Here we go, time for some spring football. As you may already know, spring practice opens up tomorrow (March 25th). This will prove to be an interesting spring for the Hoosiers.
Coach Lynch enters his second year at the helm of the Hoosiers after being elevated to the head coaching spot after the death of Coach Hep. There have been minor changes to his staff, one is the lost of running backs coach Gerald Brown and the other is the new hire of Dennis Springer from Western Kentucky. Other changes are internal responsibilities. While Springer played for and coached under Lynch, his record as a running backs coach lead a little to be desired in my opinion.
Not only is Coach Lynch dealing with staffing changes, but the identity of his team has changed. Gone is the Lewis to Hardy connection. Hardy decided to jump early and head to the NFL, and Lewis is dealing with off the field issues that will cause him to miss spring practice. This elevates James Bailey as the likely #1 receiver and Ben Chappel as the #1 QB. He will also see McCray and Payton fight to become the starting tailback, before the addition of Darius Willis. This will also mark the first go round for the "7 block of limestone", coach Hep's line he started building. The senior leaders are gone, time for them to step up.
FYI - Mark my words, Thigpen WILL BE playing in the slot this season.
The defensive side of the ball will be strange, no Tracy Porter, no Majors, Evans will move back to QB from playing safety. I have decided to wait and see who is on the field on defense, before I make an opinion on what needs to be done.
I will attend the open practices on April 5th and 11th and the spring game on April 19th. Please check after those days for my thoughts, and some spring football photos. I bought a new Digital SLR and can't wait to get some action shots on the field. Thanks for reading.
Josiah Sears
This will be short, but I felt it was worthy of posting. I spoke with Josiah Sears this afternoon, he participated in the Pro Day at IU and has had interest shown from a few teams to move on to the NFL. He is patiently waiting on the NFL Draft, as will I to hopefully see his name called. His hard nose style of play, dedication to IU and to his team has made him one of my favorite players on and off the field.
I personally feel he would be an assets running behind an NFL line on short yardage and goal line plays. His straight forward, punishing style of running should get him a job playing on Sundays, his work ethic and dedication will keep that job.
Good Luck Josiah!
I personally feel he would be an assets running behind an NFL line on short yardage and goal line plays. His straight forward, punishing style of running should get him a job playing on Sundays, his work ethic and dedication will keep that job.
Good Luck Josiah!
QB Kellen Lewis Suspended
Details are sketchy at best, but "indefinitely" and "suspended" are partnered with Lewis' name for "violation of team rules".
Makes you wonder if he's made to many cell phone calls too.
(Sorry.) Hope to know a great deal more about this in the very near future.
Makes you wonder if he's made to many cell phone calls too.
(Sorry.) Hope to know a great deal more about this in the very near future.
2008 NFL Combine Q&A with IU Players
Tim Bugg
Growing up, who was your favorite NFL player and why?
William 'The Refrigerator' Perry. He was a beast.
What TV-show marathon will keep you on the couch all day?
"Seinfeld"
What is one thing your teammates don't know about you?
I played the saxophone in middle school.
What reality TV show would you like to be on and why?
Dancing with the Stars. I would love to be able to dance like that.
What's your proudest moment in football? Proudest moment off the field?
Being able to overcome a season-ending knee injury and come back stronger the next season; Graduating from the Kelley School of Business.
Who has been the biggest influence on your football career and how?
My dad has served as my advisor since coming to college. Any advice I need, I can count on him to give me support and guidance.
Tracy Porter
Growing up, who was your favorite NFL player and why?
Terrell Davis, because I loved the way he ran the ball and how he carried himself off and on the field.
In college, what player hit you the hardest? Who was the recipient of your best hit?
My own teammate, Greg Brown. It was helmet-to-helmet. He knocked me out; WR from Ball State.
What TV-show marathon will keep you on the couch all day?
Family Guy
What are the five most-played songs in your iPod? What's the one song you hope nobody ever finds out is in your iPod?
I'm so hood - remix (D.J. Khaled), 100 million dollars (Birdman), Dey know (Shawn Lo), I'm raw (Lil' Wayne), I feel like dying (Lil' Wayne); Sisqo - Thong Song.
What celebrity would play you in the movie version of your life and why?
Denzel Washington - he can act like anybody.
What is one thing your teammates don't know about you?
I would like to learn how to fly a helicopter.
What reality TV show would you like to be on and why?
Making the Band - It seems like everyone wants to be a singer/rapper these days, so why not?
What's your proudest moment in football? Proudest moment off the field?
Winning the bucket from Purdue and at the same time going Bowling. Playing 13 for Hep; Proudest moment off the field was attaining a 3.175 GPA
When you play Madden, what team do you use? Do you put yourself on the team?
New Orleans Saints (hometown team). No, because my goal is to have EA Sports put me on the game by making it to the NFL.
Who has been the biggest influence on your football career and how?
Coach Terry Hoeppner, because he inspired me and taught me to become a better player, student and man.
James Hardy
No Q&A listed.
Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
Growing up, who was your favorite NFL player and why?
William 'The Refrigerator' Perry. He was a beast.
What TV-show marathon will keep you on the couch all day?
"Seinfeld"
What is one thing your teammates don't know about you?
I played the saxophone in middle school.
