Indiana University Athletics
NFL Dreams To Be Realized This Week
4/28/2016 10:56:00 AM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - By this time next week, the next generation of Hoosiers in the NFL will have more certainty in their lives.
Until then, they remain in the dark.
Indiana will have a number of NFL hopefuls tuning into the NFL Draft this week, which starts Thursday in Chicago and runs until Saturday. Running back Jordan Howard, defensive lineman Darius Latham, offensive tackle Jason Spriggs and quarterback Nate Sudfeld lead the group after competing in the NFL Combine back in February.
Those four are obvious frontrunners to have their names called later this week, but head coach Kevin Wilson said after Indiana's Pro Day that he wouldn't be surprised if the list grew to include any of IU's other six NFL hopefuls.
"These kids have trained hard for us these last three, four years," Wilson said. "It looks like they've continued and they looked pretty good (at Pro Day). It's going to be interesting to see what (the scouts) think."
Spriggs, who graduated after earning All-America nods his senior season, is considered the highest-ranked draft prospect of Indiana's 2016 class. Last week, Sports Illustrated's Robert Klemko projected him to be picked 30th overall by the Carolina Panthers.
That projection has held consistent over the past few weeks of mock drafts across various leading media outlets. Spriggs appears to be firmly on the line of bouncing between a first and second round draft pick.
Should Spriggs wind up in the first round, he'd be the first Hoosier to be selected in the opening round in 22 years, though he said at Pro Day that he's not paying much attention to the projections and where he's supposedly heading.
"You try to prepare yourself to get every team to like you and want you," Spriggs said. "That way you're going to go to the best team possible."
Though Spriggs leads the class, he's likely not the only name to be called. Between him, Howard, Latham and Sudfeld, it appears a real possibility that at least three Hoosiers get selected in the draft for the first time since 2010.
Take Sudfeld, for example. The 6-foot-6, 234-pound quarterback has talked with virtually every NFL team since graduating from Bloomington in December. Though he may have to wait a few rounds longer than Spriggs to hear his name called, all Sudfeld said he wants is a chance.
"I know myself," he said. "I'll get an opportunity somewhere. Wherever I go, I'm going to outwork whoever is there and be the best player that I can be. Eventually, my goal is to be a starter in the NFL. I don't care how I get there."
Howard, under the watchful mentorship of IU running backs coach Deland McCullough, shares a similar goal and situation.
After his Pro Day in Bloomington, he said he had a number of team visits scheduled that should ultimately help place him in a round as he looks to be the second consecutive Hoosiers running back to have his named called in the NFL Draft, following the footsteps of current Atlanta Falcon Tevin Coleman.
"I'm just trying to have a team fall in love with me," Howard said. "Just one team. That's all you need."
The latter rings true for all 10 of Indiana's draft hopefuls, which also include Andre Booker, Michael Cooper, Adarius Rayner, Jake Reed, Zack Shaw and Erich Toth.
Not all will have their names called by the week's end and will have to wait for free agency, others will.
And they won't have to wait much longer to find out.
"I think the majority of those guys have a skillset and potential opportunity to be in camps and potentially make it," Wilson said.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - By this time next week, the next generation of Hoosiers in the NFL will have more certainty in their lives.
Until then, they remain in the dark.
Indiana will have a number of NFL hopefuls tuning into the NFL Draft this week, which starts Thursday in Chicago and runs until Saturday. Running back Jordan Howard, defensive lineman Darius Latham, offensive tackle Jason Spriggs and quarterback Nate Sudfeld lead the group after competing in the NFL Combine back in February.
Those four are obvious frontrunners to have their names called later this week, but head coach Kevin Wilson said after Indiana's Pro Day that he wouldn't be surprised if the list grew to include any of IU's other six NFL hopefuls.
"These kids have trained hard for us these last three, four years," Wilson said. "It looks like they've continued and they looked pretty good (at Pro Day). It's going to be interesting to see what (the scouts) think."
Spriggs, who graduated after earning All-America nods his senior season, is considered the highest-ranked draft prospect of Indiana's 2016 class. Last week, Sports Illustrated's Robert Klemko projected him to be picked 30th overall by the Carolina Panthers.
That projection has held consistent over the past few weeks of mock drafts across various leading media outlets. Spriggs appears to be firmly on the line of bouncing between a first and second round draft pick.
Should Spriggs wind up in the first round, he'd be the first Hoosier to be selected in the opening round in 22 years, though he said at Pro Day that he's not paying much attention to the projections and where he's supposedly heading.
"You try to prepare yourself to get every team to like you and want you," Spriggs said. "That way you're going to go to the best team possible."
Though Spriggs leads the class, he's likely not the only name to be called. Between him, Howard, Latham and Sudfeld, it appears a real possibility that at least three Hoosiers get selected in the draft for the first time since 2010.
Take Sudfeld, for example. The 6-foot-6, 234-pound quarterback has talked with virtually every NFL team since graduating from Bloomington in December. Though he may have to wait a few rounds longer than Spriggs to hear his name called, all Sudfeld said he wants is a chance.
"I know myself," he said. "I'll get an opportunity somewhere. Wherever I go, I'm going to outwork whoever is there and be the best player that I can be. Eventually, my goal is to be a starter in the NFL. I don't care how I get there."
Howard, under the watchful mentorship of IU running backs coach Deland McCullough, shares a similar goal and situation.
After his Pro Day in Bloomington, he said he had a number of team visits scheduled that should ultimately help place him in a round as he looks to be the second consecutive Hoosiers running back to have his named called in the NFL Draft, following the footsteps of current Atlanta Falcon Tevin Coleman.
"I'm just trying to have a team fall in love with me," Howard said. "Just one team. That's all you need."
The latter rings true for all 10 of Indiana's draft hopefuls, which also include Andre Booker, Michael Cooper, Adarius Rayner, Jake Reed, Zack Shaw and Erich Toth.
Not all will have their names called by the week's end and will have to wait for free agency, others will.
And they won't have to wait much longer to find out.
"I think the majority of those guys have a skillset and potential opportunity to be in camps and potentially make it," Wilson said.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
TE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
NT
/ Football
OT
/ Football
QB
/ Football
P
/ FootballFB: Spring Game - Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, April 23
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21