Eye On IU Football -- Quarterback Depth

We’re talking Indiana quarterback and here are a couple of key facts you should know:

Ben Chappell is the man, which is what you’d expect from a guy who threw for 2,941 yards and 17 touchdowns last year while completing 62.6 percent of his passes.

Yes, the 15 interceptions were a bit high and it would be nice to push the completion percentage closer to 70, but Chappell has improved every year, and if he’s not a Michael Vick mobile quarterback clone, he doesn’t have to be. Really, in the end, he just has to win.

“I thought he had an outstanding year,” coach Bill Lynch said. “He’ll get better because he works hard at it. He’s very smart. He’s worked hard in the weight room. He has such a great feel for the game. He has great rapport with the receivers.”

Mitchell Evans is not the man. He’s out of the Wildcat quarterback picture now that he’s a safety. If he would move back to offense, it would be strictly as a receiver. The goal, of course, is that he’s good enough at safety to make it a permanent move.

“I don’t see Mitchell coming back in the Wildcat role,” coach Bill Lynch said. “He’s such a good athlete and an aware athlete he could come back over in a couple of days and play some receiver. He’s that kind of athlete.”

Adam Follett is not the man, even though he’s listed as the backup quarterback on the spring practice depth chart. Follett will very likely end up No. 4 given that the backup battle is set between Edward Wright-Baker or Dusty Kiel.

Wright-Baker is the most mobile quarterback on the team and will inherit Evans’ Wildcat role. Kiel is more of a drop-back passer.

“Wright-Baker and Kiel are very could athletes. I could see one of them play into that role.”

IU opened spring practice Tuesday and developing quarterback depth is a priority.

“Ben goes in as No. 1,” Lynch said, “but we’ll give the young guys a chance to see what they can do. That position it’s so important so we have to find out who our quarterbacks are.”