Hoobler out with stress fracture; quarterbacks start competition

The IU football team opened training camp Friday to its first serious injury news of the season.

Junior linebacker Chase Hoobler has a stress fracture in his foot and may not play, “well into the season,” IU Coach Kevin Wilson said at the team's opening practice Friday.

“That’s going to shut him down,” Wilson said. “We feel for him, he’s one of our better players … He’s kind of got that unfortunate karma going against him. He’s a great kid.”

Whether or not Hoobler will get surgery is “heads or tails” as of now, Wilson said. Hoobler played in all 12 games as a freshman and played in six games last year before getting hurt.

As a freshman, he was named to the BTN.com all-Big Ten freshmen team and Wilson is curious how his team, and Hoobler, will respond to adversity.

“When we’ve had adversity, we’ve always went south in my short time here,” Wilson said. “When things don’t go well, how can you help us? I’m sorry you’re hurt and I feel sorry for you, but at the same time you have a voice on this team. You live with guys that are good players. People like you, so I need some positive vibes from him.”

Incoming freshmen dismissed from team, could rejoin in future

IU’s much hyped freshman class lost some talent when wide receiver Taj Williams and defensive lineman Maurice Swain were declared academically ineligible. Running back Daryl Chestnut is currently in limbo as to his eligibility.

With Williams, a 4-star, 6-foot-4-inch recruit from Florida, there is potential to return in the spring, but his grades are not up to par yet, Wilson said.

“It’s unfortunate he’s not here now, but he’s so close,” Wilson said. “It’s red tape and ultimately its things you’ve got to do and realistic to do. It was realistic to maybe happen this summer, but it didn’t.”

Unlike Williams, Swain will have to go the junior college route. Wilson said he’ll keep an eye on him down the road.

Chestnut is the closest of the three to potentially joining the team. IU is waiting on results before he can be declared academically eligible.

“If the results go proper, he will show (up in camp),” Wilson said. “If not, if he’s close enough he’ll be a midyear … Right now Daryl (Chestnut) is not eliminated, it’s just a matter of red tape.”

Williams and Chestnut are in similar situations, with Wilson hoping they will join the team sooner rather than later.

Quarterbacks under 'stress' in competition for starting job

Once again, Wilson enters training camp without an announced starter at the quarterback position, with three players trying to stand out to the coaching staff.

“Those guys got a lot of stress on them right now,” Wilson said.

Junior Cam Coffman and sophomores Tre Roberson and Nate Sudfeld are all vying for the spot, and the coaches are waiting for someone to take charge.

“I want someone to step up and be the man,” offensive coordinator Seth Littrell said. “Step up and be the guy.”

Despite not knowing who will be under center, senior running back Stephen Houston says the competition is not a distraction to the team.

“All three of them are capable,” Houston said. “There’s not too much focus on who starts, it’s all about who finishes.”

Houston, a fifth-year senior, said competition is high at every position and nobody is guaranteed a spot, including him.

To secure the starting job he needs to do what he does best: be physical, the 233-pound back said.

“Being more physical,” Houston said. “Just playing to my strengths. I’m the biggest one in the room, so not really trying to finesse it.”

Duwyce Wilson finally feels healthy

Last season, receivers Cody Latimer, Kofi Hughes and Shane Wynn all were in the top 10 in the conference in receptions and yards per game.

Besides those three, Hughes thought the addition of a healthy senior Duwyce Wilson was big for the offense heading into this year.

“And besides those three names, we have Duwyce Wilson, Isaiah Roundtree, Nick Stoner and Ricky Jones,” Hughes said. “Those guys can start anywhere in the Big Ten. Just because of the depth we have on this team, if I have to go out or Cody has to go out, we’re not skipping a beat at all.”

Duwyce Wilson said being healthy for this season and participating in every drill on the first day means everything to him.

“I can’t put it into words,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been injured for a long time now. So being healthy finally, it’s just a great feeling … I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

In the second game of the season, Roberson broke his leg and was out for the year. Duwyce Wilson said he knew exactly how his teammate felt, and the two of them helped each other.

“Especially with the treatment and the rehab,” he said. “I talked to him a little bit. But Tre’s always had a great head on him … Having him out here right now, it’s great to see him out here.”