Indiana Football Recruiting

Indiana

Quarterbacks
QB ••• Austin Ahrens 6-2, 205, 4.6 Jasper
He sure looked like a Division I player on the DVD I watched of him, particularly in the game against Reitz.
On Film–This guy can thread the needle, throws bullet passes, has a smooth-throwing motion, and keeps the ball high. He can throw from the pocket but also does a real good job when chased and looking for open receivers. Shows good throwing mechanics, is very good in short to medium range passes.
Stats–In 13 games he completed 104 of 186 passes for 1,572 yds, a school record, and 18 TDs. He also ran for 703 yds and 7 TDs and was picked off 7 times leading his team to an 11-2 record.
Grades–His GPA is 3.8 and he scored a 1720 on the SAT.

QB ••• Nolan Dieter 6-3, 180, 4.65 South Bend Washington
He is certainly a QB to keep your eye on and is one of the fastest rising QB prospects in the state of Indiana.
On Film–He shows good foot quickness and running ability, makes great decisions, has excellent field vision, and is as accurate as any QB in the state. He also has the arm strength to throw the deep out. He is a leader both on and off the field. He is the type of QB who, once things break down, can make things happen with either his arm or legs.
Grades–His GPA is 3.1 and he scored 1180 on the SAT. Benches 225 and has a 26" VJ.
Favorite Schools–CINCY, IN, ARMY, NORTHWESTERN, MI STATE, MIAMI OF OHIO, and IA.

QB ••• Jackson Kirtley 6-2, 180, 4.6 Indianapolis Heritage Christian
A small school super.
On Film–Jackson impresses you with his poise, accuracy, and production. This guy can get the job done. He's got great production and in the end, isn't that what's it really all about.
Stats–He completed 251 of 378 passes for 3,618 yds and 46 TDs completing 66% of his passes and was picked off 10 times.

QB ••• Justin Clemens 6-3, 220, 4.7 Warsaw
An outstanding athlete who competes hard and certainly shows the potential to make it at the next level.
On Film–He has big-time arm strength, athleticism, size, and to be honest, he also has the size and aggressiveness to be an outstanding LB.
Other Sports–He's a standout in track and basketball.
Grades–His GPA is over a 3.5.
Favorite Schools–IN, PURDUE, BALL STATE, BOWLING GREEN, and DUKE.

QB ••• Kofi Hughes 6-2, 190, 4.6 Indianapolis Cathedral
During my trip through Indianapolis many of the coaches had recommended him and said they believe he has what it takes to be a major college QB.
On Film–Kofi plays the game lose and with a lot of confidence. He's as quick as a cat and has pretty good throwing mechanics. He can zip it in there and is also an exceptionally dangerous passer when throwing on the run. He's certainly someone to keep your eye on.
Other Sports–He's a standout guard in basketball.
Favorite Schools–IN, CINCY, VANDY, WI, PURDUE, and BALL STATE.

RB ••••+ Roderick Smith 6-3, 215, 4.6 Ft. Wayne Harding
A record breaking back with terrific production and potential. Rod would rank higher in some eyes if his academics were a little bit better.
On Film–He shows the patience to wait for his blocks to open, he plants and drives quickly, and shows a good initial burst. He also shows the ability to lower his shoulder and gain significant yardage after contact. A high school difference maker, he should easily make the leap to major college ball. A good all around back who can run, catch, and block, he has the potential to become a difference maker at the next level.
Stats–Over the past three years he has rushed for 5,285 yds, more than just about any back in the Midwest. He's a two-time All-Stater.
Grades–His grades are not too good, he needs to work on them. If he does qualify, he should be an instant impact player as a true freshman.
Favorite Schools–Committed to OHIO STATE.

RB •••+ Donte Asher 6-0, 175, 4.5 Indianapolis Ben Davis
I was pleasantly surprised after watching Mr. Asher on film. He is definitely a good prospect.
On Film–Not real big, but he runs with good vision, balance, shows great moves, and can get some yardage after initial contact. Needs to add weight and strength but the athletic ability is certainly there.
Stats–Earned All-City mention for his play at RB in '08.
Favorite Schools–IN, PURDUE, BALL STATE, and MI STATE.

RB •••+ Ari Pappas 6-0, 210, 4.6 Indianapolis Chatard
A two-way ball player at RB and FS.
On Film–He shows explosive moves, is a fierce competitor, runs very hard between the tackles, and is perfectly suited to become an FB at the next level. He can run, block, catch, and do them all well.
Stats–Over the past two years he has accumulated 3,500 yds and 50 TDs.

