Indiana University Athletics
Texas Duo Finds A Home In The Hoosier State
10/26/2016 1:25:00 PM | Football
By: Nick Reith
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Ralph Green III and Dimitric Camiel have competed against one another since they arrived at Indiana University five years ago, and the weight room is no exception.
The pair, roommates on opposite sides of the line of scrimmage, have reached a consensus: Dimitric takes the advantage in the upper body, while Ralph has the edge in lower body work.
But even that point isn't easily conceded.
"I agree with that," Ralph began, "but overall but I'm the full beast."
Dimitric and Ralph have found a second home in Bloomington. The senior linemen from Texas have come to love the Midwest in their time with the Indiana Hoosiers. While it was a bit of a culture shock at first, both got what they expected: changing seasons, Big Ten Football, and a warm welcome.
"When I first got here and settled into my dorm, coach Wilson, coach Hagan and all the older guys like Adam Replogle and Larry Black Jr. took me under their wing," Ralph said. "It really became a blessing to get to meet new people, new brothers. A lot of people I've met over my last five years have become my friends forever."
It's easy to see how Ralph and Dimitric have become so close. They've spent nearly five years lining up against each other in practice, each snap attempting to get the best of the other. Over time, they've learned to compare notes and give perspective on how an opponent reacts to their technique.
The process has turned the pair into some of the best players in the conference at their position.
"Ever since we've been here, we've gone against each other," said Dimitric. "It's gotten both of us to the level where we're at right now, from working out together, learning from and working with each other, and using our competitive nature to improve our games over time."
The results speak for themselves. Ralph carries a versatile set of techniques that make him a threat against the rush and the pass. As a defensive lineman, Ralph tied for the second-highest pass break-up tally in 2015, and he has one this season.
"That's something we've worked on in practice," Ralph said. "Coach really emphasizes getting our hands up and batting down the ball. It's not as good as a sack, but worth it if you're not going to get the sack."
Ralph credits his defensive coaches, coordinator Tom Allen and lineman coach Mark Hagan, for the Hoosiers' unyielding efforts on defense this year. He believes the coaches are striving for and bringing out the best in their players, and it fuels Ralph's competitive fire.
"Coach Hagan won't care if you like his criticism or not, but he's going to love you regardless," Ralph said. "He wants the best out of us, and he's pushing us to a limit that we thought we'd never be pushed as a line."
Dimitric's leadership on the offensive line granted him the honor of attending this season's Big Ten Media Day as one of Indiana's player representatives. He remembers his freshman year, seeing the players who would get to represent Indiana football, and hoped that one day he could do the same.
"You look up to all of those guys and hope that eventually all of your hard work pays off to reach some of those awards," Dimitric said. "It was great to represent my team."
Dimitric never saw himself as a vocal leader, like those who led him in the past. But as he works to return from an injury that set him back earlier this year, Dimitric has noticed that his role in this unit is still as important as ever. At practice and during games, he's in everybody's ear providing techniques and pointers to keep the younger guys strong on the field and in their minds.
"We lost a lot of great vocal leaders last year, and now we have guys like me who have come out of the mud, so it's a humble group," Dimitric said. "We're not ones to address the team as a whole, but I see myself speaking to guys individually. I'm not used to screaming and talking loud, but I try to speak to everyone and they seem to be responding."
Despite the setback, Dimitric isn't discouraged. Adversity has tried to block his path in the past to no avail, which speaks to his ceaseless pursuit of greatness.
"I just want to work to get to those standards," he said. "My work isn't finished at the end of the day. As far as getting to where I need to be, that's all I know how to do. So I'll keep pushing, keep it moving and see what happens."
Ralph and Dimitric can't believe their time at Indiana is nearing the end. Neither have plans to hang up their cleats for good once the season concludes, but they'll miss playing on Saturdays at Memorial Stadium in the crisp autumn air that they've grown to love.
