Below we took a look at Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades, notes and snap counts from their week three contest vs. Indiana State.
With solid overall grades this week, the Hoosiers moved up to No. 3 overall at PFF ahead of the results of the Saturday games. They have the No. 3 offense and No. 5 defense. They’ll likely fall some after the Saturday games are fully baked in.
Next up for Indiana (3-0) is No. 9 Illinois in a sold out primetime Saturday matchup (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC). The Illini are also 3-0 to start the season.
OFFENSIVE STANDOUTS
You probably won’t be surprised to learn Omar Cooper, Jr. and Fernando Mendoza received the highest overall offensive grades after their record setting performances.
Mendoza only threw one incompletion for the entire game and he was hit as he was throwing on that one. The pocket wasn’t always clean, as he was pressured eight times. Alberto Mendoza completed 6 of 9 passes, and two of the incompletions were considered drops. So the Mendoza brothers were on point.
Cooper had an amazing 134 yards after catch. He caught all 10 passes thrown his direction, and eight of his catches went for first downs. He lined up 19 times in the slot. Jonathan Brady also earned strong marks as a receiver.
The top running back grade went to redshirt freshman Khobie Martin, who led the team with 109 yards on 11 carries. He had 67 yards after contact on those carries, and he scored two TDs.
Wideout Elijah Sarratt posted the top run blocking grade. Among all receivers nationally, he has the second-highest run blocking grade with 75 run blocking snaps through three weeks, behind only former IU receiver Donaven McCulley of Michigan.
Among offensive linemen, the top run blocking grade went to Adedamola Ajani, followed closely by Khalil Benson. For pass blocking, Carter Smith led the way, followed by Drew Evans. Neither allowed a pressure.
OFFENSIVE SNAP COUNTS (68 total)
- Zen Michalski (T) – 56
- Drew Evans (G) – 50
- Carter Smith (T) – 50
- Pat Coogan (C) – 50
- Bray Lynch (G) – 50
- Elijah Sarratt (WR) – 40
- Omar Cooper, Jr. (WR) – 39
- Fernando Mendoza (QB) – 38
- Riley Nowakowski (TE) – 32
- Khalil Benson (T) – 30
- Holden Staes (TE) – 28
- Makai Jackson (WR) – 26
- E.J. Williams (WR) – 26
- Charlie Becker (WR) – 24
- Alberto Mendoza (QB) – 20
- Kaelon Black (RB) – 19
- Roman Hemby (RB) – 19
- Adedamola Ajani (G) – 18
- Austin Leibfried (G) – 18
- Evan Lawrence (T) – 18
- James Bomba (TE) – 18
- Khobie Martin (RB) – 16
- Lebron Bond (WR) – 15
- Jonathan Brady (WR) – 15
- Lee Beebe, Jr. (RB) – 11
- Grant Wilson (QB) – 10
- Jackson Wasserstrom (WR) – 7
- Sean Cuono (RB) – 3
- Camden Jordan (WR) – 2
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
How about this for a defensive stat: Indiana State threw 20 passes, and IU was credited with 20 QB pressures.
The top overall defensive grade went to safety Amare Ferrell, who received good marks in run defense, tackling and coverage. Edge rusher Mikail Kamara was right behind him.
The top run defense grade went to defensive tackle Dominique Ratcliff, who had three tackles against the run with an average depth of tackle one yard behind the line of scrimmage.
The top pass rush grade went to Mikail Kamara, who posted a team high four quarterback pressures on 15 pass rushes. He also knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage.
Amare Ferrell had the top coverage grade and top tackling grade. He was only targeted once and dropped an interception. Isaiah Jones led IU with 2.5 tackles for loss. As a team the Hoosiers had 16 TFLs. On the negative side, backup linebacker Kaiden Turner had four of Indiana’s seven missed tackles.
DEFENSIVE SNAPS COUNTS (50 total)
- Amare Ferrell (S) – 33
- Louis Moore (S) – 33
- Jamari Sharpe (CB) – 33
- Devan Boykin (CB) – 31
- D’Angelo Ponds (CB) – 30
- Aiden Fisher (LB) – 30
- Rolijah Hardy (LB) – 27
- Isaiah Jones (LB) – 27
- Mikail Kamara (DE) – 24
- Dominique Ratcliff (DT) – 24
- Hosea Wheeler (DT) – 20
- Kellan Wyatt (DE) – 20
- Ryland Gandy (CB) – 20
- Tyrique Tucker (DT) – 18
- Jaylen Bell (CB) – 17
- Jah Jah Boyd (S) – 17
- Anthony Chung (S) – 17
- Amariyun Knighten (CB) – 17
- J’Mari Monette (DT) – 17
- Kaiden Turner (LB) – 17
- Andrew Turvy (DE) – 17
- Mario Landino (DT) – 16
- Stephen Daley (DE) – 12
- Jeff Utzinger (LB) – 11
- Andrew DePaepe (DE) – 9
- William DePaepe (DE) – 8
- Kyler Garcia (DE) – 5
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