RB ••• Michael Perkins 6-0, 180, 4.4 Valparaiso
A transfer from California and certainly someone to keep an eye on.
On Film–Last season, seeing part-time duty, he impressed everyone that saw him with his blazing speed, vision, and great balance. Not a real pounder but he's also not an easy tackle. His great burst will get him to the next level.
Stats–Had only 55 carries but averaged 12.5 yds per carry totaling 685 yds and 9 TDs.
Grades–His GPA is over a 2.5. Benches 250.

WR •••• Daniel Smith 6-4, 207, 4.6 South Bend Clay
If you're looking for a big receiver with outstanding all around athletic ability, look no further than #87.
On Film–Daniel impresses you with his balance, leaping ability, and hands. Not a real blazer but he more than makes up for it with height, hands, leaping ability, and body control. He is not yet a difference maker type of receiver but he does have the ability to become one. He needs to become more consistent and run better routes but he certainly has the tools to excel in college. He compliments his height with outstanding strength, which is the reason why he has become a tough tackle. He catches the ball with his hands and can routinely make the catch outside his frame. As I have mentioned he doesn't possess top-end speed, but at times he's a downfield threat because of his quickness and leaping ability. I watched his sectional championship game against Lowell on tape and was impressed enough to give him four stars. In that game he had 6 catches for 202 yds and 2 scores.
Stats–Overall he earned All-State honors after catching 51 passes for 1,071 yds and 9 TDs averaging 20.8 yds per catch.
Other Sports–In basketball he averages 8 pts and 8 rebounds a game as an FW. However, he really shows his athletic ability in track where has long jumped 23' 7" and high jumped 6' 7".
Grades–His GPA is 3.6. Benches 250 and has an impressive 38" VJ.
Favorite Schools–Committed to NOTRE DAME.

WR •••• Dyjuan Lewis 6-3, 189, 4.47 Indianapolis Pike
Ranks as one of the top five prospects in the state.
On Film–I got to see Dyjuan down in San Antonio and was impressed with his ability to separate from defenders. He shows a good mix of speed, strength, and attitude. An exciting player after the catch, he shows good open field moves and plays the game with heart and emotion. Dy gets in and out of his breaks quickly and can run the deep routes to perfection. Physically he looks like he's ready for college ball. A money player, he caught the game winning TD against 5A Decatur Central.
Stats–Caught 40 passes for 747 yds and 5 TDs in '08.
Other Sports–Averages 9 pts and 5 rebounds a game as a guard in basketball.
Grades–His GPA is 2.4. Benches 260 and has a 32" VJ.
Favorite Schools–IN, PURDUE, MN, KY, CO, MI STATE, IL, IOWA, SC, MO, OR, and CINCY.

WR •••+ Charles Torwudzo 6-5, 195, 4.6 Brownsburg
I happened upon Charles during one of my last trips. He was mentioned to me by a rival coach.
On Film–This guy looks as good or better than any WR in the state. He catches the ball away from his body, has workable speed, and shows a good up field burst. A sure handed receiver, he can stretch a defense, and he runs precise routes showing good body control and concentration. Believe me, this young man has been overlooked so far but I believe that he could play for a good number of the Big-Ten schools. As reliable as they come, he's tough enough to take a hard hit and hang onto the ball, and just shows great receiving skills.
Stats–As a sophomore he caught 35 passes for 555 yds and 5 TDs. As a junior he averaged close to 20 yds per catch on his way to earning All-League honors.
Favorite Schools–Looking at PURDUE, IN, BALL STATE, MI STATE, MO, and KY.

Other Wide Receivers to Watch:
Aaron Hankins 6-1, 190, 4.6 Elkhart Central
Steven Kaba 6-1, 185, 4.55 Indianapolis Arlington

TE •••+ Kyle Smith 6-5, 250, 5.0 Griffith
One of the fastest rising prospects in the state of Indiana.
On Film–#83 shows great size, flexibility, and is a good run blocker. He's an outstanding long snapper and an athlete who can play several positions. His film shows a dominating run blocker who is very strong at the point of attack and good at sustaining his blocks. He has very quick hands and even quicker feet. He knows how to run routes, gets himself open and catches the ball with his hands. One of the more athletic TE prospects in the Midwest. He also has the size to grow into an OL. He plays on a run oriented team so his run blocking skills are more advanced than his receiving skills. He dominated the Hobart game with his run blocking.
Stats–Earned All-League honors for his play at TE.
Other Sports–
Grades–His GPA is 3.0 and he scored a 1490 on the SAT and a 22 on the ACT. Benches 280.
Favorite Schools–Several of his relatives have played college ball, Chris Smith at Indiana, Dave Smith at Southern Illinois and with the Bengals, and Greg Smith at Vandy and with the Buffalo Bills. Kyle's favorites are IN, VANDY, MI, IL, PURDUE, NORTHERN IL, and BALL STATE.

