Indiana’s offense continued it’s dominant start to the 2024 season with another 40-point, 500-yard performance.
Several Hoosiers had standout games on the offensive side of the football during their 41-24 win in Evanston. Below we took a look at PFF grades, notes and snap counts from the contest.
Through six games, Indiana’s overall PFF grade is No. 3 in the nation, behind only Ohio State and Miami (Fla.). Their overall offense is second, and their overall defense is 14th.
Next up for Indiana (6-0) is PFF No. 29 Nebraska (5-1) on Oct. 19. Both teams have a bye next week.
OFFENSE
Wide receiver Ke’Shawn Williams was the highest-graded offensive player, and why not. In just 19 snaps he had four receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown from the slot. Williams had a highlight reel play on a 52-yard reception in which he broke several tackles. In total PFF credited him with four broken tackles and 56 yards after catch.
Among players with meaningful snaps, Elijah Sarratt was the second-highest graded overall offensive player. He had seven catches on nine targets and also produced 56 yards after catch. Sarratt produced six first downs on his receptions, and he also had a solid run-blocking grade.
As a team for the season, IU has the best overall receiving grade in the nation. Collectively the receivers have only one drop all season.
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke was the fifth-highest rated quarterback in the country among players with 20 or more drop backs in week six. On the season he is the fourth-highest rated among quarterbacks with 100 or more drop backs. He’s completing 73.3% of his throws with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions.
Kaelon Black had the best grade among the running backs, but all three of the main backs — Black, Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton — had similar marks. Ellison was good as a pass blocker. It seems somewhat notable Ellison had a 15 snap edge over the next highest back.
The best pass-blocking grade went to Carter Smith, but all five offensive linemen earned good marks, along with tight end Zach Horton. Horton also had the best run-blocking grade on the team, while Drew Evans was best run blocker among the linemen. The line didn’t give up a sack and IU running backs ran the ball for more than five yards per carry.
Snap counts (68 total) —
- Drew Evans, G (68)
- Bray Lynch, G (68)
- Carter Smith, T (68)
- Trey Wedig, T (68)
- Mike Katic, C (68)
- Kurtis Rourke, QB (68)
- Elijah Sarratt, WR (59)
- Zach Horton, TE (55)
- Omar Cooper, Jr., WR (42)
- Miles Cross, WR (40)
- Justice Ellison, RB (35)
- Myles Price, WR (31)
- Ty Son Lawton, RB (20)
- Kaelon Black, RB (19)
- Ke’Shawn Williams, WR (19)
- James Bomba, TE (9)
- Andison Coby, WR (6)
- E.J. Williams, WR (3)
- Tyler Stephens, TE (2)
DEFENSE
As you’d expect, the defensive grades weren’t as impressive as the offensive side of the ball.
Three cornerbacks led the way when it came to overall defensive marks. Terry Jones, in a somewhat limited role had the best overall grade, followed by Jamier Johnson and D’Angelo Ponds. Johnson had the best tackling grade on the team (5 tackles, no misses), while Ponds had the best coverage grade (3 completions on 7 targets).
Starting linebacker Jailin Walker left the game in the first half with an injury and did not return. In his place two players saw increased roles — Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy. Jones was good in the passing game but struggled as a tackler, while Hardy got a very good tackling grade but struggled in coverage.
Two players who are typically stars on the defense — Amare Ferrell and Aiden Fisher — both had two of the worst overall grades on the team, and poor tackling marks hurt both. Ferrell and Fisher both had two missed tackles.
James Carpenter had the best overall run defense grade on the team.
Mikail Kamara had a team high six total quarterback pressures, while C.J. West had four. Kamara did not come out of the game.
Snap counts (61 total) —
- Amare Ferrell, S (61)
- D’Angelo Ponds, CB (61)
- Aiden Fisher, LB (61)
- Mikail Kamara, DE (61)
- Jamier Johnson, CB (60)
- Shawn Asbury, S (60)
- Lanell Carr, DE (55)
- Isaiah Jones, LB (49)
- James Carpenter, DT (48)
- CJ West, DT (41)
- Marcus Burris, DE (25)
- Jailin Walker, LB (19)
- Josh Sanguinetti, S (19)
- Tyrique Tucker, DT (17)
- Terry Jones, CB (17)
- Rolijah Hardy, LB (16)
- Bryson Bonds, S (1)
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