Indiana University Athletics
Closer Look at the Hoosier Defensive Line
3/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 9, 2006
IUHOOSIERS.COM takes a position-by-position look at the 2006 Indiana football team, starting with the defensive line.
Indiana suffered two key losses at defensive end, as all-league selection Victor Adeyanju and steady Ben Ishola graduated. Senior Kenny Kendal returns at one defensive end slot. In 2005, Kendal recovered a fumble against Nicholls State, and he had a season-high four tackles in the season opener at Central Michigan. Kendal started all 11 games for the Hoosiers in 2004 and was the team leader with 5.5 sacks on the season. Kendal closed the year with 8.5 tackles for loss, good for third best on the team.
The IU coaching staff also has high hopes for redshirt freshmen Jammie Kirlew, Neal Jones and walk-on Fabiene Boone. Kirlew was one of the top 100 prospects in the talent-rich state of Florida as a senior at Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, while his fellow Orlando native, Jones, has the size (6-4, 253) and speed to make an impact in the Hoosiers' scheme. Boone, converted tight end Brian Faires and Arik Wolf will provide depth.
Inside, Indiana returns considerable experience in juniors Joe Kremer and Charles Emerson and sophomore Greg Brown. Brown started four (at Central Michigan and vs. Nicholls State, Minnesota and Purdue) of the 11 games in which he played in 2005. He finished the year with 17 tackles, highlighted by a career-high five (four solo and one assisted) at Michigan. He had four tackles for loss (24 yards) and two quarterback sacks. Emerson recorded 23 tackles (18 solo, five assisted) in 2005. Emerson played in all 11 games, and he started against Kentucky, Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio State. His season high in tackles (four) came against Nicholls State, and he had one sack at Michigan State. Kremer played in all 11 Indiana games in 2005. He recorded four tackles against Nicholls State, and he had two tackles for loss against Illinois.
The Hoosier coaching staff is also high on redshirt freshmen Emile Bass and Todd Newman. Bass is a 6-3, 288-pounder with deceptive speed, while Newman is a 6-4, 274-pound converted tight end.
Defensive line coach /co-defensive coordinator Brian George on the Hoosiers' defensive front four:
"The defensive line has a solid core of returners that contributed last season and a group of talented young players that will be in the mix for playing time this year. Returning players include senior Kenny Kendal, Charlie Emerson, Greg Brown and Joe Kremer. All of these players played in every game last season and should provide stability and leadership to the group. Newcomers that will battle for playing time are freshmen Jammie Kirlew, Neal Jones, Emile Bass, Todd Newman and Fabiene Boone, along with upperclassmen Nick Luce, Arik Wolf, and Brian Faires, who moved to defensive end for the spring. A number of these players have made strides this offseason and are looking to break into the depth chart. The spring should be a great opportunity for the experienced players to show how much they have improved and for the newcomers to prove that they deserve playing time this season."