What reality TV show would you like to be on and why?
Dancing with the Stars. I would love to be able to dance like that.
What's your proudest moment in football? Proudest moment off the field?
Being able to overcome a season-ending knee injury and come back stronger the next season; Graduating from the Kelley School of Business.
Who has been the biggest influence on your football career and how?
My dad has served as my advisor since coming to college. Any advice I need, I can count on him to give me support and guidance.
Tracy Porter
Growing up, who was your favorite NFL player and why?
Terrell Davis, because I loved the way he ran the ball and how he carried himself off and on the field.
In college, what player hit you the hardest? Who was the recipient of your best hit?
My own teammate, Greg Brown. It was helmet-to-helmet. He knocked me out; WR from Ball State.
What TV-show marathon will keep you on the couch all day?
Family Guy
What are the five most-played songs in your iPod? What's the one song you hope nobody ever finds out is in your iPod?
I'm so hood - remix (D.J. Khaled), 100 million dollars (Birdman), Dey know (Shawn Lo), I'm raw (Lil' Wayne), I feel like dying (Lil' Wayne); Sisqo - Thong Song.
What celebrity would play you in the movie version of your life and why?
Denzel Washington - he can act like anybody.
What is one thing your teammates don't know about you?
I would like to learn how to fly a helicopter.
What reality TV show would you like to be on and why?
Making the Band - It seems like everyone wants to be a singer/rapper these days, so why not?
What's your proudest moment in football? Proudest moment off the field?
Winning the bucket from Purdue and at the same time going Bowling. Playing 13 for Hep; Proudest moment off the field was attaining a 3.175 GPA
When you play Madden, what team do you use? Do you put yourself on the team?
New Orleans Saints (hometown team). No, because my goal is to have EA Sports put me on the game by making it to the NFL.
Who has been the biggest influence on your football career and how?
Coach Terry Hoeppner, because he inspired me and taught me to become a better player, student and man.
James Hardy
No Q&A listed.
Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
Tim Bugg: NFL Scouting Report
Overview
The NFL continues to search for players who can perfectly place the ball in the hands of the punter or holder.
One of the pivotal reasons behind Indiana making it to the postseason in 2007 was that they had what many scouts felt was the best long-snapper in the collegiate game -- Tim Bugg. As a senior, he was responsible for the team's success in the kicking department, as they made all 49 extra-point attempts, 21 of 23 field goals and 59 flawless punts. He is held in such high regard, that he was recently invited to the Senior Bowl, a contest that features only the elite seniors in college football.
With Bugg about to embark on his professional career, Tim's younger brother, Brandon, is expected to take over those chores, putting Indiana's snapping duties into very capable hands.
Bugg was a standout snapper and lineman at Mishawaka Penn High School. He was an All-Northern Indiana Conference honorable mention team during his senior campaign, adding Class 5A All-Area honors. During his first season with the varsity, the team captured the 1999 5A state championship.
In addition to playing football, Bugg lettered in golf during his freshman and sophomore years, where he perfected his hand quickness needed for his snapping chores. In his last three years at the school, he also lettered on the rugby team.
Bugg enrolled at Indiana as a walk-on in 2003, but spent the next two seasons performing on the scout team. He was shifted to tight end briefly in 2004, but never got to see game action.
In 2005, Bugg finally was given his opportunity. He handled long-snapping chores in six of the team's first seven games (did not play vs. Illinois), but suffered a left knee torn anterior cruciate ligament vs. Ohio State, missing the team's final four games to undergo surgery. Prior to his injury, he handled 47 of 48 punt snaps cleanly, along with 25 snaps for extra-point attempts (team made 23) and six more for field goals.
Bugg returned to action in 2006, with his younger brother serving as his backup on the scout team. He handled a total of 66 snaps for the punting game and 47 more for the field goal and PAT unit (15 on field goals). He also showed his tackling form, registering three tackles for the punt-coverage unit.
Bugg was named All-American and All-Big Ten Conference first-team by The NFL Draft Report in 2007. The team's kicking game had drastically improved in his two-plus seasons of handling snapping chores. To say that the Hoosiers snapper was flawless would be an understatement. His blocking up front kept the kick blockers at bay, as he handled 61 snaps for the punting unit and 70 more for the placement kick teams, with only one Indiana punt being blocked for the year.
Indiana kicking specialist Austin Starr recently told the media prior to the Insight Bowl.
Career Notes
Bugg has never had an errant snap in 30 games at Indiana...He snapped the ball 326 times during his career -- 175 on punts, 107 on extra-point attempts and 44 field goals...The team made 81.82% of its field goals (36 of 44) and 94.39% of its point after conversions (101 of 107) with Bugg snapping the ball...They were also successful in getting off 97.22% of their punts (175-of-180) during that span.
High School
Attended Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.) High School, playing football for head coach Chris Geesman...All-Northern Indiana Conference honorable mention team during his senior campaign, adding Class 5A All-Area honors...During his first season with the varsity, the team captured the 1999 5A state championship...In addition to playing football, Bugg lettered in golf during his freshman and sophomore years, where he perfected his hand quickness needed for his snapping chores...In his last three years at the school, he also lettered on the rugby team.
