Finally! News worthy of breaking Under The Rock’s silence!

Kellen Lewis has been reinstrated to the IU football team, according to a press release sent out this afternoon. IU coach Bill Lynch confirmed that Lewis has “reached all the benchmarks we set for him.”

“He is committed to this football program and is excited to rejoin his teammates,” Lynch said. “We are happy to welcome him back.”

Lewis’s return is “effective immediately,” which most likely can be translated to “he is our starting quarterback as of this second. No take backs.”

There is still no word on why Lewis was suspended in the first place (I’m guessing there won’t be either). Lewis and the Hoosiers begin fall camp on Aug. 4.

So, Hoosier fans, are you happy to see Kells back? Was Ben Chappell growing on any of you? Do you think reinstating Lewis was the right decision? Can he carry IU to another bowl game?

I had a chance to speak with one of the newest Buffalo Bills, former Hoosier James Hardy.

Unfortunately the interview took place tonight, and none of his quotes will be in my story tomorrow. But it is 2008, the internet is around, and I can post what Hardy had to say right here on UndertheRock. 

So without further adeu, James Hardy on the draft:

On the call letting him know Buffalo was drafting him.

“Definitely a great call, coaches called and asked me how I would feel to be a Buffalo Bill. One of the best feelings ever.”

On his meeting with Jauron at the combine and whether he had a hunch he was going to land in Buffalo.

“I had 24 different meetings, so that was just one of 24 and I really didn’t know. You didn’t know what to think, who really was more interested. I didn’t go on a visit there, I went to seven other places, they said that’s part of the plan, they always go through things and try to make others believe they don’t want you so they can grab you.”

 On the 1^st round with no receivers taken

“I mean, you really didn’t know what to think, with all the trades going on, that draft was crazy. To see all them lineman, I’ve never seen as many lineman go in the first round ever, but I haven’t watched the draft like that ever.”

“It was a blessing just to have my name called, only God knows where you should  be. I just know that I was going to make that city and or team proud that called my name, and that’s what I plan to do at Buffalo.”

 What he thinks his role will be with the team next year

“Right after they drafted me I talked to them on the phone for about 30 minutes, afterwards (Jauron) told me the type of young team they had and told me they wanted me to come in right away and play.” 

 “Seven games last year they had only one offensive td, they said ‘We want a scoring machine like you were at Indiana.”

“He told me he wanted me to come in and play right away, I’ll do whatever I have to do to get adjusted to the pro game.”

 On what the next step is for Hardy

“I go down there for rookie camp, I leave Thursday and then mini-camp is this weekend.”

“With the contract I don’t negotiate that, I don’t know how that works, but I’m just looking forward to getting to work. The money will be there.”

Hardy on where and who he watched the draft with

“It was about 60 (people), my family members, close friends, every coach that I had going up in Fort Wayne, we just rented out a little facility and had a little get together. It was a good gathering, we had four different flat screens, everyone was around each TV until I got that phone call. It was a wonderful feeling to be with the ones that helped me get to this point.”

On his and Porter’s relationship

“Me and Tracy always had a relationship, my phone was ringing nonstop yesterday, I didn’t get a chance to congratulate him,” Hardy said. “He’s in his home town, it’s a great opportunity and hopefully he can step in and play right away.”

On any predictions for next year 

“Buffalo is already a good team,” Hardy said. “They have good young (quarterback) that’s ready to compete.” “I’m ready to get in that end zone and we’re ready to make things happen,” Hardy said. “My goal is to win rookie of the year.”

That’s all I got for you, sorry none of it makes tomorrow’s story, but be sure to check it out anyways, as well as Lee Hurwitz’s article on Tracy Porter.

Here’s from our friends in the media relations department:

IU coach Bill Lynch’s statement on Porter and Hardy being drafted:

“We are extremely proud of both Tracy and James,” Lynch
said. “They gave everything they had to Indiana University and have been
rewarded for all of their efforts. We congratulate them and look forward to
watching their NFL careers for many years to come.”

My question to you UndertheRockers is this: Who is in the better situation, Porter or Hardy?