TE •••+ Leneil Himes 6-3, 245, 4.7 Plymouth West
Not as well known as some of the state's other top prospects but he has really come on strong thanks to a couple of spring camps.
On Film–Leneil is a sure handed receiver with deceptive speed, he catches the ball away from his body, and can turn up field in a hurry. He has proven to be a very effective run blocker who keeps his feet moving at all times. He's determined, aggressive, and productive. He plays the game with a great attitude and has the frame to weigh well over 250 pounds.
Stats–Earned All-Conference honors for his play at TE.
Grades–His GPA is 3.0. Benches 295 and has a 31" VJ.
Favorite Schools–Committed to INDIANA.

TE ••• Garratt Mack 6-5, 215, 4.75 Greenwood Center Grove
Kind of a tweener, he has played both TE and WR.
On Film–Right now he has the frame to remain as a big WR but will grow into a TE. Blessed with a lot of talent, sure hands, and quick feet, he is already drawing the attention of several Big-10 schools.
Stats–Earned All-Conference honors for his play as a receiver.
Grades–His GPA is over a 3.0.
Favorite Schools–Committed to BALL STATE.

OL ••••• James Hurst 6-6, 285, 5.1 Plainfield
He was well known in Indiana after a very good junior year, but became a national name down in San Antonio when he dominated some of the nation's premier DT prospects.
On Film–James shows outstanding footwork, tenacity, and strength. He can play either LT or RT and play them both to perfection. A dominating run and pass blocker, he finishes off his blocks like no one's business, pancakes defenders on almost every other play, and can run through the opposition's defense wreaking havoc. He has a great frame, looks thin at 285 and is a smart, hard working tackle who has dominated the action over the past two years. Technically sound, he's one of the nation's premier offensive linemen.
Stats–Totaled 21 tackles, 1 sack, and 8 tackles for losses seeing some action at DT. He averaged over 90% in his blocking assignments in '08 and also averaged 7 pancake blocks a game on his way to earning 1st Team All-State honors.
Grades–His GPA is a perfect 4.1. Benches 325.
Favorite Schools–His father, Tim Hurst, played ball at Alabama. James is committed to NORTH CAROLINA.

Other Offensive Linemen to Watch:
Terry Davisson 6-7, 270, 5.2 Rensselaer Central

DL •••• Blake Lueders 6-5, 248, 4.7 Zionsville
One of the top five prospects in the state of Indiana.
On Film–#42 plays ILB and dominates at that position. A big, strong, athletic middle backer who loves to hit people. He shows excellent sideline to sideline speed, and shows the footwork and game speed to chase down plays in pursuit. Plays low and consistently dominates the point of attack showing terrific instincts. He rarely bites on play-action, steps up and takes on blockers with strength and quickness, and is able to shed them and find the ball. He is being projected to play the DE position in college and should weigh between 270-280 within a year or two.
Stats–Earned All-Conference and junior All-State honors in '08 after totaling 128 tackles, 3 sacks, 9 tackles for losses, and 1 pick to go with 1 safety and 2 blocked kicks.
Grades–His GPA is a perfect 4.1 and he scored a 1270 on the SAT. Benches 320 and has a 30" VJ.
Favorite Schools–Committed to NOTRE DAME.

DL •••+ Ryan Isaacs 6-4, 260, 4.8 Michigan City
Another sleeper and one of the top prospects in northern Indiana.
On Film–He's a blue collar type of DE who could wind up playing DT at the next level. He's a physical player who moves well, he's very strong at the point of attack, keeps his pads low, and shows a good short area closing burst. A very smart player and a durable team leader who is effective at shooting gaps.
Grades–His GPA is 3.0. Benches 310.
Favorite Schools–Committed to PURDUE.

DL •••+ Joel Cox 6-2, 275, 5.0 Greenwood Center Grove
A top-notch NT who is very strong and has a good motor.
On Film–Joel is a disruptive force. He excels at stopping the run but does have the quickness and initial burst to get into the backfield quickly. He's able to knock blockers on their back and accelerates like a Division I prospect should. Better at stopping the run, he can run well laterally and plays the game on his feet.
Stats–Earned some All-Indianapolis honors for his play at NT.
Grades–His GPA is over a 2.5.
Favorite Schools–IN, IOWA, PURDUE, MI STATE, and BALL STATE.

