Tevin Coleman To 1st team, Jordan Howard To IU?

Hoosier football fans got some great news Thursday morning, as USA Today announced it’s College Football All-American team.  Just three days after being snubbed as a Heisman finalist, Indiana’s Tevin Coleman received a little redemption, as he was named to the 1st team.  Coleman became the first football Hoosier to earn that honor since Heisman runner-up Anthony Thompson in 1989.

It has long been speculated that Coleman, Indiana’s single season rushing yardage leader, would likely forgo his senior season and opt to enter the NFL draft. He told reporters recently that he plans to make a decision on entering the NFL draft sometime next week.

While Hoosier fans brace for what some see as Coleman’s inevitable departure, things have developed quickly on recruiting trail.  Yesterday, it was reported that Indiana had received a verbal commitment from UAB transfer, wide receiver  Marqui Hawkins. The Hoosiers might not be finished fishing in that pond. Fresh off the announced discontinuation of the UAB football program, many FBS programs have circling the remains of the Blazers program, in hopes of pluck away the most talented of the bunch.

Rarely does an FBS program have the opportunity of adding an immediate impact player with division one experience, without having to suffer through a redshirt year due to transfer requirements. Indiana has an opportunity to add two. Hawkins’ UAB teammate, standout tailback Jordan Howard, is also seriously considering Indiana as a transfer destination.

Howard, who accompanied Hawkins on his visit to Bloomington last weekend, was originally scheduled to visit Wisconsin at the end of the week,  but following coaching Gary Anderson’s sudden departure for Oregon State, that trip has been cancelled (per Indianapolis Star report.) This, accompanied by Hawkins’ verbal to the Hoosiers, would certainly appear to put IU in the driver’s seat to land the services of the coveted back.

While the potential loss of Coleman to the NFL could certainly sting, a commitment from Howard could significantly lessen the blow. Per ESPN.com, Howard was the seventh leading rusher in college football this year, with a total of 1587 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Having a proven top-notch runner again in the backfield, with the addition of a few big receivers, and Sudfeld’s return, should help Indiana regain the offensive momentum they had during the 2013 campaign.

Look to InkOnIndy.com for more updates as this story develops!