On the one hand, Porter has a chance to play near his home town, and on a team who two years ago was a game away from the Superbowl.

Hardy goes to the tougher conference with a team not quite as talented, but will have a chance to compete for a starting role right away, and joins a young offense on a team that almost made the playoffs last year.

Who got the better deal?

All the excitement came at once.

The Bills drafted James Hardy with the 41st pick in the draft.

Hardy will be opposite of wide receiver Lee Evans, a Wisconsin alum. 

Hardy will join a young offensive nucleus in Buffalo where Marshawn Lynch will be in his second year at running back and new quarterback Trent Edwards will be in his first year as a starter.

Not to sound gossipy, but I spoke on the phone with a friend of mine from home named Mike Launius who is a huge Bills fan, and he was very happy with the pick.

Launius said with Lee Evans on the other side, Hardy could be a huge weapon on fade routes and red zone chances.

Sadly for the Hoosiers, their run of consecutive picks ended after Hardy.  Long snapper Tim Bugg was not selected by Denver.  They decided to go with some guy named Eddie Royal.  What idiots!

Tracy Porter is going home.

The Louisiana native was selected in the second round of the NFL draft with the 40th pick by the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints are having somewhat of a defensive makeover, drafting Sedrick Ellis of USC with their first round pick.

Porter was drafted before former teammate James Hardy, which comes as somewhat of a surprise.

That wraps up the first round.  For Hoosier fans and fans of James Hardy, it comes as a bit of a surprise that Hardy did not get drafted in the first round. Even more surprising to me is that NO wide receivers were taken with the first round. It will be interesting to see how this affects Hardy’s draft status.

That’s it for the constant updates, but I’ll be sure to note if Hardy and Porter are taken within the next round.  

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Ouch. Dustin Keller, former tight end for the Purdue Boilermakers, just got drafted by the New York Jets. What my be worse for Colts fans out there is that they’re comparing him to Dallas Clark.  This pick was funny to watch though, as the Jets fans rained down boo’s because they had their sights set on Devin Thomas.   

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This is the most boring first round ever.  Thank you Roger Goodell for speeding up the draft so the Mel Kipers of the world no longer have 15 minutes to talk about guys like Kentwan Balmer. Only two picks left to go.  

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I have to give the NFL some more love.  The music they are playing in the background of Chris Berman shouting fits a theme of the city that’s picking.  When Chicago was picking they played Frank Sinatra and the Bears fight song, and now that Seattle is making their picks they’ve been playing grunge favorites Pearl Jam and Nirvana. It’s not a billion dollar industry for nothing folks.  

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We’re down to just four more picks in the first round, and there’s still no sign of Hardy or Porter’s name getting called anytime soon. The Cowboys and the 49ers still have picks and could use a wide receiver, but because no receiver has been taken yet it’s not a certainty that the receiver will be Hardy.  

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Mel Kiper Jr. just mentioned Tracy Porter, this was the first that i’ve heard anyone from the world wide leader talk about either Porter or Hardy.  Kiper Jr. was giving his input on the best remaining defensive backs after the Cowboys drafted Mike Jenkins.

One of my draft ‘experts’ (roomates) just predicted that Porter will be drafted before Hardy.  

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Mel Kiper Jr. keeps writing stuff down.  I’m convinced he’s just trying to look really busy when the camera’s are rolling.  Meanwhile, the Titans just drafted a guy who was expected to go in the mid second round by the name of Chris Johnson. 

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And the Rashard Mendenhall wait is over.  The Steelers took him, setting up a nice little 1-2 punch with him and fast Willie Parker.  No wide receivers have been taken yet. They have camera’s on Devin Thomas of Michigan State and a wide receiver from Cal. who i’ve never heard of.

Devin Thomas looks very laid back and happy right now, take that for whatever it’s worth.  

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The Big Ten continues to get crapped on.  The Cowboys just took Arkansas backup running back Felix Jones over Illinois runner Rashard Mendenhall.  Again, because it’s Illinois I find this pretty funny, but this can’t bold well for the conference; and by relation IU in trying to land future recruits.  