"Putting that jersey on and representing IU and Hoosier Nation has been amazing, and I feel so blessed," Ralph said. "There's no other feeling, a feeling like nothing I've felt in my life other than when I signed here. We're coming down to the end soon. It's crazy how time flies."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Ralph Green III and Dimitric Camiel have competed against one another since they arrived at Indiana University five years ago, and the weight room is no exception.
The pair, roommates on opposite sides of the line of scrimmage, have reached a consensus: Dimitric takes the advantage in the upper body, while Ralph has the edge in lower body work.
But even that point isn't easily conceded.
"I agree with that," Ralph began, "but overall but I'm the full beast."
Dimitric and Ralph have found a second home in Bloomington. The senior linemen from Texas have come to love the Midwest in their time with the Indiana Hoosiers. While it was a bit of a culture shock at first, both got what they expected: changing seasons, Big Ten Football, and a warm welcome.
"When I first got here and settled into my dorm, coach Wilson, coach Hagan and all the older guys like Adam Replogle and Larry Black Jr. took me under their wing," Ralph said. "It really became a blessing to get to meet new people, new brothers. A lot of people I've met over my last five years have become my friends forever."
It's easy to see how Ralph and Dimitric have become so close. They've spent nearly five years lining up against each other in practice, each snap attempting to get the best of the other. Over time, they've learned to compare notes and give perspective on how an opponent reacts to their technique.
The process has turned the pair into some of the best players in the conference at their position.
"Ever since we've been here, we've gone against each other," said Dimitric. "It's gotten both of us to the level where we're at right now, from working out together, learning from and working with each other, and using our competitive nature to improve our games over time."
The results speak for themselves. Ralph carries a versatile set of techniques that make him a threat against the rush and the pass. As a defensive lineman, Ralph tied for the second-highest pass break-up tally in 2015, and he has one this season.
"That's something we've worked on in practice," Ralph said. "Coach really emphasizes getting our hands up and batting down the ball. It's not as good as a sack, but worth it if you're not going to get the sack."
Ralph credits his defensive coaches, coordinator Tom Allen and lineman coach Mark Hagan, for the Hoosiers' unyielding efforts on defense this year. He believes the coaches are striving for and bringing out the best in their players, and it fuels Ralph's competitive fire.
"Coach Hagan won't care if you like his criticism or not, but he's going to love you regardless," Ralph said. "He wants the best out of us, and he's pushing us to a limit that we thought we'd never be pushed as a line."
Dimitric's leadership on the offensive line granted him the honor of attending this season's Big Ten Media Day as one of Indiana's player representatives. He remembers his freshman year, seeing the players who would get to represent Indiana football, and hoped that one day he could do the same.
"You look up to all of those guys and hope that eventually all of your hard work pays off to reach some of those awards," Dimitric said. "It was great to represent my team."
Dimitric never saw himself as a vocal leader, like those who led him in the past. But as he works to return from an injury that set him back earlier this year, Dimitric has noticed that his role in this unit is still as important as ever. At practice and during games, he's in everybody's ear providing techniques and pointers to keep the younger guys strong on the field and in their minds.
"We lost a lot of great vocal leaders last year, and now we have guys like me who have come out of the mud, so it's a humble group," Dimitric said. "We're not ones to address the team as a whole, but I see myself speaking to guys individually. I'm not used to screaming and talking loud, but I try to speak to everyone and they seem to be responding."
Despite the setback, Dimitric isn't discouraged. Adversity has tried to block his path in the past to no avail, which speaks to his ceaseless pursuit of greatness.
"I just want to work to get to those standards," he said. "My work isn't finished at the end of the day. As far as getting to where I need to be, that's all I know how to do. So I'll keep pushing, keep it moving and see what happens."
Ralph and Dimitric can't believe their time at Indiana is nearing the end. Neither have plans to hang up their cleats for good once the season concludes, but they'll miss playing on Saturdays at Memorial Stadium in the crisp autumn air that they've grown to love.
"Putting that jersey on and representing IU and Hoosier Nation has been amazing, and I feel so blessed," Ralph said. "There's no other feeling, a feeling like nothing I've felt in my life other than when I signed here. We're coming down to the end soon. It's crazy how time flies."
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