Couple of quick points for you all as the season is just about to get underway.
IU coach Bill Lynch announced the team's captains on Sunday. Running back Marcus Thigpen, cornerback Chris Phillips and linebacker Will Patterson will be the Hoosiers' three leaders throughout the season.
Thigpen, a senior, was the Hoosiers second-leading rusher in 2007, accumulating 654 yards in 12 games (4.1 average). Though he failed to find the endzone on the ground, Thigpen's speed gives Lynch several options this year now that several other running backs have improved - i.e. Bryan Payton, Trea Burgess and the addition of Darius Willis. Aside from his role out of the backfield, expect Lynch to use Thigpen as a receiver or at least have him catch several balls in short yardage situations.
Playing his way into one of the starting cornerback positions, Phillips is one of the more improved players on the IU defense over the past year. Though Phillips played behind graduates Tracy Porter and Leslie Majors in the depth chart, the junior's performance throughout the spring and summer greatly impressed the IU coaching staff. In 2007, Phillips played in 12 games and picked off three passes.
Patterson, on the other hand, enjoyed a stellar 2007 campaign for the Hoosiers and continued that momentum throughout the off-season. Patterson finished second on the team in tackles (104) and recorded two sacks, three fumbles and an interception.
Starr named to watch list
On Monday, Austin Starr was named to the Lou Groza award watch list for the second straight year. The accolade comes with little surprise since Starr was one of the three finalists for the award last year. Starr set a new school record last year with 21 field goals and 48 extra points - records held by Pete Stoyanovich since 1988.
Thirty kickers were named to the watch list, which is named after Groza, who played 21 years with the Cleveland Browns.
