The Hoosiers boast key depth in the running game behind sophomore BenJarvus Green-Ellis and juniors Chris Taylor and Yamar Washington. All three scored a rushing touchdown last weekend and totaled 203 yards on the ground.
Last season, Indiana averaged 155.2 yards per game and only 3.2 yards per carry.
The running game has been
a focus ever since Dinardo brought
in offensive coordinator and
line coach Steve Addazio and
running back coach Gerald Brown two years ago. In 2002, Hoosiers’
running backs garnered a total
of 1,398 yards. Last season,
Indiana increased their total to 1,863 yards.
Each of the three running backs have taken a team-first approach to the situation and are looking to continue it when they face Oregon this weekend, Taylor said.
“As far as coming off the bench, it does not matter to me,” said Taylor, who had 53 yards on 11 carries last Saturday. “I know I can make plays and whenever I am in the game, that’s all I think about.
“It gives us a lot of momentum but as the weeks progress, we still need to keep working hard and improve.”
Green-Ellis is Indiana’s main ball carrier after rushing for 97 yards on 28 carries against Central Michigan. Washington ran for 30 yards on six carries.
Courtesy Indiana Athletic Department
Freshman impresses
in Indiana debut
At a school and state which has made its mark in the basketball world, Indiana proved in its debut last week that its football team
will be one to watch in the Big Ten Conference.
The Hoosiers (1-0 overall) easily beat Central Michigan 41-10 in Bloomington, Ind., last Saturday behind impressive defensive and special teams units play.
The man to watch in Indiana’s secondary is cornerback Tracy Porter, who intercepted two passes in last week’s game — his first collegiate match.
One of those interceptions was
returned 96 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to give Indiana a 27-3 lead. It was the fourth-longest interception return for a touchdown in Hoosier history. It was the also longest interception return for a touchdown for the Hoosiers since Alfonzo Thurman went 97 yards against Miami-Ohio on Sept. 10, 1994.
“I was not expecting that to happen, but I was right there and I made the play,” Porter said. “The whole way I kept thinking that someone was behind me, and that kept my speed up.”
Porter’s other interception occurred in the first quarter and led the Hoosiers to their first touchdown of the game and a 6-0 lead.
Porter, a 5-foot-10-inch freshman, said he didn’t expect to play so much in his first year, but is relishing his role and making the most out of the playing time given to him.
“I was put in this position and am getting playing time, and I just want to go out there and make plays, trying to make some positive plays for us,” Porter said.
Indiana head coach Gerry Dinardo said he felt Porter was immediately ready to play after consulting with assistant coach Troy Douglas during the weeks leading up to the season.
“Teams know we have a freshman corner. [Central Michigan] might not have known he was playing, but it is different once they see things on tape,” Dinardo said. “But I am very happy the way he played.”
Porter’s two interceptions were the most by a Hoosier since Greg Yeldell intercepted three passes against Michigan on Oct. 14, 1998.
In his two interceptions, Porter totaled 98 return yards, which ties him for second most in a game in school history with Tim Wilbur. Wilbur had 98 return yards against Michigan State on Oct. 10, 1978.
Other Notes
Indiana’s 41 points against Central Michigan were the Hoosiers’ most since they scored 56 against Northwestern on Nov. 3, 2001. … Their 31-point victory was the biggest season opening win since a 40-6 win at Toledo in 1996. … Indiana’s kicker Adam Braucher returned to the Hoosiers lineup after missing each of the last two seasons due to a knee injury. In his first PAT in the first quarter last weekend, Braucher missed the attempt. However, Braucher recovered and successfully made his next four extra points. He did not attempt a field goal in the game.
