IU Football: 2022 Year In Review

[Piercewise1]

 

In 2022, new coach @Piercewise1 delivered on his two biggest promises: to lead the previously 4-8 Hoosiers to a bowl game and to bring in a nationally ranked recruiting class. Indiana finished 7-6 (4th in the B1G East) after winning the Gasparilla Bowl, and the program added five blue-chip recruits in its 20th-ranked class.

 

I. The Season

 

Week	Opponent	Result	Score
1	@Oklahoma State	L	16-45
2	Illinois	W	23-20
3	@California	L	17-28
4	open
5	Tulane	W	29-20
6	@Nebraska	L	24-38
7	Michigan	W	48-9
8	Maryland	W	24-17
9	@Rutgers	L	23-38
10	open
11	Penn State	W	21-10
12	@Ohio State	L	5-35
13	@Michigan State	L	3-61
14	Purdue	W	13-10
Bowl	Temple	W	33-27

 

Indiana’s first 5 opponents were ranked at the time they played the Hoosiers; while the team suffered 3 road losses by double-digit margins, they also managed signature home wins against Illinois (#14 in the final Coaches Poll) and Tulane (#16 in the final CFP standings & AAC champion). This pattern would continue the rest of the year, with the team going 6-0 in Bloomington but 1-6 elsewhere.

 

In total, the team faced seven ranked (at the time) opponents and went 3-4 against them. While they struggled on defense, giving up 27.5 PPG and 454 YPG, QB Aaron Gossett and the receiving trio of Tarell Griffin, Robert Cervelli, and Jeremiah McCray evolved into a formidable unit that kept the Hoosiers in games and produced many exciting results.

 

Largest Win: 48-9 over Michigan

Gossett went 38-of-55 for 465 yards and 5 TDs, and a defense that struggled to produce turnovers all year forced two fumbles (recovering one) and grabbed an interception. All three starting receivers posted 100+ yards and at least one touchdown, with Tarell Griffin hauling in 3.

 

Largest Loss: 61-3 to Michigan State

The Hoosiers were embarrassed in East Lansing, as Wayne Murray threw 9 TD passes (5 to Jaydon Hagadone) while Gossett completed under 50% of his passes and threw 4 interceptions. Indiana was outplayed in every facet of the game, which was over by halftime.

 

Most Important Win: 13-10 over Purdue

Any rivalry game carries extra weight, but Indiana needed this win to become bowl eligible and complete an undefeated home season. They were fresh off the dreadful loss to Michigan State and were also well aware that Purdue had won last season’s matchup 44-0. The game was not pretty: the first touchdown came at the end of the 3rd quarter, and it gave the Hoosiers a 13-0 lead that they nearly blew in the final period. But Purdue QB Donnie Laulile was stopped short on a 4th and 3 with 1:15 to go, and Indiana ran out the clock to preserve the 13-10 win and the bowl appearance. In addition to the final stop, the usually porous defense held Purdue’s star FB Logan Langley to 107 rushing yards on the day and kept him out of the end zone.

 

Bowl Week

Indiana faced off against Temple in the Beef O’Brady’s Gasparilla Bowl in St Petersburg, Florida. The two air raid teams put on quite a show, combining for 1,004 passing yards, 7 passing TDs, 7 sacks, and 3 lead changes. After falling behind 20-10 in the 4th quarter Indiana rallied for a quick touchdown, then capitalized on a missed Temple field goal to score again and take their first lead. Temple took it back in 4 plays thanks to two long completions by Le’Veon Levine. But Indiana scored twice more, first a tying field goal and then a TD pass to Jeremiah McCray, before DE Frank Chamberlain forced a strip-sack with 1:22 to go that sealed the victory.

 

Accolades

 

B1G Defensive Player of the Year: ILB J.C. Ward

B1G Coach of the Year: @Piercewise1

 

All-B1G 1st Team

OG Tyler Tate

OLB Joe Griffin

ILB J.C. Ward

 

All-B1G 2nd Team

QB Aaron Gossett

WR Tarell Griffin

DE Ty Bogdanovic (JR)

 

All-B1G 3rd Team

K Sean Curtiss (SO)

 

II. The Recruits

 

While his team produced on the field, Pierce scoured the countryside looking to secure the future of the Indiana football program.

