With plenty of football still left to play in 2005, IU coach Terry Hoeppner and the rest of his staff continue to stock up players for next season. The latest high school senior to commit to the Hoosiers is Deonte Mack, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive tackle. The Elkhart, Ind., native is a two-star recruit and is ranked as the top defensive tackle in Indiana in this year's graduating class, according to www.peegs.com. Mack joins Indianapolis native Greg Middleton and Matt Mayberry of Darien, Ill., as the lone defensive recruits for the Hoosiers next season.\nSeveral IU recruits were in attendance at Saturday's Homecoming game against Illinois, including the 6-foot-2 linebacker Mayberry, Bloomington South quarterback Ben Chappell and offensive lineman Cody Faulkner of Cicero, Ind. Hoeppner now has 12 players verbally committed to join the Hoosier squad next fall. \n
Hardy, Powers among nation's elite
\nFreshman receiver James Hardy and sophomore quarterback Blake Powers have not only led the Hoosiers to a 4-1 record, they have made their impact on the IU record book. Both players have already broken IU individual single-season records, and are closing in on several records as a duo.\n"We practiced (together) all throughout the summer and staying here with (Blake) was a great experience and a great way to prepare us for the season," Hardy said. "Now everything is just starting to click. He knows what I am going to do and I know when he is going to throw it."\nHardy has caught 34 passes for 541 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He has four 100-plus yard receiving efforts in his first five games, and he is the first IU receiver to catch at least one touchdown in the first five games of a season since All-American Ernie Jones in 1987. The 6-foot-7 receiver is the first Hoosier wideout since Courtney Roby to have four 100-plus yard receiving efforts in a season. Since 1980, no IU wide receiver has had more than seven 100-plus yard receiving efforts in a season. \nPowers has racked up his own numbers and records this season as well. He is third in the nation in touchdown passes with 18 and first in the Big Ten. Powers has tallied 1,160 passing yards with a 56.2 completion percentage.\nIowa senior receiver out Saturday\nIowa senior receiver Ed Hinkel had surgery on his right arm Monday after breaking it earlier in the season. He will likely be sidelined for several weeks, including Saturday's game against IU. Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said it will be difficult to fill the void left by the senior leader.\n"You don't replace a guy like Ed Hinkel. He's a leader. He's a performer. He's a big game guy," Ferentz said in a statement. "He'll be at practice and on the sidelines with us, but you don't replace what he brings to the team both as a performer on the field and as a leader."\nBesides being their No. 1 receiver, Hinkel also acted as the team's punt returner. He tallied 20 catches for 230 yards in six games played this season.
