Indiana University Athletics
Spring Football Practice Report - March 25
3/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 25, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Senior wide receiver Jahkeen Gilmore caught 30 passes for 383 yards and three touchdowns in 2005. The team's third-leading receiver is the most experienced of a deep and talented pass catching corps, and he believes that the Hoosiers' progress in spring workouts could pay major dividends this fall.
"For me, personally, practice is going pretty well so far. Every day is still a learning process for me," Gilmore said. "We have a few things we've just gotten started on that are a little different from last year. So right now, I'm trying to catch up on that and just make it work."
Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner is counting on veterans like Gilmore to set a positive work ethic example.
"We're pleased with their attention and energy level," Hoeppner said after IU's third spring practice and first in pads on March 25. "We can work with them if they keep giving us that."
Maintaining attention and energy level equates to steady performance on the field.
"Certainly my main expectation or goal for myself is to play more consistently, and that's really it," Gilmore said. "Especially with it being my last season, I want to play hard and really have fun. Most importantly, I definitely, definitely want to help my team get to a bowl game."
A balanced offense is instrumental to the Hoosiers' postseason aspirations, and Hoeppner believes that sophomore Marcus Thigpen's move from wide receiver to running back adds a unique element to the IU attack. Thigpen was second on the team with 32 catches for 432 yards in 2005, but the former all-state running back (1,785 yards as a senior at Detroit Mumford) and Michigan high school 100-meter dash champion has returned to the backfield.
"Of course, I like guys that weigh 190 pounds and run real fast," Hoeppner said. "That's his natural position, but he hasn't done it in two years. He has some making up to do, and he needs to do it in the context of our offense. (Running backs coach) Gerald Brown has been lobbying for that move since I have been here, and I think that it will be good in the long run."
