Indiana University Athletics
Takeaways - Indiana National Signing Day
2/4/2016 4:10:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Kevin Wilson wrapped up a busy few weeks of recruiting Wednesday by announcing the addition of 21 players to the Hoosiers 2016 signing class.
Indiana's head coach was noticeably relaxed running up and down his list of incoming freshmen. He kept the mood at his signing day press conference light by cracking jokes on anything from getting lost on a recruiting trip to text conversations with Cole Gest about the running back's future jersey number.
Above all else, Wilson made at least one thing clear: he likes guys he got.
"It's a good class," Wilson said. "I do think every year we're starting at a higher development part. We're bringing in a better product. Still a lot of work to do, but excited about these guys."
The New Guys Will Play
Wilson isn't one to make anyone—especially freshmen—promises about playing time.
That being said, Wilson said about half of the incoming freshmen will manage to get on the field in their first season one way or another.
That's not a random guess either, Wilson said. It's in the math.
"We have played 60 in five years, true freshmen, right?" Wilson said. "My mathematics says that's 12 per year which means half our class mathematically plays on mathematical average."
Wilson hasn't shied away from playing true freshmen in the past. Just last season the Hoosiers regularly tossed players like Jonathan Crawford, Brandon Knight, Mike Majette, Leon Thornton III and Nick Westbrook into the rotation immediately.
So Indiana fans might as well start studying up on the new charges.
Because they will play.
"We tell guys average-wise you have a heads or tails chance of playing as a freshman based on our track record," Wilson said, "but we're not promising. You've got to earn it."
Incoming Class Has Length, Athleticism
The IU coaching staff prioritized adding long, athletic bodies to the 2016 recruiting class.
Now entering his sixth season in Bloomington, Wilson said he's been leaning too heavily toward small, quick players in previous classes. He's hoping the new group balances that out by the time they're ready to see the field.
"There is some speed, but the thing that pleases me the most is the size and the wingspan and the length of bodies," Wilson said. "They're very athletic. They're more athletic and longer. We're recruiting more and more of those kind of guys."
Wilson used Indiana's track record of having smaller defensive backs as an example of where the program has changed. Where before players were 5-foot-8 or 5-foot-9 lining up against 6-foot receivers, now IU has athletes like Brandon Drayton (6-foot-2), Marcelino Ball (6-foot), Khalil Bryant (5-foot-10), A'Shon Riggins (6-foot) and Jayme
Thompson (6-foot-2) to work with in pass coverage.
The defensive backs only highlight an incoming class with length regardless of position.
"They're just longer bodies and more athletic each year," Wilson said. "We've got to keep adding that."
Pinstripe Bowl Paying, Wilson's Contract Helping Out
Indiana's Pinstripe Bowl run and the commitment to Wilson's staff thanks to a new 6-year contract combined to help the Hoosiers out, particularly near the end of the recruiting cycle.
Wilson said he's hopeful his contract will assist him even more when he's recruiting the next few classes, especially in the state of Indiana. That, together with IU's trending national exposure, could mean more talent is on the way.
"Going forward, I hope it really helps us," Wilson said. "We're going to attack those (recruits) hard with, 'Man, we're on stable ground.'"
Wilson took the time to give Director of Athletics Fred Glass multiple nods of gratitude in helping him explain to the recruits that he was staying in Bloomington while his contract was being drawn up.
Wilson said it was slightly delayed because he didn't want to break any of his own superstitions by negotiating a contract while the Hoosiers were in New York.
"Mr. Glass was one of my recruiters," Wilson said. "Appreciative of Mr. Glass's commitment to the program and behind the scenes helping us as we were weathering the storms and dotting I's and crossing T's."
Already Looking Ahead
Wilson doesn't have much time to celebrate his newest recruiting class. He can't afford to.
Indiana's rolling recruiting schedule keeps the coaching staff moving forward as their attention turns to the 2017 class.
Wilson joked that he's actually feeling lucky because it's a leap year. That means one more day for recruiting, though he lightheartedly campaigned that the extra day in February should be a national holiday so he can go home to relax and maybe have time to play a round of golf.
