Indiana University Athletics
Sudfeld Primed for Return Against SIU
9/4/2015 1:00:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
Nate Sudfeld's wait is over.
The senior quarterback will lead the Hoosiers against the Southern Illinois Salukis at 4 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, 329 days after suffering a season-ending separated shoulder in week six of 2014 against Iowa.
After an offseason full of answering questions about his rehab process, the Modesto, Calif., native could finally talk football again this week. He's ready to put his injury in the rearview mirror and focus on running the Indiana offense once again.
"I'm stoked," Sudfeld said. "I can't wait to actually get out there and put the pads on. It's been a long time coming. You can simulate it as much as you want in spring ball or fall camp, but until you're actually live you kind of have that itch to be out there in the full flow of the game."
With Sudfeld in the lineup a year ago, Indiana opened the season with a 3-2 record including a victory on the road against then-No. 18 Missouri before he was sidelined in the second quarter of IU's 45-29 loss against Iowa.
Sudfeld admitted he felt out of place watching from the sidelines. He said he fell into a "funk" after realizing his season was over and had a hard time raising his own spirits.
"It was tough on him," Sudfeld's roommate and teammate Nick Mangieri said. "He was frustrated and didn't really talk about it much. When he snapped out of it, I think he realized he could still help the team."
With the help of teammates like Mangieri and head coach Kevin Wilson, Sudfeld regained his confidence and his leadership role with the team over time, but there was still no replacement for the game action he was missing.
As soon as he was able to throw again, Sudfeld began leading offseason workouts and meetings with his teammates. He'd spend hours studying film with his receivers looking for any advantage he could find heading into his final season in Bloomington.
"It's his sense of urgency," offensive coordinator Kevin Johns said. "It's the fact that, 'I'm running out of time. I lost half my junior season, and now I have 12 guaranteed games left.' He's way better than he's ever been."
Sudfeld, who was named to both the 2015 Maxwell Award and Wuerffel Trophy watch lists, has made 14 starts and appeared in 25 games for the Hoosiers.
He's among the program's all-time leaders in passing yards (No. 8 with 4,306), completion percentage (No. 2 at 60.6 percent), passing attempts (No. 9 with 571) and completions (No. 8 with 346) but still has more to prove.
"You can tell he wants this team to win," sophomore receiver Simmie Cobbs, Jr., said. "This is as good as I've seen him look. He's been working hard and pushing all of us because he knows this is his last chance."
After a whirlwind offseason that included a trip to Uganda, summer days training in Bloomington, a long weekend at the Manning Passing Academy and a keynote speech at the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon, Sudfeld can focus on football again.
He said Monday that he's excited to get hit for the first time and expects Southern Illinois to challenge Indiana. He lauded the Salukis' athleticism and said IU can't afford to overlook the challenges they'll bring.
He wouldn't have it any other way.
"I've been building to this point in my career," Sudfeld said. "I've been groomed and prepared for this season. I'm excited to show it."
IUHoosiers.com
Nate Sudfeld's wait is over.
The senior quarterback will lead the Hoosiers against the Southern Illinois Salukis at 4 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, 329 days after suffering a season-ending separated shoulder in week six of 2014 against Iowa.
After an offseason full of answering questions about his rehab process, the Modesto, Calif., native could finally talk football again this week. He's ready to put his injury in the rearview mirror and focus on running the Indiana offense once again.
"I'm stoked," Sudfeld said. "I can't wait to actually get out there and put the pads on. It's been a long time coming. You can simulate it as much as you want in spring ball or fall camp, but until you're actually live you kind of have that itch to be out there in the full flow of the game."
With Sudfeld in the lineup a year ago, Indiana opened the season with a 3-2 record including a victory on the road against then-No. 18 Missouri before he was sidelined in the second quarter of IU's 45-29 loss against Iowa.
Sudfeld admitted he felt out of place watching from the sidelines. He said he fell into a "funk" after realizing his season was over and had a hard time raising his own spirits.
"It was tough on him," Sudfeld's roommate and teammate Nick Mangieri said. "He was frustrated and didn't really talk about it much. When he snapped out of it, I think he realized he could still help the team."
With the help of teammates like Mangieri and head coach Kevin Wilson, Sudfeld regained his confidence and his leadership role with the team over time, but there was still no replacement for the game action he was missing.
As soon as he was able to throw again, Sudfeld began leading offseason workouts and meetings with his teammates. He'd spend hours studying film with his receivers looking for any advantage he could find heading into his final season in Bloomington.
"It's his sense of urgency," offensive coordinator Kevin Johns said. "It's the fact that, 'I'm running out of time. I lost half my junior season, and now I have 12 guaranteed games left.' He's way better than he's ever been."
Sudfeld, who was named to both the 2015 Maxwell Award and Wuerffel Trophy watch lists, has made 14 starts and appeared in 25 games for the Hoosiers.
He's among the program's all-time leaders in passing yards (No. 8 with 4,306), completion percentage (No. 2 at 60.6 percent), passing attempts (No. 9 with 571) and completions (No. 8 with 346) but still has more to prove.
"You can tell he wants this team to win," sophomore receiver Simmie Cobbs, Jr., said. "This is as good as I've seen him look. He's been working hard and pushing all of us because he knows this is his last chance."
After a whirlwind offseason that included a trip to Uganda, summer days training in Bloomington, a long weekend at the Manning Passing Academy and a keynote speech at the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon, Sudfeld can focus on football again.
He said Monday that he's excited to get hit for the first time and expects Southern Illinois to challenge Indiana. He lauded the Salukis' athleticism and said IU can't afford to overlook the challenges they'll bring.
He wouldn't have it any other way.
"I've been building to this point in my career," Sudfeld said. "I've been groomed and prepared for this season. I'm excited to show it."
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