IU defensive line coach Mark Hagen said the Hoosiers have lost a lot of production on paper with the departures of Nick Mangieri, Zack Shaw and Darius Latham.
But in his eyes, strength in numbers is the mind set going into the 2016 season. That starts with senior Ralph Green, junior Nate Hoff and sophomore Jacob Robinson.
“It’s different from years past,” Hagen said. “I like the development from the leadership department. Guys like Nate Hoff and Jacob Robinson and Ralph Green have stepped up.”
Green has the most on-field experience of the three. He started nine games as a redshirt freshman, and in 11 games a year later collected 19 tackles — 4.5 for loss — and a sack. Green then appeared in 12 games in 2015, recording 17 tackles — 3.5 for loss — and one sack.
His six pass deflections last season tied him with Mangieri for the most among IU linemen.
Junior Greg Gooch said that while Hoff and Robinson are also leaders on the defensive line, he personally looks to Green as the leader.
“If I’ve got any questions, I’m gonna go to (Hagen) first,” Gooch said. “If I need to know how to do something right or something, I’ll always go to Ralph Green. He’s like my old mentor because he’s been through it for five years now.”
As for the other two leaders Hagen said have stepped up this offseason, Hoff and Robinson both appeared in all 13 games in 2015.
Hoff’s most productive game was a start at Wake Forest when he recorded four tackles, his only tackles of the season. Hoff was more of a force in 2014, when he started eight games and racked up 29 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
Robinson, a three-star recruit out of Westfield, Indiana, collected five tackles as a true freshman in 2015, one for loss.
Both players will see the field, Hagen and IU Coach Kevin Wilson said, as will others.
Hagen said he likes Gooch as an edge pass rusher and also mentioned sophomore Nile Sykes as a pass rusher. Both players transitioned from linebacker to defensive line this offseason.
Gooch played in 12 games in 2015 as Shaw’s backup at the bandit position and recorded 12 tackles and a sack. Sykes also appeared in 12 games but recorded just five tackles.
Junior lineman Robert McCray will see playing time, although a shoulder issue is holding him out for the moment. Hagen views McCray as one of the most talented players on the defensive line.
The junior made his presence known last season, though he only played in 11 games. McCray amassed 17 tackles — 5.5 for loss — 1.5 sacks, one pass breakup and a forced fumble.
It has yet to be said whether younger players like redshirt sophomore Mike Barwick, redshirt freshmen Omari Stringer, Gavin Everett and Joe Belden and true freshmen Allen Stallings and Jerome Johnson will have playing time this season.
However, Wilson has said that IU has eight guys on the defensive line who can play, but would like to bump that number up to 10.
Depth Chart
DE
49 Greg Gooch, 6-2, 255, Junior
35 Nile Sykes, 6-2, 250, Redshirt Sophomore
DT
74 Nate Hoff, 6-2, 305, Redshirt Junior
47 Robert McCray III, 6-2, 275, Junior
DT
93 Ralph Green III, 6-5, 305, Redshirt Senior
54 Ja’merez Bowen, 6-4, 308, Redshirt Sophomore
DE
91 Jacob Robinson, 6-4, 285, Sophomore
95 Brandon Wilson, 6-3, 261, Redshirt Freshman
