Sharing the Reps
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - For now, there is competition. There are drills and film study, throwing and executing, learning and leading, but no contact.
Indiana’s quarterbacks are off limits to tackling or taking spring-practice hits.
That will come when the season begins and a starter is named, and physicality becomes a way of life.
For now, Brendan Sorsby, Tayven Jackson, and Broc Lowry share spring practice reps and competitive pressure. Dexter Williams II watches and hopes his surgically repaired knee heals fast enough to make a difference this coming season.
Sorsby played briefly in one game last year as a true freshman. Lowry is just a couple months removed from a standout high school career in Ohio. Jackson is finding his Hoosier way after transferring from Tennessee.
“All three can run and throw,” head coach Tom Allen says. “They all have strong leadership skills.”
This is crucial to his plan to have a balanced, diverse offense, one that can score fast or with patience while stretching defenses to the breaking point. Offensive coordinator Walt Bell works to implement it based on the available talent.
Finding a starting quarterback is crucial. No position in any sport demands so much. For Bell, there is much to work with, much to develop, much to prepare.
“It’s a tough position, especially when you’re installing things on offense and the defense is doing their installation, as well,” Allen says. “There are no game-plan adjustments, just reacting to what they do. The defense can make a mistake and make it look way different than what they were supposed to do.”
Still, there are signs.
“The ability for all three to be able to run is a strength,” Allen says. Sometimes it’s hard to tell because so much is going on, but when you see them isolate and make the throws, it’s impressive.”
Lowry has the most growth to do given this is his first college experience.
“Broc is a winner,” Allen says. “He’s tough, gritty, and makes good decisions even though he’s very young. This is the first college opportunity of his life, and you can see the natural leadership piece, and the toughness that’s shown up in the weight room. Our strength staff noticed it right away.
“He will have a chance to be a special player because of his mindset, but he’s very young.”
Sorsby and Davis have the experience edge, although it’s limited. They have a combined six college completed passes, three each.
“For Brendan, even though this is his second season, he was not here last spring,” Allen says. “So, this is his first spring with us. He’s bigger. He has a live arm. He can throw it and run it. I love that component.
“It’s the same with Tayven. He has a similar build (both are 6-3), not quite as heavy (Sorsby is 230 pounds to Davis’s 212). They both have strong arms.”
As for Williams, Allen says he’s in “coach mode.”
“He’s not cleared to do anything on the field. It was such a late injury and the severity of it.
“His rehab is what we expected. He’s where he’s supposed to be. He’s doing everything he can be doing right now, which is awesome. There’s a long road for him, but he’s on schedule.”
