andrew McDonald, G Justin Pagan, DE Darius Johnson, LB Jeff Thomas, S Donnell Jones, DT Adam Replogle, K Mitch Ewald

Key losses

QB Ben Chappell, WR Tandon Doss, OT James Brewer, WR Terrance Turner, LB Tyler Replogle, CB Richard Council, S Mitchell Evans

2010 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Trea Burgess (352 yards)

Passing: Ben Chappell (3,295 yards)

Receiving: Damarlo Belcher* (832 yards)

Tackles: Tyler Replogle (87)

Sacks: Darius Johnson* (4.5)

Interceptions: Mitchell Evans (3)

Spring answers

1. Cup of Kofi: It wasn't a huge surprise, but Kofi Hughes really solidified himself as one of Indiana's top receivers this spring alongside Damarlo Belcher and Duwyce Wilson. Hughes, who recorded only seven receptions last season, made several big plays in scrimmages and became a favorite target of quarterbacks Dusty Kiel and Edward Wright-Baker. Receiver will be Indiana's strong group this season, and Hughes adds to it.

2. LB tandem emerges: Indiana's defense needs significant upgrades, but the Hoosiers should have some pieces to build around at linebacker. Senior Jeff Thomas and Leon Beckum both drew favorable reviews from the staff this spring. Both players have grasped the new defense, and Thomas is more than willing to take a greater leadership role in the fall. The key now is for IU to find a third starter at linebacker.

3. Young DBs show promise: The Hoosiers' secondary has a long way to go, but several young players provide hope for the future. Greg Heban came on strong toward the end of last season, recording 40 tackles, an interception and five passes defended. He continued to show promise this spring. Cornerback Lawrence Barnett had an interception return for a touchdown and a pass breakup in the spring game. Both sophomores should play big roles this fall.

Fall questions

1. Quarterback: New Hoosiers coach Kevin Wilson made it clear that starting jobs must be earned, and no quarterback earned the starting spot this spring. Kiel and Wright-Baker will continue to compete for the No. 1 job in preseason camp after mixed results in spring ball. During my visit to Bloomington, I got the sense Kiel has the edge, but this race could last until mid-to-late August.

2. Running back: This might be Indiana's biggest question mark entering the fall, as lingering injuries limited the group in spring practice. Darius Willis, Antonio Banks and Xavier Whitaker all are coming off season-ending knee injuries, and none has been evaluated on the field by the new staff. Willis boasts the most experience but also the most injury problems. Matt Perez and Nick Turner participated in spring ball and will be in the mix.

3. Grasping the systems: Wilson really made the spring about attitude and understanding the new demands from the staff. At times, he'd call the same play over and over just to see who stepped up and who caved in. The next few months will be critical as Hoosiers players start to grasp the schematics on both sides of the ball. This might be a bigger challenge on offense, as Wilson likes to play extremely fast, but the defense also needs a lot of work after struggling for so many years.

Indiana wraps up spring ball Tuesday, but the team held its annual spring game Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The team split into two squads, Indiana and Hoosiers, and Hoosiers prevailed 27-24 following a late touchdown strike from Adam Follett to Leneil Himes.

Here's a snapshot of Indiana's spring game:

Game coverage: Here and here and here and here.

Quotable: "The quarterbacks look good when the guys around them make them look good. They look good when the protection is good, when the guys run the right routes, that kind of thing. But they're all four capable quarterbacks. And they're all in the mix." -- coach Kevin Wilson