Analysis
Positives: Has a thick lower-body frame with strong legs to anchor, good arm length and large, soft hands to snap the ball cleanly and with above-average velocity...Has very good accuracy on his deep snaps and has shown marked improvement maintaining that velocity on his short attempts...Gets his hands up quickly and with good placement to neutralize defenders coming off the snap...Intelligent athlete who makes good adjustments before snapping and hits the mark with his snap placement, not taking the punter out of his stance to field the ball...His deep-snap average time ranges from 0.64-0.68 seconds (from 14 yards out) while his short snaps have improved from a 0.43-second average to the .038-.041-second range (fastest of any snapper in college)...Puts very good zip on his snaps, making sure to get it back exactly how the punters and holders like to field it at the laces...Practices his trade and plays with confidence, showing good determination to get downfield and help support the coverage unit...Has a low center of gravity and good arm flexibility...Comes off the snap to drive defenders off the line with his leg drive...Effective blocker who will hit a defender before releasing off the line and gets downfield quickly to help cover, showing adequate speed down the middle lane...Has a low center of gravity and good arm flexibility, doing a solid job of coming off the snap to drive defenders off the line with his leg drive...Fluid dropping back to pick up the gunner...Snaps looking at the ground and generally gives a look to his target prior to his snapping motion...On punt snaps, his accuracy is such that he can consistently getting the ball right into the punter's chest and places lots of zip on the ball to allow his teammate to field the ball cleanly...Runs with a normal stride and comes through with quality snaps, even in pressure situations...Quick to pick up defensive schemes...Shows the skills to attain perfect height and get the ball back directly to the holder on field goal and placement snaps...Has never had a field goal or placement blocked due to his snapping...Shows good short-area quickness coming out of his stance and generates decent explosion on the rise, playing with proper knee bend and hip roll... Takes smart blocking angles in the open...Shows good recoil, especially when there is a gap charge when he snaps...Finds a way to maintain balance, keeping his body in proper position, keeping his feet moving upon contact and has the ability to reach a "three" technique with consistency...Might not have great timed speed, but in the trenches, he has light feet and knows how to use his large hands to snap the ball with good technique...Can stop the rushers with his forceful hand punch.
Negatives: Lacks muscle tone and has a soft midsection, but his frame can carry at least another 20 pounds of bulk without having it impact his foot speed or snap quickness...Is a willing tackler, but lacks the foot speed needed to get downfield after the snap to make the play...His short snaps lacked trajectory in the past, but in 2007, he seemed to have corrected executing those low balls...Lacks fluid hips to generate much quickness running downfield, but plays on his feet with a solid base when blocking in-line.
Compares To: MIKE MORRIS-ex-Minnesota...The measuring stick for all long snappers is Morris, who was regarded as the best to ever perform at this position in the professional ranks. Bugg has the same explosive hand quickness. He keeps his head on a swivel to neutralize defenders after the snap and can always be found working on improving his craft. He has a very good spiral on his attempts with excellent trajectory and has also become a proficient angle blocker. While he is not able to play another position, his long-snapping duties are superior enough to see him be the first (and possibly only) player that will be chosen at his position in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Injury Report
2005: Tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee vs. Ohio State (10/22), missing the team's final four games vs. Michigan State (10/29), Minnesota (11/05), Michigan (11/12) and Purdue (11/19) after undergoing surgery.
Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
The NFL continues to search for players who can perfectly place the ball in the hands of the punter or holder.
One of the pivotal reasons behind Indiana making it to the postseason in 2007 was that they had what many scouts felt was the best long-snapper in the collegiate game -- Tim Bugg. As a senior, he was responsible for the team's success in the kicking department, as they made all 49 extra-point attempts, 21 of 23 field goals and 59 flawless punts. He is held in such high regard, that he was recently invited to the Senior Bowl, a contest that features only the elite seniors in college football.
With Bugg about to embark on his professional career, Tim's younger brother, Brandon, is expected to take over those chores, putting Indiana's snapping duties into very capable hands.
Bugg was a standout snapper and lineman at Mishawaka Penn High School. He was an All-Northern Indiana Conference honorable mention team during his senior campaign, adding Class 5A All-Area honors. During his first season with the varsity, the team captured the 1999 5A state championship.
In addition to playing football, Bugg lettered in golf during his freshman and sophomore years, where he perfected his hand quickness needed for his snapping chores. In his last three years at the school, he also lettered on the rugby team.
Bugg enrolled at Indiana as a walk-on in 2003, but spent the next two seasons performing on the scout team. He was shifted to tight end briefly in 2004, but never got to see game action.
In 2005, Bugg finally was given his opportunity. He handled long-snapping chores in six of the team's first seven games (did not play vs. Illinois), but suffered a left knee torn anterior cruciate ligament vs. Ohio State, missing the team's final four games to undergo surgery. Prior to his injury, he handled 47 of 48 punt snaps cleanly, along with 25 snaps for extra-point attempts (team made 23) and six more for field goals.
Bugg returned to action in 2006, with his younger brother serving as his backup on the scout team. He handled a total of 66 snaps for the punting game and 47 more for the field goal and PAT unit (15 on field goals). He also showed his tackling form, registering three tackles for the punt-coverage unit.