"It goes fast in the Midwest," Wilson said. "If we don't get those juniors on campus by March, it's like you're out of the game."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Kevin Wilson wrapped up a busy few weeks of recruiting Wednesday by announcing the addition of 21 players to the Hoosiers 2016 signing class.
Indiana's head coach was noticeably relaxed running up and down his list of incoming freshmen. He kept the mood at his signing day press conference light by cracking jokes on anything from getting lost on a recruiting trip to text conversations with Cole Gest about the running back's future jersey number.
Above all else, Wilson made at least one thing clear: he likes guys he got.
"It's a good class," Wilson said. "I do think every year we're starting at a higher development part. We're bringing in a better product. Still a lot of work to do, but excited about these guys."
The New Guys Will Play
Wilson isn't one to make anyone—especially freshmen—promises about playing time.
That being said, Wilson said about half of the incoming freshmen will manage to get on the field in their first season one way or another.
That's not a random guess either, Wilson said. It's in the math.
"We have played 60 in five years, true freshmen, right?" Wilson said. "My mathematics says that's 12 per year which means half our class mathematically plays on mathematical average."
Wilson hasn't shied away from playing true freshmen in the past. Just last season the Hoosiers regularly tossed players like Jonathan Crawford, Brandon Knight, Mike Majette, Leon Thornton III and Nick Westbrook into the rotation immediately.
So Indiana fans might as well start studying up on the new charges.
Because they will play.
"We tell guys average-wise you have a heads or tails chance of playing as a freshman based on our track record," Wilson said, "but we're not promising. You've got to earn it."
Incoming Class Has Length, Athleticism
The IU coaching staff prioritized adding long, athletic bodies to the 2016 recruiting class.
Now entering his sixth season in Bloomington, Wilson said he's been leaning too heavily toward small, quick players in previous classes. He's hoping the new group balances that out by the time they're ready to see the field.
"There is some speed, but the thing that pleases me the most is the size and the wingspan and the length of bodies," Wilson said. "They're very athletic. They're more athletic and longer. We're recruiting more and more of those kind of guys."
Wilson used Indiana's track record of having smaller defensive backs as an example of where the program has changed. Where before players were 5-foot-8 or 5-foot-9 lining up against 6-foot receivers, now IU has athletes like Brandon Drayton (6-foot-2), Marcelino Ball (6-foot), Khalil Bryant (5-foot-10), A'Shon Riggins (6-foot) and Jayme
Thompson (6-foot-2) to work with in pass coverage.
The defensive backs only highlight an incoming class with length regardless of position.
"They're just longer bodies and more athletic each year," Wilson said. "We've got to keep adding that."
Pinstripe Bowl Paying, Wilson's Contract Helping Out
Indiana's Pinstripe Bowl run and the commitment to Wilson's staff thanks to a new 6-year contract combined to help the Hoosiers out, particularly near the end of the recruiting cycle.
Wilson said he's hopeful his contract will assist him even more when he's recruiting the next few classes, especially in the state of Indiana. That, together with IU's trending national exposure, could mean more talent is on the way.
"Going forward, I hope it really helps us," Wilson said. "We're going to attack those (recruits) hard with, 'Man, we're on stable ground.'"
Wilson took the time to give Director of Athletics Fred Glass multiple nods of gratitude in helping him explain to the recruits that he was staying in Bloomington while his contract was being drawn up.
Wilson said it was slightly delayed because he didn't want to break any of his own superstitions by negotiating a contract while the Hoosiers were in New York.
"Mr. Glass was one of my recruiters," Wilson said. "Appreciative of Mr. Glass's commitment to the program and behind the scenes helping us as we were weathering the storms and dotting I's and crossing T's."
Already Looking Ahead
Wilson doesn't have much time to celebrate his newest recruiting class. He can't afford to.
Indiana's rolling recruiting schedule keeps the coaching staff moving forward as their attention turns to the 2017 class.
Wilson joked that he's actually feeling lucky because it's a leap year. That means one more day for recruiting, though he lightheartedly campaigned that the extra day in February should be a national holiday so he can go home to relax and maybe have time to play a round of golf.
"It goes fast in the Midwest," Wilson said. "If we don't get those juniors on campus by March, it's like you're out of the game."
Players Mentioned
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