Okay, landing the nation’s No. 1 rated pro-style quarterback hasn’t launched Indiana on a football recruiting frenzy for super studs.
Is that a problem?
Only if you’re obsessed with numbers.
Landing quarterback Gunner Kiel of Columbus put IU on the radar of a lot of standout players, but it hasn’t caused an upsurge in high-profile guys committing to IU.
The Hoosiers have four other commitments that are ranked in the top-75 nationally at their positions –- No. 75 receiver Kevin Davis, No. 44 offensive lineman Dan Feeney, No. 33 linebacker Nick Mangieri and No. 8 offensive lineman Wes Rogers.
That doesn’t mean that getting Kiel won’t boost IU’s recruiting. These things take time. Recruiting is first and foremost about relationships. Then comes playing time and winning potential and all the other things that go into it.
Still, coach Kevin Wilson is getting solid players. Ten commits from the Class of 2012 are considered at least 2-star (out of 5 stars) talent. Sure, IU beat out the likes of Alabama and Notre Dame to get Kiel, but that’s not ever going to be the norm. The Hoosiers must get good players and develop them into outstanding ones. If they do, they will win, get to bowl games and maybe, just maybe, sell out Memorial Stadium without the benefit of opposing fans showing up.
IU got its 16th oral commitment for the Class of 2012 when Carmel defensive end Shawn Heffern picked IU. Heffern, at least right now, is a no-star guy. That gives the Hoosiers nine commitments from the state of Indiana in this class alone.
Yes, Wilson wasn’t kidding when he said he’d target in-state players.
Purdue, Western Michigan, Toledo and Central Michigan also offered scholarships to the 6-6, 240-pound Heffern.
Monday was the first day of practice, and Wilson was hoping for more from his players, which is what you’d expect from a demanding coach trying to win now and not later. Tuesday is IU’s media day during which inquiring minds will try to determine who will win the starting quarterback job -– Dusty Kiel (Gunner’s older brother), Edward Wright-Baker or Tre Roberson.
That likely won’t be determined -– at least officially –- until the end of the month.
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Yogi Ferrell dominated with 15 points and 14 assists in the nationally televised adidas Nations tourney. That's EXACTLY what you'd hope for from a stud point guard and EXACTLY what IU needs in the future. Actually, the Hoosiers need it now.
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Indiana will take on North Carolina State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Hoosiers will travel to North Carolina State for the Nov. 30 basketball game. ESPN2 will televise it.
Highlighting the Big Ten/ACC Challenge will be Duke at Ohio State on Nov. 29 and Wisconsin at North Carolina on Nov. 30. The Tar Heels are very, very lucky they don’t have to play at the Kohl Center.
Six of these teams are ranked in ESPN.com’s early preseason top-25 basketball poll. They are No. 1 North Carolina, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 5 Duke, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 21 Florida State and No. 23 Michigan.
The Big Ten has won the last two Challenges after the ACC won the first 10.
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In the big picture, it doesn’t mean much, but former IU baseball player Alex Dickerson has won the 2011 Premier Player of College baseball trophy. It goes to the winner of a national fan vote, and Dickerson was the man this year.
Dickerson led IU in hitting (.367), home runs (9), runs batted in (49), slugging percentage (.540) and on-base percentage. That was a follow-up to the 2010 season when he won the Big Ten triple crown for hitting, home runs and runs batted in.
Dickerson is now playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ single-A affiliate team. Right now the Pirates could really, really use a good hitter.
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