DL ••• James Travis 6-0, 260, 4.65 Merrillville
His coach says he runs a legit 4.65 and if that's true, James should get a lot of play from Division I schools.
On Film–He's very strong, quick, has a great motor, is mentally tough, takes on all challengers, and uses his hands well. Not super fast but very strong. He does a good job of holding his ground against double teams and is a sure tackler.

LB •••• Joe Gilliam 6-2, 205, 4.6 Indianapolis Southport
Here's another ball player from the state of Indiana who was travelling a bit under the radar until just a couple of months ago.
On Film–This very quick-footed OLB has proven to be a difference maker at the high school level. He shows quickness, toughness, awareness, and speed from his OLB position. Rarely off his feet, he also shows the kind of burst and body control needed to chase quarterbacks. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He's a big play OLB without the great size or blazing speed, he's just a good football player.
Stats–Earned All-League mention for his play at OLB.
Grades–His GPA is over a 2.5. Has a 34" VJ.
Favorite Schools–PURDUE, IN, NORTHWESTERN, VANDY, IL, STANFORD, NE, WI, and CO.

LB •••+ Jack Denton 6-2, 235, 4.6 Zionsville
Jack became one of the more heavily recruited players in Indiana when college scouts went to the school to checkout his teammate Blake Lueders.
On Film–He plays the game with a lot of confidence, size, speed, strength, and above all, production. He is a tackling machine who gets off his blocks quickly and excels at running down ball carriers from behind. He does a great job of avoiding blocks, he's very fluid in his change of direction, and he hits with explosive force. A rising star among Midwest ILB's.
Grades–His GPA is 3.4 and he scored a 1140 on the SAT. Benches 300.
Favorite Schools–IN, MI STATE, PURDUE, KY, BALL STATE, and WAKE FOREST.

LB ••• Devon Rush 6-3, 210, 4.6 Ft. Wayne Snider
An overachieving backer who tends to do everything right.
On Film–He shows good range, speed to the ball, plays the game on his feet, rarely takes a missed steps, and makes plays all over the field against the run and the pass. A leader both on and off the field.
Stats–Earned 1st Team All-Area honors for his play at LB.
Grades–His GPA is a perfect 4.3.

DB •••+ Isaiah Lewis 5-11, 190, 4.5 Indianapolis Ben Davis
An impressive athlete.
On Film–He's a playmaker who is strong and always seems to be around the ball. He shows soft hands and good ball skills. He does not bite on play-action, rarely misses tackles, and has the range to get to the sideline in time and make the hard hit on the receiver.
Stats–Earned junior All-State honors in '08.
Grades–His GPA is 3.0. Has a 30" VJ.
Favorite Schools–IN, PURDUE, MN, IL, IOWA, MI STATE, and KY.

DB •••+ James Manuel 6-1, 200, 4.5 Indianapolis Warren Central
The state's top DB prospect.
On Film–He can get to the ball in a hurry and in a bad mood. A very physical FS, he's as aggressive as they come. Very flexible, he can turn and run with receivers and even shows the speed to stay with the fastest of them. He flies around the field with great effort and when he gets to his destination, look out, this guy's known for laying out ball carriers.
Stats–Totaled 52 tackles, 4 picks, and broke up 9 passes on his way to earning All-State mention.
Grades–His GPA is over a 2.0.

DB ••• Almonze Daniels 6-4, 200, 4.6 Avon
The younger brother of Montez Robinson, the coaches say he has a lot of raw talent.
On Film–He shows very good speed to the ball, great range, and he's an aggressive defender who attacks the line of scrimmage in run support and delivers hard hits. He can read and react with the best of them and does a good job when playing the ball.
Stats–Earned some All-League honors for his play at FS.

DB ••• Landon Feichter 6-0, 175, 4.45 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger
One of the more productive DB prospects not only in Indiana but in the Midwest.
On Film–Landon presents good height, quick feet, and good anticipation and timing to the college scouts. Very active, he can play CB or FS at the next level. Explosive, he reads and reacts well and excels in run support.
Stats–Earned 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team junior All-State honors in '08 along with H-M AP All-State honors totaling 79 tackles and 2 picks. He also caught 12 passes for 210 yds and 4 TDs.
Grades–His GPA is 3.2. Has a 34" VJ.

Other Defensive Backs to Watch:
Jeffery Garrett 5-10, 165, 4.4 Indianapolis Ben Davis
Jake Zupzncic 5-10, 185, 4.5 Indianapolis Cathedral
Shakir Bell 5-9, 175, 4.6 Indianapolis-Warren Central
Phil Dudley 5-10, 175, 4.6 Indianapolis-Ben Davis