Bugg was named All-American and All-Big Ten Conference first-team by The NFL Draft Report in 2007. The team's kicking game had drastically improved in his two-plus seasons of handling snapping chores. To say that the Hoosiers snapper was flawless would be an understatement. His blocking up front kept the kick blockers at bay, as he handled 61 snaps for the punting unit and 70 more for the placement kick teams, with only one Indiana punt being blocked for the year.
Indiana kicking specialist Austin Starr recently told the media prior to the Insight Bowl.
Career Notes
Bugg has never had an errant snap in 30 games at Indiana...He snapped the ball 326 times during his career -- 175 on punts, 107 on extra-point attempts and 44 field goals...The team made 81.82% of its field goals (36 of 44) and 94.39% of its point after conversions (101 of 107) with Bugg snapping the ball...They were also successful in getting off 97.22% of their punts (175-of-180) during that span.
High School
Attended Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.) High School, playing football for head coach Chris Geesman...All-Northern Indiana Conference honorable mention team during his senior campaign, adding Class 5A All-Area honors...During his first season with the varsity, the team captured the 1999 5A state championship...In addition to playing football, Bugg lettered in golf during his freshman and sophomore years, where he perfected his hand quickness needed for his snapping chores...In his last three years at the school, he also lettered on the rugby team.
Analysis
Positives: Has a thick lower-body frame with strong legs to anchor, good arm length and large, soft hands to snap the ball cleanly and with above-average velocity...Has very good accuracy on his deep snaps and has shown marked improvement maintaining that velocity on his short attempts...Gets his hands up quickly and with good placement to neutralize defenders coming off the snap...Intelligent athlete who makes good adjustments before snapping and hits the mark with his snap placement, not taking the punter out of his stance to field the ball...His deep-snap average time ranges from 0.64-0.68 seconds (from 14 yards out) while his short snaps have improved from a 0.43-second average to the .038-.041-second range (fastest of any snapper in college)...Puts very good zip on his snaps, making sure to get it back exactly how the punters and holders like to field it at the laces...Practices his trade and plays with confidence, showing good determination to get downfield and help support the coverage unit...Has a low center of gravity and good arm flexibility...Comes off the snap to drive defenders off the line with his leg drive...Effective blocker who will hit a defender before releasing off the line and gets downfield quickly to help cover, showing adequate speed down the middle lane...Has a low center of gravity and good arm flexibility, doing a solid job of coming off the snap to drive defenders off the line with his leg drive...Fluid dropping back to pick up the gunner...Snaps looking at the ground and generally gives a look to his target prior to his snapping motion...On punt snaps, his accuracy is such that he can consistently getting the ball right into the punter's chest and places lots of zip on the ball to allow his teammate to field the ball cleanly...Runs with a normal stride and comes through with quality snaps, even in pressure situations...Quick to pick up defensive schemes...Shows the skills to attain perfect height and get the ball back directly to the holder on field goal and placement snaps...Has never had a field goal or placement blocked due to his snapping...Shows good short-area quickness coming out of his stance and generates decent explosion on the rise, playing with proper knee bend and hip roll... Takes smart blocking angles in the open...Shows good recoil, especially when there is a gap charge when he snaps...Finds a way to maintain balance, keeping his body in proper position, keeping his feet moving upon contact and has the ability to reach a "three" technique with consistency...Might not have great timed speed, but in the trenches, he has light feet and knows how to use his large hands to snap the ball with good technique...Can stop the rushers with his forceful hand punch.
Negatives: Lacks muscle tone and has a soft midsection, but his frame can carry at least another 20 pounds of bulk without having it impact his foot speed or snap quickness...Is a willing tackler, but lacks the foot speed needed to get downfield after the snap to make the play...His short snaps lacked trajectory in the past, but in 2007, he seemed to have corrected executing those low balls...Lacks fluid hips to generate much quickness running downfield, but plays on his feet with a solid base when blocking in-line.
Compares To: MIKE MORRIS-ex-Minnesota...The measuring stick for all long snappers is Morris, who was regarded as the best to ever perform at this position in the professional ranks. Bugg has the same explosive hand quickness. He keeps his head on a swivel to neutralize defenders after the snap and can always be found working on improving his craft. He has a very good spiral on his attempts with excellent trajectory and has also become a proficient angle blocker. While he is not able to play another position, his long-snapping duties are superior enough to see him be the first (and possibly only) player that will be chosen at his position in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Injury Report
2005: Tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee vs. Ohio State (10/22), missing the team's final four games vs. Michigan State (10/29), Minnesota (11/05), Michigan (11/12) and Purdue (11/19) after undergoing surgery.
Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
Tracy Porter: NFL Scouting Report
Overview
One of the nation's top playmaking defensive backs, Tracy Porter became the first player in school history to return a punt, interception and fumble for touchdowns in his career.
The team captain has always been known for his ball-hawking skills, but after years of reluctance to perform vs. the run, Porter showed good determination in stopping the run his final season.
As a senior, Porter became the first Hoosier since Mark Sutor in 1982 to record six or more interceptions in a season. He would close out his career with 16 interceptions, three short of the school record of 19 by Tim Wilbur (1978-82). Ever the opportunist, he amassed 413 yards on those interception returns, breaking the previous Indiana record of 360 yards by Wilbur. He also became just the third player in Big Ten Conference history to gain over 400 yards on interception returns, joining Jamar Fletcher of Wisconsin (459, 1998-2000) and Tom Curtis of Michigan (431, 1967-69).
