Indiana University Athletics
Closer Look at the Hoosier Secondary
3/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 10, 2006
IUHOOSIERS.COM continues its position-by-position outlook on the 2006 Indiana football team by focusing on the secondary.
Indiana returns all four secondary starters. Senior safeties Will Meyers and Troy Grosfield recorded 84 and 57 tackles, respectively. Grosfield posted a career-high nine tackles against Purdue, and he had a career-high six solo stops both against Illinois and Minnesota. Grosfield also had five pass breakups, which was second on the team. Meyers was one of the Hoosiers' most consistent defensive players, notching four double-digit tackle performances. He tied his career-high with 13 tackles each against Iowa and Minnesota, and he added 10 stops at Michigan and 11 against Illinois. He posted his first career interception against the Illini, and he returned it 34 yards.
Safeties coach Mike Yeager is counting on Grosfield and Meyers to set the tone in secondary.
"We return two players who played a lot of snaps last year and played very well. Grosfield and Meyers should have great senior years," Yeager said. "Overall, there should be great competition at the position the younger safeties look ready to compete for playing time."
Tracy Porter and Leslie Majors are each back for their third season at cornerback. Majors posted a career-high 10 tackles at Michigan in 2005. He started all 11 games, and he has had seven tackles in four different games, most recently against Wisconsin. Porter had three interceptions for 108 yards, broke up six passes, and forced a fumble. Overall, he also tallied 48 tackles, with 42 solo takedowns. He also posted a career-high seven tackles in three contests (Wisconsin, Ohio State and Purdue). Chris Phillips and Rayshun Calhoun each gained valuable experience in 2005, and they will be joined this spring by freshman Bruce Hampton.
According to cornerbacks coach/co-defensive coordinator Joe Palcic, you cannot put a price on experience
"We have some veteran, experienced corners. There is no substitute for experience at the corner position, no matter how talented the individual," Palcic said. "Two returning starters are back in Tracey Porter and Leslie Majors. Tracey Porter is the most talented of the group. He has the ability to be an All-Big Ten selection in 2006. Leslie Majors is the fastest player on the defense. We are looking for him to be more consistent in his coverage. The remaining corners are Chris Phillips, Rayshun Calhoun, and redshirt freshman Bruce Hampton."