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Ricky: That’s a good point. If a team needs a taller, red zone threat, then Hardy will get drafted.  Devin Thomas is a rock solid player who is probably more of a slasher playmaker receiver.  I would be surprised if Hardy gets drafted before Thomas.  

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I swear I didn’t stop watching after the Bears picked.  Buffa Louie’s wings and a computer don’t go hand in hand.

The draft has been littered with lineman.  Devin Thomas and Rashard Mendenhall are still available through the first 20 picks.  It’s looking far less likely that Hardy will wind up in the first round.

One other thing I found random and kind of hillarious.  ESPN has been showing grades for certain players, what Mel Kiper has been grading them and what the ‘fans’ are grading them.  For Jeff Otah, offensive tackle from Pitt, the fans gave him an F. An F!!! That’s really really bad. What did Jeff Otah do to get everyone to hate him that much?  

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My Bears just took Chris Williams, offensive tackle.  I won’t bore you with any Bear talk, BUT.

Devin Thomas was supposed to be drafted already.  He hasn’t. This may negatively affect where and when Hardy gets drafted.  

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Jonathan Stewart has been selected by the Panthers.  This comes as a surprise to me that he was taken over U of I superstar Rashard Mendenhall.  On the one hand I would like to see Big Ten guys get drafted, but on the other hand it’s kind of funny.  As my roomate Paul just said, “I don’t trust guys coming out of U of I.”  You don’t get quotes like that from the guys from ESPN. 

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The Bronco’s drafted offensive tackle Ryan Clady from Boise State…and I don’t care.

What I am impressed with is how fast the draft is going.  Roger Goodell may have handled spygate horribly, but he did speed up the draft…so um, yeah, I guess I can forgive him for destroying evidence.  

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 The Buffalo Bills just selected a cornerback from Troy (?)  by the name of Leodis McKelvin.

If anyone can answer me this question I will by them a taco: Why do the Buffalo Bills have a buffalo on their helmet? Their team nickname is the Bills, the name of the city is Buffalo. Why don’t they just call themselves the Buffalo Buffalo’s?

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Here you go Colts fans: You now hate Jerod Mayo, linebacker from Tennessee. The Pat’s just drafted Mayo with the 10th pick in the draft.

In other news, apparently Under Armor thinks people that watch the NFL draft are there target audience.  I know this because there hasn’t been a commercial break without the appearance of a roid rage lookin person donned in Under Armor telling me to protect his house.  

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USC is the first team to have two guys drafted so far. Keith Rivers, linebacker is going to Cincy. This should be good news for the Bengals….well, I guess it’s the only news in the past few months that haven’t involved a grown man who calls himself ‘Ocho Cinco.’  

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The Ravens, who were expected to pick 8th, just traded their pick. Going off of McShay’s mock draft this could affect Tracy Porter, who was predicted to be picked in the second round by the Ravens. I think the logic here was the Ravens were hoping for Matt Ryan, and now that they didn’t get him are looking to get more picks. What this has to do with where and when Porter gets drafted is up for debate.  

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Everybody in Indy’s favorite team, the New England Patriots was supposed to pick 7th, but went ahead and traded the pick to the Saints, probably for even more draft picks.  Colts fans your going to have to wait a little bit longer to find out what former college star you now hate.  

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The Big Ten’s second player just got drafted, this one from the OH-IO. Defensive end Vernon Gholston is going to New York to play for the Jets.   A lot of guys named Bruno and Tony are celebrating in New York.  

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The Chiefs just took big Glen Dorsey.  For those of you keeping score at home, that’s one Big Ten player, two SEC and two ACC players that have been selected.  The Pac 10 is insecure.

But perhaps more importantly, In Todd McShay’s last mock draft, he has James Hardy dropping to the second round and being picked by the Dolphins, and has Porter dropping to the 38th pick and being drafted by the Ravens.  I will never understand what makes guys like McShay and Kiper Jr. change their minds so much, a few days ago he had Hardy 12 picks higher.  

