Indiana University Athletics
Frey Building An All-American Culture
12/15/2015 2:45:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Flanked by two All-American linemen—his All-American linemen—Indiana offensive line coach Greg Frey could hardly contain his pride.
With senior Jason Spriggs and redshirt junior Dan Feeney sitting alongside him, Frey explained with a wide smile that the Hoosiers' offensive line was only as good as all five guys playing together, taking the time to recognize fellow starters Jacob Bailey, Dimitric Camiel, Wes Martin and Jake Reed.
But it all begins with Spriggs and Feeney.
Both were named first team All–Americans on Monday, marking the first time in program history that Indiana has produced two first team selections in the same season. Spriggs earned his spot from the Football Writers Association of America, and Feeney took the nod from ESPN.com.
The two All-Americans anchor an offensive line that is one of the best in the country. The Hoosiers have certainly put in their argument.
"You can't take a guy and make him into something," Frey said. "What makes these two guys special is when they came in, they had a very, very strong self-confidence. They believed in what they could be, they believed in what they were being taught and they went after it with a resilience."
Spriggs, a left tackle, had previously received All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press, Sporting News and SI.com. Feeney, a right guard, already had All-America selections from the Associated Press, CBS Sports and SI.com.
Under Frey's guidance, Indiana is tied for first in the Big Ten and is ninth nationally having allowed only 13 sacks. The Hoosiers lead the conference in total offense (490.8 yards per game), passing offense (285.9 yards per game) and scoring offense (36.2 points per game). IU also ranks second in rushing offense at 204.8 yards per game.
Ask just about anyone on the offense and they'll say it stems back to the offensive line. Having All-Americans like Spriggs and Feeney up front make the skill players' lives easier.
"I think that it shows that people are watching," head coach Kevin Wilson said of the All-Americans. "Sometimes linemen only make it based on the team or namesake. Certain places always get certain guys on the team because you really don't study linemen. So who sticks out? It really just shows that our team is doing well enough and growing on some people who have some respect for them. Those are two really, really good players."
The All-America honors were the result of years in the making.
Spriggs arrived in Bloomington 45 pounds lighter than he is today, looking more like a basketball player than a standout offensive lineman. Wilson recalled sitting with Spriggs at lunch on the eve of the 2012 season opener against Indiana State and sensing his nervousness before calming him down.
"Four years from now, when you're playing in the NFL, you're going to go back and remember how bad you were crapping your pants before you played this first game," Wilson told Spriggs. "Hey, relax now. You're going to be pretty good."
Wilson was right.
"I think I owe most of that to our team and definitely our o-line," Spriggs said. "If I wasn't playing with the four other guys I'm playing with, I wouldn't be sitting in this seat."
Spriggs' athleticism helped him become a starter immediately for Indiana. He was recognized last month as one of six semifinalists for the Outland Trophy, which recognizes the nation's top interior lineman on either offense or defense.
He's allowed just two sacks in 431 called pass plays and has 72 knockdowns in 972 snaps.
"When you think about it, Jason is 21 years old playing four years in the Big Ten at left tackle," Frey said. "Come on, are you serious?"
Feeney has been just as impressive a few spots over on the offensive line. He's allowed just one sack in 36 career starts at right guard and said earlier this year he still loses sleep thinking about the lone mistake he made last season against Rutgers.
He hasn't allowed a sack this season and still has another year of eligibility left from redshirting the 2013 season after suffering an injury in practice. Wilson has long lauded Feeney's play, taking every opportunity he gets to compliment his consistency.
"Dan is maybe one of the hardest-playing guys I've ever seen, snap after snap, in practice and in the game," Frey said.
Frey himself deserves the credit he's always quick to brush away. Last month, he was nominated for the Broyles Award, which recognizes the top assistant in the country. Wilson won the same award while he was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma in 2008.
Frey coaches the same position Wilson grew up playing and coached himself before climbing up the coaching ranks. Wilson said it can be challenging to coach the position the head coach is known for, but he doesn't think it affects Frey.
"Greg does an awesome job," Wilson said. "I don't walk into his wheelhouse. He coaches them up, and I mess up everybody else. He does a great job."
And the Hoosiers say there's more coming.
Feeney and Spriggs contend the younger players fans don't see every Saturday are going to pick up right where they've left off. Every practice is filled with competition between who can run quickest, who gets the most knockdowns and just about anything else the offensive linemen can measure.
"It's a unit. We're five guys out there," Feeney said. "It's great to be individually recognized, and it just shows how far our team has come."
#####
Indiana (6-6) will face Duke (7-5) in the 2015 New Era Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 26. The game will be held at Yankee Stadium with a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC. Student tickets for the Pinstripe Bowl are just $10 and can be purchased by clicking here. Tickets for the general public can be purchased by clicking here.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Flanked by two All-American linemen—his All-American linemen—Indiana offensive line coach Greg Frey could hardly contain his pride.
