When Indiana football takes on FCS opponent Indiana State, IU’s second and third units should get plenty of opportunities.
The Hoosiers and Sycamores square off on Friday at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, with the home team favored to win by nine touchdowns. IU head coach Curt Cignetti left his starters in the game well into the fourth quarter last week against Kennesaw State, despite already building a substantial lead. He didn’t pull quarterback Fernando Mendoza until the middle of the period, when Indiana was up by 40 points.
Cignetti is using the non-conference slate to get his team ready for Big Ten play, both physically and mentally. That’s meant, among other things, instilling a mentality of continuing to play hard in the second half no matter the score. For a game like this, though, against an FCS team on a short week, he could play things more cautiously if his team carries a big enough lead into halftime.
With extended run on the table for some players who might not get that amount of playing time later in the season, here are a few names to watch on Friday.
LeBron Bond
The wide receiver is one of Indiana’s most intriguing true freshmen, and he’s already been involved in the first two games. Bond caught one pass in each contest, and he nearly came up with his first career touchdown against Old Dominion.
He should see much more playing time against Indiana State, and his speed could lead to big plays. It would be tough for Bond to climb the depth chart enough to see significant action at receiver the rest of the season, barring any injuries. He may still see a few snaps here and there to spell the starters, but this game will likely be the one he plays the most in all year. This is where the Norfolk, Va. native can provide a glimpse into the future with the potential he brings going forward.
Clay Conner
Safety is perhaps the biggest question mark position on Indiana’s roster, given the continued uncertainty of Louis Moore’s availability and multiple injuries.
IU has a number of young, inexperienced safeties behind Moore and Amare Ferrell who could benefit from increased reps in a game like this, particularly redshirt freshman Jah Jah Boyd and true freshman Garrett Reese. Redshirt sophomore walk-on Anthony Chung saw the field at the end of Indiana’s win over Kennesaw State as well. But don’t overlook Conner, another redshirt sophomore walk-on.
Conner has made a big play on special teams in each of the Hoosiers’ first two games. He made the key block on Jonathan Brady’s 91-yard punt return touchdown against Old Dominion, and then he blocked a punt against Kennesaw State. Pro Football Focus graded him at 87.2 on special teams, good for the 29th-highest mark in the country and second in the Big Ten.
The Boonville, Ind. native is becoming a player to watch on special teams. And if he gets playing time at safety on Friday, he’d be the only player among that group of young reserves who has already come up with big plays on the field.
Khobie Martin
Martin hasn’t been as involved as Bond in the offense, as the running back only entered at the end of IU’s win over KSU. He recorded just two carries for six yards, so there isn’t much game action to judge.
But Martin should be the choice at tailback whenever Cignetti pulls his starters for the night. And he, like Bond, looks like an intriguing player for Indiana’s future. The Fishers, Ind. native is built similarly to IU’s three main running backs, checking in at 6-foot and 208 pounds. He runs with the sort of power that comes with that frame.
Martin put that ability to good use last season, as a true freshman, during IU’s 77-3 win over Western Illinois — Martin recorded eight carries for 57 yards that night. He should have a similar playing time opportunity on Friday.
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