It took a few years for Porter to warm up to playing football. At Port Allen High School, he was more noted for his basketball talent than for his football prowess. He played only two seasons of football during his prep days, but earned first-team All-District 3A honors as a senior and second-team laurels as a junior.
Porter played quarterback, running back and wide receiver on offense and made 93 tackles, 11 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and 14 pass breakups as a cornerback during his senior year. He also returned two punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns, averaging 47.0 yards per kick return and 28.0 per punt return. He also started at point guard for the basketball team and clocked a personal best 10.4 in the 100 meters for the track team.
Porter joined Leslie Majors as the only true freshmen to letter at Indiana in 2004. He was named to The Sporting News' Big Ten Conference All-Freshman Team. He started the first seven games at right cornerback before he was sidelined for the final four contests with a left shoulder injury (clavicle fracture). He posted 22 tackles (19 solo) with six pass breakups and also intercepted three passes, returning one for a touchdown.
As a sophomore, Porter started all 11 games, 10 at right cornerback, and in the season finale vs. Purdue, he shifted to strong safety. He delivered 48 tackles (42 solo) with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He picked off three more passes and also batted away six other throws.
Porter added punt return duties to his resume in 2006. He was a second-team All-Big Ten Conference pick, starting all 12 games at right cornerback. He was in on 59 tackles (51 solos), as he recovered a fumble, caused another and knocked down eight balls. He had four interceptions and a 27-yard kickoff return while also blocking one kick.
In 2007 preseason camps, Porter excelled and the coaching staff felt that he had the ability to be the Big Ten's elite cornerback. Coach Bill Lynch was impressed by Porter's play and maturity and predicted a big year.
In 2007, Porter became the first Indiana cornerback since Mike Dumas in 1989 to earn All-Big Ten Conference first-team accolades. He shifted to left cornerback, ranking second in the league and tied for 18th nationally with six interceptions. He ranked tied for third in the Big Ten with an 11.0-yard average on 23 punt returns. He totaled 83 tackles (63 solo), with a sack and 5.5 stops for losses. He recovered two fumbles, returning one for a score and had four pass breakups.
Porter started all 43 games in which he played at Indiana, lining up at right cornerback for 29 contests, at left cornerback for 13 games and once at strong safety. He ranks second in school history with 16 interceptions for a Hoosiers all-time record 413 yards in returns (25.8-yard average) and a touchdown. He recovered four fumbles for 147 yards in returns, including a score. He added 477 yards and a touchdown on 35 punt returns (13.6 avg) and had a 27-yard kickoff return. He finished with 212 tackles (175 solo), a nine-yard sack and 5.5 stops for minus-18 yards. He also caused two fumbles, deflected 24 passes and blocked a kick.
Career Notes
Porter's 16 interceptions rank second in school history, topped only by Tim Wilbur's 19 (1978-82)...His 413 yards on interception returns broke Wilbur's previous school all-time record of 360 yards and rank third in Big Ten Conference annals behind Jamar Fletcher of Wisconsin (459, 1998-2000) and Tom Curtis of Michigan (431, 1967-69)...First player in school history to return a punt, an interception and a fumble for a touchdown in his career...First Indiana cornerback since Mike Dumas in 1989 to earn first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors (2007)...Had six interceptions in 2007, tying Mark Sutor (1982), Tim Wilbur (1978), Milt Campbell (1955) and John Cannady (1946) for third on the school's season-record list, surpassed only by Wilbur's eight pass thefts in 1979 and seven by Dave Abrams in 1977...Gained 137 yards on interception returns in 2007, the fourth-best season total in Indiana history behind Tim Wilbur (167 in 1979 and 138 in 1978) and Mike Dumas (152 in 1990)...His 98 yards in returns via interceptions vs. Central Michigan in 2004 is the second-best game total in Hoosiers annals, topped only by Mike Dumas (99 vs. Purdue, 11/24/90)...His 96-yard interception return vs. Central Michigan in 2004 is the fourth-longest in school history behind Mike Dumas (99 vs. Purdue, 11/24/90), Tim Wilbur (98 vs. Michigan State, 10/21/78) and Alfonzo Thurman (97 vs. Miami, Ohio, 9/10/94)...His punt-return average of 13.6 yards rank seventh in Big Ten Conference history and set a school career-record.
High School
Attended Port Allen (La.) High School, playing football for head coach Paul DeStifanto...Played only two seasons of football during his prep days, but earned first-team All-District 3A honors as a senior and second-team laurels as a junior, despite missing seven games with a right forearm fracture that year...Competed as a quarterback, running back and wide receiver on offense and made 93 tackles, 11 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and 14 pass breakups as a cornerback during his senior year...Returned two punts and two kickoffs each for touchdowns, averaging 47.0 yards per kick return and 28.0 per punt return...Started at point guard for the basketball team and clocked a personal best 10.4 in the 100 meters for the track team.