With senior Jason Spriggs and redshirt junior Dan Feeney sitting alongside him, Frey explained with a wide smile that the Hoosiers' offensive line was only as good as all five guys playing together, taking the time to recognize fellow starters Jacob Bailey, Dimitric Camiel, Wes Martin and Jake Reed.
But it all begins with Spriggs and Feeney.
Both were named first team All–Americans on Monday, marking the first time in program history that Indiana has produced two first team selections in the same season. Spriggs earned his spot from the Football Writers Association of America, and Feeney took the nod from ESPN.com.
The two All-Americans anchor an offensive line that is one of the best in the country. The Hoosiers have certainly put in their argument.
"You can't take a guy and make him into something," Frey said. "What makes these two guys special is when they came in, they had a very, very strong self-confidence. They believed in what they could be, they believed in what they were being taught and they went after it with a resilience."
Spriggs, a left tackle, had previously received All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press, Sporting News and SI.com. Feeney, a right guard, already had All-America selections from the Associated Press, CBS Sports and SI.com.
Under Frey's guidance, Indiana is tied for first in the Big Ten and is ninth nationally having allowed only 13 sacks. The Hoosiers lead the conference in total offense (490.8 yards per game), passing offense (285.9 yards per game) and scoring offense (36.2 points per game). IU also ranks second in rushing offense at 204.8 yards per game.
Ask just about anyone on the offense and they'll say it stems back to the offensive line. Having All-Americans like Spriggs and Feeney up front make the skill players' lives easier.
"I think that it shows that people are watching," head coach Kevin Wilson said of the All-Americans. "Sometimes linemen only make it based on the team or namesake. Certain places always get certain guys on the team because you really don't study linemen. So who sticks out? It really just shows that our team is doing well enough and growing on some people who have some respect for them. Those are two really, really good players."
The All-America honors were the result of years in the making.
Spriggs arrived in Bloomington 45 pounds lighter than he is today, looking more like a basketball player than a standout offensive lineman. Wilson recalled sitting with Spriggs at lunch on the eve of the 2012 season opener against Indiana State and sensing his nervousness before calming him down.
"Four years from now, when you're playing in the NFL, you're going to go back and remember how bad you were crapping your pants before you played this first game," Wilson told Spriggs. "Hey, relax now. You're going to be pretty good."
Wilson was right.
"I think I owe most of that to our team and definitely our o-line," Spriggs said. "If I wasn't playing with the four other guys I'm playing with, I wouldn't be sitting in this seat."
Spriggs' athleticism helped him become a starter immediately for Indiana. He was recognized last month as one of six semifinalists for the Outland Trophy, which recognizes the nation's top interior lineman on either offense or defense.
He's allowed just two sacks in 431 called pass plays and has 72 knockdowns in 972 snaps.
"When you think about it, Jason is 21 years old playing four years in the Big Ten at left tackle," Frey said. "Come on, are you serious?"
Feeney has been just as impressive a few spots over on the offensive line. He's allowed just one sack in 36 career starts at right guard and said earlier this year he still loses sleep thinking about the lone mistake he made last season against Rutgers.
He hasn't allowed a sack this season and still has another year of eligibility left from redshirting the 2013 season after suffering an injury in practice. Wilson has long lauded Feeney's play, taking every opportunity he gets to compliment his consistency.
"Dan is maybe one of the hardest-playing guys I've ever seen, snap after snap, in practice and in the game," Frey said.
Frey himself deserves the credit he's always quick to brush away. Last month, he was nominated for the Broyles Award, which recognizes the top assistant in the country. Wilson won the same award while he was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma in 2008.
Frey coaches the same position Wilson grew up playing and coached himself before climbing up the coaching ranks. Wilson said it can be challenging to coach the position the head coach is known for, but he doesn't think it affects Frey.
"Greg does an awesome job," Wilson said. "I don't walk into his wheelhouse. He coaches them up, and I mess up everybody else. He does a great job."
And the Hoosiers say there's more coming.
Feeney and Spriggs contend the younger players fans don't see every Saturday are going to pick up right where they've left off. Every practice is filled with competition between who can run quickest, who gets the most knockdowns and just about anything else the offensive linemen can measure.
"It's a unit. We're five guys out there," Feeney said. "It's great to be individually recognized, and it just shows how far our team has come."
#####
Indiana (6-6) will face Duke (7-5) in the 2015 New Era Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 26. The game will be held at Yankee Stadium with a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC. Student tickets for the Pinstripe Bowl are just $10 and can be purchased by clicking here. Tickets for the general public can be purchased by clicking here.
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