In a season of statements, Indiana made yet another at Michigan State on Saturday with what was perhaps their best defensive effort in 2024.
Below we took a look at Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades, notes and snap counts from the contest.
Through nine games and for the third straight week, Indiana’s overall cumulative PFF grade for the season is No. 1 in the nation. Their overall offense is second, and their overall defense is third.
Next up for Indiana (9-0) is PFF No. 28 Michigan (5-4) on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS). The Wolverines have lost three of four and are coming off a loss at home to Oregon. But they do own Big Ten wins over USC, Minnesota and Michigan State.
OFFENSE
The top overall offensive grade went to quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who played less than two weeks after surgery for a broken thumb. Wearing a splint on his throwing thumb, Rourke completed 19-of-29 passes for 263 yards with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. Counting drops and other on target throws not caught, his adjusted completion percentage was 75%. On the season, Rourke has the second-highest passing grade in the nation among all quarterbacks with at least 200 drop backs.
The four running backs — Elijah Green, Kaelon Black, Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton — all received similar rushing marks, finishing in the order listed. Black had the best yards after contact average (3.0). Ellison caught all three of his passing targets for 22 yards and forced two missed tackles on those catches. Lawton graded best as a pass blocker. Although they only had one carry each, Omar Cooper, Jr. and Myles Price had the biggest runs of the game — 16 and 25 yards, respectively. They both forced a missed tackle on their big runs.
Ke’Shawn Williams had the best received grade. He caught six of seven targets for 87 yards, mostly from the slot. Williams produced a team high 65 yards after catch, and four times his catches resulted in first downs. Myles Price has graded well, catching three of four targets. All three of his catches went for first downs. PFF gave both Miles Cross and Elijah Sarratt drops.
The best run blocking grade went to tight end Zach Horton. Among offensive linemen, Carter Smith was best in the running game, with the rest receiving mediocre marks. In the passing game, Trey Wedig was best, and he was joined by guards Bray Lynch and Drew Evans in receiving high marks. The line allowed just two pressures for the entire game, and no sacks.
Snap counts (63 total) —
- Drew Evans, OG (63)
- Carter Smith, OT (63)
- Trey Wedig, OT (63)
- Mike Katic, C (63)
- Bray Lynch, G (63)
- Kurtis Rourke, QB (52)
- Elijah Sarratt, WR (44)
- Zach Horton, TE (43)
- Miles Cross, WR (39)
- Ke’Shawn Williams, WR (33)
- Justice Ellison, RB (29)
- Omar Cooper, Jr., WR (26)
- Myles Price, WR (20)
- Ty Son Lawton, RB (20)
- Kaelon Black, RB (15)
- James Bomba, TE (15)
- Andison Coby, WR (13)
- Tayven Jackson, QB (11)
- Charlie Becker, WR (7)
- Elijah Green, RB (5)
- Trey Walker, TE (3)
- Tyler Stephens, TE/OT (2)
- Sam West, TE (1)
DEFENSE
The top overall defensive grade went to safety Amare Ferrell, whose two first half interceptions changed the game. He also received the best pass coverage grade and solid tackling marks.
Lanell Carr quietly had the best pass rushing grade, with five quarterback pressures on 18 pass rush snaps. He had four hurries and a sack. James Carpenter had six pressures on 23 pass rush snaps. Mikail Kamara’s day as a pass rusher was incredibly efficient, with nine quarterback pressures on 28 pass rush snaps — three sacks, two hits, four hurries. In total IU had 31 pressures on 41 MSU drop backs.
On the season, Kamara has the 13th best pass rushing grade in the nation among players with 100 or more pass rush snaps.
Mikail Kamara had the best run defense grade, with three tackles on 13 running snaps resulting in two more tackles for loss by the edge rusher. Safety Shawn Asbury had the second best running defense grade, with seven tackles. Indiana’s defense posted 15.0 tackles for loss, it’s most in a game since at least 2005.
The best tackling grade went to Shawn Asbury, followed closely by Aiden Fisher, Terry Jones and a host of others. With their tackling on point, IU held MSU to a program-record minus-36 rushing yards.
Snap counts (64 total) —
- Jamier Johnson, CB (60)
- D’Angelo Ponds, CB (58)
- Aiden Fisher, LB (57)
- Shawn Asbury, S (57)
- Amare Ferrell, S (57)
- Jailin Walker, LB (53)
- Mikail Kamara, DE (42)
- James Carpenter, DT (37)
- Lanell Carr, OLB (36)
- Terry Jones, CB (36)
- CJ West, DT (32)
- Tyrique Tucker, DT (31)
- Jacob Mangum-Farrar, DE (27)
- Marcus Burris, DE (26)
- Rolijah Hardy, LB (23)
- Mario Landino, DT (21)
- Isaiah Jones, LB (16)
- Jamari Sharpe, CB (9)
- Bryson Bonds, S (7)
- Josh Sanguinetti, S (7)
- Cedarius Doss, CB (4)
- Quentin Clark, LB (2)
- Daniel Ndukwe, OLB (1)
- Jeff Utzinger, LB (1)
For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- You can follow us on Twitter: @daily_hoosier
- Find us on Facebook and Instagram
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