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Darren McFadden - a real life Boobie Miles who didn’t get hurt - just got picked by the Raiders.  He got into some trouble at Arkansas, and now he has money and will live in a bigger city. Uh oh. I really hope those problems won’t rear their ugly head in the pro’s, I love watching run DMC play.   

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It’s pretty awkward when guys like Kiper Jr. are in the middle of making a point when all the sudden Goodell comes out to make the next pick.  Kiper Jr. seems like the kind of guy who would talk your ear off about NFL prospects even if you were clearly not paying attention.

3rd pick: Matt Ryan is heading to the Falcons to be the anti-Michael Vick.  Evidently the Jets fans don’t like the pick, and voiced their displeasure by booing.  Nice. 

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One of the NFL draft experts have Hardy being drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the second round.  All other experts have Hardy in the first round, but there is the off chance that Chris Long could be a future teammate of Hardy. Speaking of C. Long, is his father going to be allowed to give commentary on the Fox pre-game shows next year? Will his wife make him predict a Rams victory every week? Is he going to kill Terry Bradshaw if he criticizes his son?  These questions may all be answered in the fall.

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Here we go.  It’s officially 3 o’clock and the draft is ready to go. 

It appears not only that the 1st pick of the draft is a certainty, but the second pick as well.

Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long has already been signed by the Dolphins with the first pick in the draft, and all the reports are saying that the St. Louis Rams are going to select Chris Long with the second pick.

Without looking anything up, I would assume this is the first time in draft history that two people with the same last names were taken first and second overall in the draft.  

While Chris Berman is surrounded by the experts of Bristol like Mel Kiper Jr., Steve Young, Chris Mortensen and Keyshawn Johnson… I will be joined by my hungover roomates Derek and Paul.

We’re T-Minus three hours from the start of the NFL draft.  A couple of quick comments before I come back with streaming coverage from the comfort of my house.

* The latest Todd McShay mock draft has Hardy landing with Tampa Bay with the 20th pick, and Porter moving up to 34th overall and being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs.

*ESPN Page 2 writer D.J. Gallo made his own MOCK DRAFT and he too has the Buc’s taking Hardy with the 20th pick…although he has slightly different reasons for making his picks.

MEL KIPER JR. is like a skinny, less jolly Santa Clause.  He only works one day a year, the other 364 days he simply prepares.  Lord knows he probably has a bunch of elf-like people looking up statistics for him too.

Because I am the king of shameless self promotion:

CLICK HERE to listen to the latest ‘That’s What He Said’ where I am the ’special’ guest. (Ha.) Note the small tone of agitation Dollinger has when I say IU will finish .500, not over or under.

One of the fine IDS sports columnists Ben Homrig wrote a piece about the upcoming draft this Saturday, there’s some good stuff in it. CLICK HERE to read his column.

Also, some more information on the NFL draft:

* In regards to me calling the draft the most overrated day in Sports - I like the draft. I watch the draft. And for most of my childhood the Bears did in fact have a high picks, but for me the sizzle doesn’t match the steak. There’s so much hype, ESPN employs about 10 people it seems like just to focus on it…and then it takes about four hours and the number one pick is a bust half the time.  But that’s just me….

*…. That being said, I will be watching all of day one of the NFL draft, and I will be keeping  constant updates right here on Undertherock.  If that’s not enough, i’m currently working on assembling a crew of diehard fans of different football teams to watch it with me, (I already found a Detroit Lions fan…that’s the equivalent of finding a four leaf clover…)  The goal for us will be to share comments and tidbits throughout the day…and anyone and everyone is more than welcome to post away on the comments below. Be sure to check in on undertherock Saturday, it should be fun.

* Anyone and everyone can feel free to predict where and when Hardy and Porter and (maybe) Tim Bugg will be in the draft.  There were some comments below this playing the guessing game, and I’d be happy to hear from more of you.

The Spring practices may be over, but UndertheRock’s coverage of IU football is not.

 A couple of quick things to look out for coming up in the next couple of days:

1) Our NFL draft coverage.  I’ll be doing some blogging during the draft, feel free to post comments about anything and everything NFL draft, (AKA the most overrated day of the sports calender.)  My posts will be more focused on how things may effect where Porter and Hardy go…but really anything can be discussed.

