Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Open 2015 Spring Practice
3/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
 Photos | Coach Wilson | Sudfeld | Simmons |  Coach Knorr | Coach Johns |
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Kevin Wilson kicked off his fifth season as the Indiana head football coach on Thursday morning. The Hoosiers held their first of 15 spring practices indoors at the John Mellencamp Pavilion.
IU will have three more practices in March and seven in April before the annual Cream & Crimson Spring Game, which will kick off at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 18.
"We had a good winter," Wilson said. "It has translated into playing a little more crisply as we start up work here."
Wilson continued to discuss his preseason plans with the press this morning.
"We have a plan to slow down spring ball," Wilson continued. "We also gave our guys targets, and they're shooting for them.
"We've gotten stronger, but now we need to take the strength and talent and start being a more consistent practice team. That way our seniors can work hard at the combine, and or freshmen and young players will win more games and make their pro day a lot easier."
When asked about the main focus of spring practices, Wilson emphasized their physical prowess in the trenches.
"The line will be the strength," Wilson said. "All of our heavy guys were under weight, where we wanted them coming off of break. You don't want to lose from your gains, and now we're talking about maintaining those gains."
PLAYERS TAKES ON DAY ONE OF SPRING FOOTBALL
IU quarterback Nate Sudfeld enters this season ranked second in program history in completion percentage (60.6), tied for second in 300-yard passing games (four), and fifth in passing touchdowns (34). The senior quarterback isn't dwelling on his numbers, however. Sudfeld, above all, is happy to be back on the field for a new season.
"It felt great," said Sudfeld. "I was like a kid in a candy store being back out there with my teammates."
Linebacker T.J. Simmons is coming off of a stellar sophomore season, ranking second on the Hoosiers in tackles and leading the team in forced fumbles in 2014. As a junior, Simmons will assume a leadership role on an IU defensive unit which has made great strides in the offseason.
"I give these guys an A-plus," said Simmons, regarding the defense's work ethic in the weight room over the winter. "Everybody improved, got bigger, stronger, and faster. Everybody's running good right now."
Both Sudfeld and Simmons said that the team has one goal in mind as they work through spring practices--consistency.
"We have to be consistent so that will carry to the summer and build momentum to the fall," Sudfeld said.
"We know we can play with any team," said Simmons. "We're just trying to get on a more consistent level."
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Our goal is to learn how we play the game--how to play fast, see signals, get lined up, and communicate. Right now, the concerns are less physical and more mental as we learn how to play."
-Offensive Coordinator Kevin Johns
CREAM & CRIMSON SPRING GAME IN 23 DAYS
The Hoosiers kick off the 2015 Cream & Crimson Spring Game at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 18. They will also host a Little 500 pre-bash evening open scrimmage on Thursday, April 23.
