Indiana University Athletics
Sudfeld, Hoosiers Committed to Success
5/13/2015 3:51:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nearly 50 members of the Indiana football team are in Bloomington this month before starting summer conditioning in June. IUHoosiers.com's Sam Beishuizen caught up with quarterbackNate Sudfeld to see what he and the team are up to.
Sudfeld enters the 2015 campaign second in program history in completion percentage (60.6), tied for second in 300-yard passing games (four), fifth in passing touchdowns (34), eighth in passing yardage (4,306) and completions (346), ninth in attempts (571) and 10th in total offense (4,377) in just 25 career games (14 starts).
Now that it's summer, a good portion of the team is in Bloomington and getting to work this week. What's the early stages of the summer offseason been like with coaches away?
"It's great. We're just getting back into the routine. It's really good to be back. It is discretionary (workouts), but usually everyone's at home. There's been a lot of guys who have stayed just because we realize this is a year that we won't get back, and we really like what we have offensively and defensively. Especially me, being a fourth-year guy, I came here to compete for a championship and win a lot of games. We have the pieces here to do it. We've just got to be consistent and be working hard and pushing each other and holding the standard high. I think we're at a really good level right now coming off spring, and we'll be able to build a lot of momentum in May."
Does your mindset change at all being a fourth-year guy? Do you maybe value this time a little more?
Yes, I think so. As a younger guy you sometimes have a sense of urgency and really work hard, and I think I've always worked hard, but there's something you can't explain, something you really realize when you're going into your final season. You want to leave without any regrets and without any stones unturned. There's definitely something about it. There's an extra sense of urgency or an extra gear. I'm just trying to push myself and my teammates to be the best that we can."
You mentioned younger guys coming back. How nice is that for you to see as a quarterback?
"It's really great. Having young guys here now is huge. I kept telling the receivers when they were young, `I can't wait for you guys to be juniors and seniors. You guys have to get it right now.' Young guys like J-Shun (Harris) and Dom (Dominique Booth) who are here right now or (Jordan) Fuchs, we need a lot out of those guys. They expect a lot out of themselves, and we're pushing each other and holding the standard of what an IU football player is."
What are the next few weeks like for you? Are you just getting into class and then getting to work?
"That's about it. I'm taking an online class and I'm really focusing on sharpening up my mental aspect of the game by watching a lot of film and preparing for each game. I'm sharpening up my mechanics and footwork and physical strength. There's kind of a lot of things to keep checking off the box that I'm working on. You're never good enough at anything, but I'm definitely focusing on the physical development and the mental aspect."