Analysis
Positives: Has good arm length, a bit high-cut, but has large, natural hands to make the interception...His speed is his best asset, evident when returning interceptions or kicks or getting downfield to cover on the punt team...Runs with a smooth stride and has exceptional quickness and burst...Possesses good change-of-direction agility and body control, as well as quick feet to redirect (does struggle to come out of breaks cleanly, though)...Competes hard as a gunner on punt and punt-return teams...Does a fairly good job in tight man coverage, giving his opponents little stabs and showing good athletic ability...Needs to react to the plays with better urgency, but takes good angles to close...Adequate reading routes, but can be disruptive with his hands on the press and is better when he mirrors the receiver throughout the route rather than when playing off the man...Shuffles his feet most of the time in his backpedal, but does build to top speed well as the route extends, showing decent hip sink and balance...Better to see plays develop when in a Cover-2 or "quarters" coverage...Has the speed to catch up and close the cushion with the ball in flight and shows good ball skills and hands to reach and extend for the ball away from his frame...Needs to develop cleaner feet to stick in his breaks, but shows good hand usage in attempts to reroute his opponent...Has the rare speed to run with his opponent on deep patterns and, if given room, he can slip and avoid blocks with his quickness...Has exceptional leaping ability to compete for jump balls (will get knocked around a bit) and catch the pass at its highest point...Able to extend and make plays on the ball over his head and has good vision running with the pigskin, knowing when to get "skinny" in order to slip through tight creases...Does good things with the ball in his hands as a return specialist, showing run instincts and flashing elusiveness, with good production...As a gunner, he eludes blockers one-on-one and gets downfield quickly, showing good competitiveness.
Negatives: Has a slender build with a thin chest and smooth legs, but if he adds more bulk, it will impact his overall quickness...Has shown better courage playing vs. the run, but his lack of strength will see him get rag-dolled by bigger blockers often...Has decent ability in press coverage, but gets lots of balls caught on him underneath, as he prefers to give up a big cushion...Durable athlete, but lacks toughness and it is rare to see him stick his hat into the action (prefers to make plays in the open than in closed quarters), but did show better tackling effort as a senior than he did earlier in his career...Has good hip snap, but needs to open them quicker to come out of his breaks cleanly...Has had problems academically and will need more than a few reps to retain plays...Has matured off the field, but does not handle tough coaching well...Slow to read and react to the ball and his low test score indicates he might have problems digesting a complicated playbook...Must play with better urgency when he sees the play develop (does not close in a hurry)...Best when he stays tight on the receiver's hip, as he lacks the recovery quickness to get back into the action when the receiver gets behind him (has great timed speed, but poor cutting ability negates his explosion)...Needs to be monitored in the training room and pushed in practice (not a self-starter)...Must work on improving his backpedal, as he doesn't stay in it long enough and uses a straddle-and-bail technique that allows speedier receivers to gain good separation...Tends to get up on his toes when backpedaling, causing him to struggle to turn cleanly...Just adequate playing in the zone, as he lacks urgency to handle switch-offs and waits for the play to come to him rather than initiate contact...Too inconsistent tracking the ball in flight and would much rather make a big play on the ball than attack a target...Even with his impressive leaping ability, his timing is off and he does not show good urgency to ride up over the receiver to compete for jump balls...Has natural hands, but struggles to locate the ball with his back to the quarterback...Made considerably more plays vs. the run as a senior than his first three years combined (in the past, he would not come up in run force, letting others make the play)...Generally takes a side or will swipe at the ankles when tackling, as he either lacks courage or knows he doesn't have the power to generate pop on contact and must also show better hand technique to wrap-up and secure...Gets engulfed by bigger blockers when playing near the line and has marginal strength, getting washed out often when asked to take on the lead blocker in run support...Never really embraced the fact that he is a football player until his senior year (just seemed to be going through the motions too often in the past)...Needs to play with better control, as he had a high amount of foolish penalties (nine) in 2007 that proved costly.
Compares To: RICARDO COLCLOUGH-Cleveland...Like Colclough, Porter's timed speed and natural hands are his best assets. Both have been productive returners and Porter shows good ability as a gunner on special teams. Neither is known for tackling ability, or a desire to make plays vs. the run. Porter is rail-thin, but additional weight would take away his best quality -- speed. He lacks consistency recognizing the play as it develops and will never be more than marginal in run support. Yes, he has great hands and a good eye to make the big play, but he's more of a sub package type of defensive back than one who can play all four downs.
Injury Report
2002: Missed seven games during his high school junior year after suffering a right forearm fracture.
2004: Suffered a left clavicle fracture vs. Ohio State (10/23), missing the final four games vs. Minnesota (10/30), Illinois (11/06), Penn State (11/13) and Purdue (11/20).
2008 NFL Combine Results
Top 10 Performer in:
40 Yard Dash - 4.37 Seconds, 4th overall for Cornerbacks
20 Yard Shuffle - 4.07 Seconds, Tied for 1st overall for Cornerbacks
60 Yard Shuffle - 11.22 Seconds, 2nd overall for Cornerbacks
Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
One of the nation's top playmaking defensive backs, Tracy Porter became the first player in school history to return a punt, interception and fumble for touchdowns in his career.
The team captain has always been known for his ball-hawking skills, but after years of reluctance to perform vs. the run, Porter showed good determination in stopping the run his final season.
