Four more freshmen got their first taste of college football in Indiana’s win over Howard, and this group came entirely on offense.
Running back Jayreon Campbell, tight end Parker Elmore, wide receiver Lavar Keys and offensive lineman Kenton Mondeau all made their debuts in game two. Campbell saw the biggest role of the four, logging seven snaps and carrying the ball on five of them. He turned those five rushes into 36 yards.
Mondeau was one of the busiest first-year players on the roster this week, finishing with 14 snaps, tied with fellow offensive lineman Sam Simpson for the most among Indiana’s freshmen. Simpson had already made his collegiate debut in week one.
Keys played six snaps against Howard, while Elmore was on the field for one. Neither player recorded a stat in their first college action.
On the other side of the ball, linebacker Jacob Savage kept building on a strong start. After posting three tackles in game one, the Kentucky native matched that total against Howard and added his first tackle for loss and first sack. He finished with 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
Defensive lineman Cam McHaney, linebacker Henry Ohlinger and safety Jamar Owens also saw the field against Howard, though none of them showed up on the stat sheet.
Through two games, Indiana has now had five freshmen play. Campbell, Elmore, Keys, Mondeau and Ben Novak have all gotten into a game, while 12 others are still waiting for their first college snaps: Trevor Gibbs, Kasmir Hicks, Gabe Hill, Kevontay Hugan, Ronelle Johnson, PJ MacFarlane, Kortez Rupert, CJ Scifres, Blake Smythe, D'Montae Tims, Rodney White and Ja'Dyn Williams.
In Other News...
Charlie Becker Has A Real Heisman Case Indiana Fans Should Notice
Charlie Becker has been one of the early surprises in Indianas season, piling up 145 receiving yards and five touchdowns through two games despite seeing limited playing time. For a Hoosiers offense still sorting itself out, that kind of production has been impossible to ignore, especially when it comes from a player who has made such a quick impact on the field and already climbed onto the Heisman conversation board.
Becker is sitting 45th on DraftKings Sportsbooks odds list at +16000, which is long-shot territory but still enough to get attention if the production keeps coming. The real test is still ahead, though, with Big Ten play set to bring a different level of physicality and scrutiny. If Becker keeps finding space and staying this efficient once conference defenses start keying on him, Indiana fans may have reason to keep one eye on the standings and another on a bigger national race. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Rise Just Added Real Juice To The Big Ten Race
Indianas latest rout did more than pad the scoreboard, it nudged the Hoosiers another step up the national ladder and into a more prominent spot in the Big Ten conversation. After a 55-0 win over Howard, Indiana climbed one place in the US LBM Coaches Poll, a move that comes at a moment when the conference picture suddenly looks a lot different after Ohio States loss to Texas.
The ranking surge gives the Hoosiers a new kind of visibility, especially with the season still taking shape and the top 25 starting to settle around a fresh pecking order. The coaches poll panel continues to serve as one of the clearest weekly snapshots of how the sport views Indiana, and the next few polls will show whether this rise is just a strong early push or the start of something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Showed Hoosier Fans What A Cleaner Team Looks Like
Indiana didnt just beat Howard, it looked more organized doing it, jumping to a 41-0 lead by halftime and giving Curt Cignetti the chance to empty the bench after the break. The Hoosiers had answers everywhere, with Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard both topping 100 rushing yards and a team performance that looked noticeably cleaner than what Indiana showed in its previous game.
Charlie Becker was one of the nights brightest pieces, turning his touches into a major impact in the passing game, while Tyler Cherry also got back on the field in a meaningful moment after last years season-ending injury. For a team still trying to establish rhythm and confidence, those are the kinds of signs that matter beyond the final score, even if there is still more to learn about how this group holds up against a stronger test. [Read more 🡒]