2) Check out tomorrow’s podcast “That’s What He Said.” Where instead of Tracy Porter or IU Coach Bill Lynch being the special guest…It’s me, Kirby. (They used all of their good special guests earlier in the semester, it’s not their fault.)   Big Lee Hurwitz, Dollinger and I talk lots of IU football, and you can even hear me make an ass of myself by calling Hoosier tight end Max Dedmond ‘Matt’ Dedmond.

Spring football practices are officially over, but many questions still remain for the Hoosiers and IU coach Bill Lynch.

Q: What will happen with Kellen Lewis?

A: The team and the athletic department has been very tight lipped since making the anouncement that he would be suspended indefinitely. However, Lewis is still a member of the team, and the fact that they went the whole spring running the same spread offense with options for the quarterback to run tells me that they expect Lewis to take back his spot at the starting quarterback position before the regular season begins. Judging by the outcome of the Cream Vs. Crimson scrimmage, the season may depend on Lewis coming back.

Q: Who are going to be the starting cornerbacks?

A: It seems all but certain that Christopher Phillips will be one of the starters; but the second corner position is still up for grabs. Lynch said that cornerback is a lot like quarterback, in that backups don’t get a lot of playing time in his defensive scheme. Once a starter is named, he will get the majority of the playing time. Richard Council, Bruce Hampton, Adrian Burks and Donnell Jones all have a shot at being named starter. Council and Jones had interceptions in the scrimmage game, but Hampton has the most experience with the team. Adrian Burks impressed Lynch during practices at the Insight Bowl.

I honestly have no clue who will be named the second starter opposite Phillips. If it were to be judged solely by the scrimmage than Council would win the job, but expect this battle to wage on into the fall practices.

Q: What will the wide receiving corps look like?

A: Ray Fisher will be the slot receiver, but after that the positions are up in the air. Andrew Means is expected to be back next year and if he is he’ll be one of the starters as well. But there is the off-chance that Means will go to the MLB draft. From everything i’ve heard Means is talented enough to be drafted by baseball, but from what little interaction i’ve had with him I get the feeling his passion is football, even if he’s the more skilled baseball player. I would be surprised if he’s not  playing at the Rock next year.

After that, the other spots will be fought over by experienced players like Terrance Turner, Matt Ernest and Brandon Walker-Roby.  But incoming freshman Tandon Doss, Tyler Adetona, Charles Love and Marquelo Suel all could steal a position from one of the older players on the team.  Lynch appears to give the benefit of the doubt to his more experienced players, and I would expect that to be the case with wide receivrs. The incoming freshmen would have to really wow the staff to take one of the starting spots away from Turner or Walker-Roby.

Q: What will the punting game look like?

A: The punting was awful on Saturday. Both Chris Hagerup and Kyle Lambeck had plenty of punts, and there was only one by Hagerup that I thought was impressive. Even Lynch, who usually doesn’t have a bad thing to say about anybody, admitted the punters needed to improve.

“Those guys got to work at it,” Lynch said. “There’s some talent there. That position, as much as any can get better over the summer.”

Lynch said he hopes Austin Starr can help mentor the punters, because Starr himself was someone who made vast improvements over the summer last year.

Q: What’s the ceiling for this team?

A: Five of their first six games are at home. The Hoosiers only play four road games all year. They have games against Western Kentucky, Murray State, Ball State and Central Michigan, as well as Northwestern at home. That being said, their last three games are home vs. Wisconsin, then road games at Penn State and Purdue.  If the Hoosiers are going to go bowling for the second year and a row it’s safe to say they have to get off to a hot start. 

A lot of questions surround this team, but to me none are bigger than what will happen with Kellen Lewis. Despite having a case of the fumbles, Lewis was the most important player on the team last year, and will be this year as well. He was one of the most productive quarterbacks in the Big Ten, and would be in his third year as a starter if he comes back in the fall.

With Lewis as the starter, the Hoosiers definitely have a chance to keep building on last years success. If he remains suspended, last years season may be an abberation for the program.

Those are my questions, do you have any?