As a senior, Porter became the first Hoosier since Mark Sutor in 1982 to record six or more interceptions in a season. He would close out his career with 16 interceptions, three short of the school record of 19 by Tim Wilbur (1978-82). Ever the opportunist, he amassed 413 yards on those interception returns, breaking the previous Indiana record of 360 yards by Wilbur. He also became just the third player in Big Ten Conference history to gain over 400 yards on interception returns, joining Jamar Fletcher of Wisconsin (459, 1998-2000) and Tom Curtis of Michigan (431, 1967-69).
It took a few years for Porter to warm up to playing football. At Port Allen High School, he was more noted for his basketball talent than for his football prowess. He played only two seasons of football during his prep days, but earned first-team All-District 3A honors as a senior and second-team laurels as a junior.
Porter played quarterback, running back and wide receiver on offense and made 93 tackles, 11 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and 14 pass breakups as a cornerback during his senior year. He also returned two punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns, averaging 47.0 yards per kick return and 28.0 per punt return. He also started at point guard for the basketball team and clocked a personal best 10.4 in the 100 meters for the track team.
Porter joined Leslie Majors as the only true freshmen to letter at Indiana in 2004. He was named to The Sporting News' Big Ten Conference All-Freshman Team. He started the first seven games at right cornerback before he was sidelined for the final four contests with a left shoulder injury (clavicle fracture). He posted 22 tackles (19 solo) with six pass breakups and also intercepted three passes, returning one for a touchdown.
As a sophomore, Porter started all 11 games, 10 at right cornerback, and in the season finale vs. Purdue, he shifted to strong safety. He delivered 48 tackles (42 solo) with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He picked off three more passes and also batted away six other throws.
Porter added punt return duties to his resume in 2006. He was a second-team All-Big Ten Conference pick, starting all 12 games at right cornerback. He was in on 59 tackles (51 solos), as he recovered a fumble, caused another and knocked down eight balls. He had four interceptions and a 27-yard kickoff return while also blocking one kick.
In 2007 preseason camps, Porter excelled and the coaching staff felt that he had the ability to be the Big Ten's elite cornerback. Coach Bill Lynch was impressed by Porter's play and maturity and predicted a big year.
In 2007, Porter became the first Indiana cornerback since Mike Dumas in 1989 to earn All-Big Ten Conference first-team accolades. He shifted to left cornerback, ranking second in the league and tied for 18th nationally with six interceptions. He ranked tied for third in the Big Ten with an 11.0-yard average on 23 punt returns. He totaled 83 tackles (63 solo), with a sack and 5.5 stops for losses. He recovered two fumbles, returning one for a score and had four pass breakups.
Porter started all 43 games in which he played at Indiana, lining up at right cornerback for 29 contests, at left cornerback for 13 games and once at strong safety. He ranks second in school history with 16 interceptions for a Hoosiers all-time record 413 yards in returns (25.8-yard average) and a touchdown. He recovered four fumbles for 147 yards in returns, including a score. He added 477 yards and a touchdown on 35 punt returns (13.6 avg) and had a 27-yard kickoff return. He finished with 212 tackles (175 solo), a nine-yard sack and 5.5 stops for minus-18 yards. He also caused two fumbles, deflected 24 passes and blocked a kick.
Career Notes
Porter's 16 interceptions rank second in school history, topped only by Tim Wilbur's 19 (1978-82)...His 413 yards on interception returns broke Wilbur's previous school all-time record of 360 yards and rank third in Big Ten Conference annals behind Jamar Fletcher of Wisconsin (459, 1998-2000) and Tom Curtis of Michigan (431, 1967-69)...First player in school history to return a punt, an interception and a fumble for a touchdown in his career...First Indiana cornerback since Mike Dumas in 1989 to earn first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors (2007)...Had six interceptions in 2007, tying Mark Sutor (1982), Tim Wilbur (1978), Milt Campbell (1955) and John Cannady (1946) for third on the school's season-record list, surpassed only by Wilbur's eight pass thefts in 1979 and seven by Dave Abrams in 1977...Gained 137 yards on interception returns in 2007, the fourth-best season total in Indiana history behind Tim Wilbur (167 in 1979 and 138 in 1978) and Mike Dumas (152 in 1990)...His 98 yards in returns via interceptions vs. Central Michigan in 2004 is the second-best game total in Hoosiers annals, topped only by Mike Dumas (99 vs. Purdue, 11/24/90)...His 96-yard interception return vs. Central Michigan in 2004 is the fourth-longest in school history behind Mike Dumas (99 vs. Purdue, 11/24/90), Tim Wilbur (98 vs. Michigan State, 10/21/78) and Alfonzo Thurman (97 vs. Miami, Ohio, 9/10/94)...His punt-return average of 13.6 yards rank seventh in Big Ten Conference history and set a school career-record.
High School
Attended Port Allen (La.) High School, playing football for head coach Paul DeStifanto...Played only two seasons of football during his prep days, but earned first-team All-District 3A honors as a senior and second-team laurels as a junior, despite missing seven games with a right forearm fracture that year...Competed as a quarterback, running back and wide receiver on offense and made 93 tackles, 11 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and 14 pass breakups as a cornerback during his senior year...Returned two punts and two kickoffs each for touchdowns, averaging 47.0 yards per kick return and 28.0 per punt return...Started at point guard for the basketball team and clocked a personal best 10.4 in the 100 meters for the track team.
