The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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136 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE After being close the last several years, Indiana finally had its breakthrough sea- son in 2020, with the Hoosiers posting a 6-2 record. They notched their second-ever win over Penn State and first victory over Michigan since 1987, and took eventual Big Ten champion and College Football Playoff participant Ohio State down to the wire, fall- ing by just seven points. Indiana felt snubbed by not being the East Division's representative in the Big Ten Championship Game, with the conference having changed its minimum game mandate to accommodate Ohio State, which played just five regular-season contests. The Hoo- siers also felt they deserved a berth into a more prestigious bowl game, but they lost to Ole Miss 26-20 in the Outback Bowl. Head coach Tom Allen is 24-22 overall as the Hoosiers' head man, but the program's trajectory is pointing up. After going 5-7 in each of Allen's first two years, his squads have now a .667 winning percentage over the last two seasons (14-7). Before last year, Indiana hadn't posted a winning percentage of .750 or higher since 1910. Allen's teams have taken a step forward each season, and it doesn't appear — at least on paper — that the trend is going to be stopped in 2021, with the group set to return eight starters on offense and nine on defense. The Hoosiers struggled to run the ball last season, averaging 108.6 yards per game to rank 12th in the Big Ten and 114th in the nation. As a result, the most important piece returning is redshirt sophomore quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who was a second-team All-Big Ten honoree after leading the na- tion's No. 43 passing attack. The Tampa, Fla., native missed the final three games af- ter tearing his ACL, but he still ranked fourth in the Big Ten in passing yards (1,645) and third in touchdown tosses (14). He also paced the league in yards per game with 274.2. Despite wideout Whop Philyor graduating and heading off to the NFL, Penix has some steady targets to throw to, namely fifth-year senior wideout Ty Fryfogle and redshirt ju- nior tight end Peyton Hendershot. Fryfogle, a first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All- America selection, led the squad in receiving yards (721) and touchdown catches (seven). He also averaged 19.5 yards per catch, which ranked third in the Big Ten and tied for 30th in the country. While Fryfogle will serve as Penix's most explosive weapon, Hendershot — a third- team All-Big Ten pick last season — is con- sistent, having registered 936 career receiv- ing yards and 10 touchdowns. He recorded 23 catches for 151 yards and four scores last season. Indiana's defensive numbers were okay in 2020, but the Hoosiers did lead the na- tion with a 36.0-percent red-zone stop rate. Opponents scored just 12 touchdowns on 25 trips inside the Hoosiers' 20-yard line, and were forced to settle for field goals on four occasions. Allen's complex defensive schemes and multiple formations made life difficult for opposing quarterbacks in 2020. Indiana forced 20 turnovers — 17 interceptions and three fumble recoveries — which were the most in the Big Ten and checked in at 13th nationally. Safety Jamar Johnson was picked in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, after he picked off four passes last season and ranked second on the team in tackles with 43. But there is still a lot to like about the Hoosiers' secondary, including the fact that junior safety Devon Matthews, a third-team All-Big Ten standout last season, and junior cornerback Tiawan Mullen, a first-team All- American who registered three interceptions of his own a year ago, are set to highlight the group. Junior linebacker Micah McFadden will once again be the leader of the front seven. He recorded team highs in tackles (58), tack- les for loss (10.5) and sacks (six), while also making two interceptions a year ago. He's joined in the linebacking crew by two other returning starters in junior Cam Jones (35 tackles, four stops for loss, 3.5 sacks) and sixth-year senior Marcelino McCrary-Ball, who missed the entire 2020 campaign with a preseason ACL tear. Notes Indiana gave up only 137.1 rushing yards per contest last season, which ranked fifth in the Big Ten … Charlton Warren is the team's new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, replacing Kane Wommack, who is now the head coach at South Alabama. ❏ The Hoosiers Look To Build On Last Year's Breakthrough Season 2021 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2020 Result Sept. 4 at Iowa — Sept. 11 Idaho — Sept. 18 Cincinnati — Sept. 25 at Western Kentucky — Oct. 2 at Penn State W, 36-35 Oct. 16 Michigan State W, 24-0 Oct. 23 Ohio State L, 42-35 Oct. 30 at Maryland W, 27-11 Nov. 6 at Michigan W, 38-21 Nov. 13 Rutgers W, 37-21 Nov. 20 Minnesota — Nov. 27 at Purdue — PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Michael Penix Jr., R-So., QB The 6-3, 218-pounder landed on Athlon's preseason All-Big Ten first team … Has accumulated 3,258 passing yards and 25 touchdowns during his Hoosier career, to go along with 189 rushing yards and four scores. Defense: Micah McFadden, Jr., LB Phil Steele named him a second-team All-American last season, while he received a third-team nod from the Associated Press … Tabbed as the Hoosiers' most valuable player. GAME 9 • INDIANA HOOSIERS • NOV. 6 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 59-10 First Meeting: U-M 12, Indiana 0 (Nov. 3, 1900 at Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: Indiana 38, U-M 21 (Nov. 2, 2020 at Bloomington, Ind.) Head Coach: Tom Allen, 24-22 at Indiana and overall (5th year) 2020 In Review: 6-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten (2nd East) Final 2020 Ranking: No. 12 in Associated Press poll, No. 13 in coaches' poll Returning Starters: 18 (8 offense, 9 defense, 1 spe - cialist) Last Bowl Appearance: 2020 (Outback Bowl vs. Ole Miss, L 26-20) Returning Leaders Passing: Michael Penix Jr. (1,645 yards, 14 TD) Rushing: Tim Baldwin Jr. (141 yards, 0 TD) Receiving: Ty Fryfogle (721 yards, 7 TD) Tackles: Micah McFadden (58) Sacks: McFadden (6) Interceptions: Jaylin Williams (4) Junior cornerback Tiawan Mullen allowed just 14 receptions on 30 targets last season, per Pro Football Focus. PHOTO COURTESY INDIANA ATHLETICS