Highlights

• Wilson has made it clear that the starting quarterback job will need to be earned over time, so there isn't an answer there after the spring game. Kiel led a 75-yard drive early in the game and capped it with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Kofi Hughes, who has had an excellent spring. Kiel also completed a 52-yards pass to Duwyce Wilson and a 12-yard touchdown pass to Damarlo Belcher, and led scoring drives of 93 and 68 yards. Edward Wright-Baker tossed a 41-yard touchdown to Dre Muhammad in the first quarter. Kiel completed 14 of 27 passes for 196 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the game, while Wright-Baker hit on 8 of 10 passes for 82 yards and a score. Follett went 6-for-9 for 74 yards, and Teddy Schell went 2-for-7 with a 13-yard rushing touchdown. I give Kiel a slight edge right now, but there's a long way to go.
• Indiana needs more playmakers on defense, and it might have found some at the cornerback position. Greg Heban, who came on strong at the end of last season, broke up two Kiel passes early on and then made a diving interception. Sophomore Lawrence Barnett had a pick-six off of a deflected pass and also recorded a pass breakup. "He's had a productive spring for us," co-defensive coordinator Doug Mallory told The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
• Very few starting positions are safe right now, and the offensive line is one area that likely will feature several young players in key roles. Redshirt freshman Cody Evers worked as the first-team right guard Saturday and Ralston Evans, an early enrollee, was the first-team left guard. "I don’t think they've been here long enough to know how to play soft yet," Wilson said. "They actually play hard. We're just rewarding those guys for playing hard."

Indiana

2009 overall record: 4-8

2009 conference record: 1-7 (T-10th)

Returning starters

Offense: 8, defense: 4, kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

QB Ben Chappell, WR Tandon Doss, WR Damarlo Belcher, RT James Brewer, RB Darius Willis, LB Tyler Replogle, DT Larry Black Jr.

Key losses

LT Rodger Saffold, DE Jammie Kirlew, LB Matt Mayberry, DE Greg Middleton, CB Ray Fisher, SS Austin Thomas, FS Nick Polk, LB Will Patterson

2009 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Darius Willis* (607 yards)

Passing: Ben Chappell* (2,941 yards)

Receiving: Tandon Doss* (962 yards)

Tackles: Matt Mayberry (108)

Sacks: Jammie Kirlew (6.5)

Interceptions: Austin Thomas (4)

Spring answers

1. End game: Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton formed one of the Big Ten's most productive defensive end tandems during the last three seasons, and their departures raise a red flag about the defensive end position. So why isn't co-defensive coordinator Joe Palcic concerned? He has tons of faith in Darius Johnson and Kevin Bush, the favorites to start at the two end spots. Bush, a 24-year-old redshirt sophomore, spent three plus seasons in the military before joining the Hoosiers. "I'm telling you, they're both going to end up being better than Jammie Kirlew," Palcic said.

2. Hoosiers switch to 3-4: Despite losing two veteran linebackers, Indiana employed more of the 3-4 alignment on defense this spring in an effort to capitalize on its athleticism. The switch allows the Hoosiers to rotate more players up front. Among the players to be featured in the 3-4 are Johnson, Bush, Damon Sims, Fred Jones and Adam Replogle, a big, athletic defender who moved from tackle to end this spring.

3. Receiving orders: Indiana entered the spring loaded at wide receiver, and the Hoosiers added more depth on the perimeter. First-team All-Big Ten selection Tandon Doss turned in a stellar spring, and redshirt freshman Duwyce Wilson worked his way into a rotation that also includes Damarlo Belcher and Terrance Turner. Junior Dre Muhammad also stepped up, as he and Wilson combined for 10 catches in the spring game.

Fall questions

1. The secondary: There were some bright spots this spring, like the play of redshirt freshman cornerback Lawrence Barnett, but the secondary is far from settled heading into the summer. Indiana loses two multi-year starters at safety as well as Ray Fisher, its top cover corner. Junior college transfer Lenyatta Kiles went through spring ball, and another juco corner, Andre Kates, arrives for preseason camp. It will be interesting to see where those two fit in and whether Jerimy Finch finally blossoms at safety.

2. Run game: The pistol formation was supposed to ignite Indiana's rushing attack, but it hasn't happened yet. And while there's little doubt the Hoosiers can light up defenses through the air, their running game is a major question mark. Darius Willis shows flashes but struggles to stay on the field because of ankle problems. Indiana needs a strong camp from Willis and continued production from other backs like Antonio Banks, who had a nice spring.

3. Offensive line: Indiana must replace arguably the Big Ten's most underrated player in left tackle Rodger Saffold, who nearly worked his way into the first round of April's NFL draft (he was the first pick of the second round). Junior Andrew McDonald is Saffold's projected successor, but other players are in the mix, including starting guard Justin Pagan. The Hoosiers also must replace veteran guard Pete Saxon, so building chemistry will be key in preseason camp.