Analysis
Positives: Has good arm length, a bit high-cut, but has large, natural hands to make the interception...His speed is his best asset, evident when returning interceptions or kicks or getting downfield to cover on the punt team...Runs with a smooth stride and has exceptional quickness and burst...Possesses good change-of-direction agility and body control, as well as quick feet to redirect (does struggle to come out of breaks cleanly, though)...Competes hard as a gunner on punt and punt-return teams...Does a fairly good job in tight man coverage, giving his opponents little stabs and showing good athletic ability...Needs to react to the plays with better urgency, but takes good angles to close...Adequate reading routes, but can be disruptive with his hands on the press and is better when he mirrors the receiver throughout the route rather than when playing off the man...Shuffles his feet most of the time in his backpedal, but does build to top speed well as the route extends, showing decent hip sink and balance...Better to see plays develop when in a Cover-2 or "quarters" coverage...Has the speed to catch up and close the cushion with the ball in flight and shows good ball skills and hands to reach and extend for the ball away from his frame...Needs to develop cleaner feet to stick in his breaks, but shows good hand usage in attempts to reroute his opponent...Has the rare speed to run with his opponent on deep patterns and, if given room, he can slip and avoid blocks with his quickness...Has exceptional leaping ability to compete for jump balls (will get knocked around a bit) and catch the pass at its highest point...Able to extend and make plays on the ball over his head and has good vision running with the pigskin, knowing when to get "skinny" in order to slip through tight creases...Does good things with the ball in his hands as a return specialist, showing run instincts and flashing elusiveness, with good production...As a gunner, he eludes blockers one-on-one and gets downfield quickly, showing good competitiveness.
Negatives: Has a slender build with a thin chest and smooth legs, but if he adds more bulk, it will impact his overall quickness...Has shown better courage playing vs. the run, but his lack of strength will see him get rag-dolled by bigger blockers often...Has decent ability in press coverage, but gets lots of balls caught on him underneath, as he prefers to give up a big cushion...Durable athlete, but lacks toughness and it is rare to see him stick his hat into the action (prefers to make plays in the open than in closed quarters), but did show better tackling effort as a senior than he did earlier in his career...Has good hip snap, but needs to open them quicker to come out of his breaks cleanly...Has had problems academically and will need more than a few reps to retain plays...Has matured off the field, but does not handle tough coaching well...Slow to read and react to the ball and his low test score indicates he might have problems digesting a complicated playbook...Must play with better urgency when he sees the play develop (does not close in a hurry)...Best when he stays tight on the receiver's hip, as he lacks the recovery quickness to get back into the action when the receiver gets behind him (has great timed speed, but poor cutting ability negates his explosion)...Needs to be monitored in the training room and pushed in practice (not a self-starter)...Must work on improving his backpedal, as he doesn't stay in it long enough and uses a straddle-and-bail technique that allows speedier receivers to gain good separation...Tends to get up on his toes when backpedaling, causing him to struggle to turn cleanly...Just adequate playing in the zone, as he lacks urgency to handle switch-offs and waits for the play to come to him rather than initiate contact...Too inconsistent tracking the ball in flight and would much rather make a big play on the ball than attack a target...Even with his impressive leaping ability, his timing is off and he does not show good urgency to ride up over the receiver to compete for jump balls...Has natural hands, but struggles to locate the ball with his back to the quarterback...Made considerably more plays vs. the run as a senior than his first three years combined (in the past, he would not come up in run force, letting others make the play)...Generally takes a side or will swipe at the ankles when tackling, as he either lacks courage or knows he doesn't have the power to generate pop on contact and must also show better hand technique to wrap-up and secure...Gets engulfed by bigger blockers when playing near the line and has marginal strength, getting washed out often when asked to take on the lead blocker in run support...Never really embraced the fact that he is a football player until his senior year (just seemed to be going through the motions too often in the past)...Needs to play with better control, as he had a high amount of foolish penalties (nine) in 2007 that proved costly.
Compares To: RICARDO COLCLOUGH-Cleveland...Like Colclough, Porter's timed speed and natural hands are his best assets. Both have been productive returners and Porter shows good ability as a gunner on special teams. Neither is known for tackling ability, or a desire to make plays vs. the run. Porter is rail-thin, but additional weight would take away his best quality -- speed. He lacks consistency recognizing the play as it develops and will never be more than marginal in run support. Yes, he has great hands and a good eye to make the big play, but he's more of a sub package type of defensive back than one who can play all four downs.
Injury Report
2002: Missed seven games during his high school junior year after suffering a right forearm fracture.
2004: Suffered a left clavicle fracture vs. Ohio State (10/23), missing the final four games vs. Minnesota (10/30), Illinois (11/06), Penn State (11/13) and Purdue (11/20).
2008 NFL Combine Results
Top 10 Performer in:
40 Yard Dash - 4.37 Seconds, 4th overall for Cornerbacks
20 Yard Shuffle - 4.07 Seconds, Tied for 1st overall for Cornerbacks
60 Yard Shuffle - 11.22 Seconds, 2nd overall for Cornerbacks
Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
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