 

His first recruits came on the offensive line, with 5-star C Timothy Doak and 4-star OG Michael Williams committing within a week of each other. They would be joined later by 3-star OT Peter Landis. But Pierce’s most impactful signing might be at quarterback, with 4-star Samuel Johnson committing to the program. Johnson is expected to be the long-term future of the Hoosier’s air raid system, though Pierce has publicly stated his intention to redshirt the talented signal-caller.

 

The search for quality interior linebackers was more fraught. After striking out on several high-tier prospects (such as Bahman Downs, a 4-star from Ohio who committed to Bowling Green), Indiana eventually found their guys in Steven Fifer of Illinois and Damon Devlin of Hawaii (both 3-stars). For a program looking to transition to a 3-4 scheme that just graduated the B1G Defensive Player of the Year at the position, both were important additions to the roster.

 

In total, Indiana recruited 25 players in their newest class, including a 5-star and four 4-stars. The improvement from last year’s class is striking and speaks to the impact the right coach can have on a program.

 

IU Recruits by Number of Stars

 

	2021	2022

5-star

0

1

4-star

1

4

3-star

3

11

2-star

11

9

1-star

10

0

 

III. The Future

 

Next year Indiana needs to replace 13 starters, including their entire offensive backfield and top 2 receivers. But that’s actually fewer players than they replaced this year on their way to a winning season. True, the 2021 class about to come online isn’t the best; and yes there are concerns at quarterback. But even as Pierce preaches patience, the program looks to be in a good place to compete in 2023 and beyond. Here are 6 players we’re excited to see donning the crimson and cream next year. (Grades are Overall / Potential, before progressions. School year as of the 2023 season)

 

RB Geoff Alburquerque

4-star Jr, B/C

 

Despite sharing a backfield with 3 talented seniors, Alburquerque managed 58 touches for 225 yards and 4 touchdowns this year while operating as both a backup RB and the 5th wideout when the team went to an empty set. With his excellent route running and great hands, look for him to thrive as the primary back in Indiana’s air raid system.

 

WR Troy Thomas

3-star Jr, B/A

 

6th on the depth chart this year, Thomas has diligently bided his time while seniors Griffin and Cervelli grabbed over 200 receptions on 300+ targets. With both graduating there’s room for new names on the starting roster, and coaches are counting on Thomas’ sky-high Potential to start showing results. While he lacks the speed of some of his teammates, he uses his strength to win contested catches.

 

WR Tyler Looney

4-star (Fr), B/B+

 

The lone standout of the 2021 class, Looney is ready to take the field after his redshirt year. While he still has room to grow, he already possesses decent hands and a motor that never quits. The freshman should see significant playing time even if he ends up 4th on the depth chart – this year Sean Grant caught 34 balls for 254 yards and 2 TDs from the same position. And with that Potential score, he’ll only get better with experience.

 

DT Jake Manuel

3-star Sr, B/B

 

Manuel saw limited action this year in relief of Anthony Nieve and Kyle Pena, a dynamic duo who combined for 96 tackles, 13 TFL, and 7.5 sacks in the interior of the defensive line. Now Manuel gets the chance to start as he replaces a graduating Nieve, while new recruit Phillip Otter (a true nose tackle, befitting the team’s eventual switch to a 3-4 scheme) waits in the wings.

 

FS Bo Robinson

4-star Sr, B/B-

 

Robinson’s been playing second fiddle at this position for two long years, and then watched his team add a potent new talent in 4-star recruit Timothy Moore (B/B+). But the senior has the skills and experience to finally earn the starting job, and this secondary desperately needs playmakers at the safety position.

 

C Timothy Doak

5-star Fr, B/C+

 

With the graduation of star center Cesar Barnes and no obvious successor on the roster, Doak is the frontrunner to start as a true freshman. The native Floridian made big waves when he committed to Indiana, and the team looks ready to slot him as their starter on day 1.

 

See you next year, Hoosier fans!

#HoosierDaddy

[PoopyRhinoPickle]

Looney is the real deal!

[Coach123]

Dude, this is awesome !