3 Hoosiers pick up national, conference accolades

A trio of IU football players -- senior Kyle Killion, junior Lance Bennett and sophomore Tracy Porter -- proved they are capable of performing on the gridiron as they recently received national recognition by pre-season magazines. \nKillion, a senior hailing from Kingwood, Texas, was named the nation's 11th-best outside linebacker by Lindy's magazine and is expected to anchor the Hoosier defense. \n"I definitely wasn't expecting (the honor)," he said. \nKillion averaged 9.6 tackles per game last season. His 106 tackles during the year were good for fourth in the Big Ten in total tackles. Killion also led the team in tackles for loss and fumble recoveries.\nWith the departure of junior linebacker Paul Szczesny to Arizona State, a void was created that desperately needed filling. IU football coach Terry Hoeppner decided to bump Killion over to his more natural position of outside linebacker and moved fullback John Pannozzo over to middle linebacker to fill Killion's former spot. Killion said that the switch is a recipe for a very successful linebacking core.\n"Now that I'm outside of the box, I can run around a little more and hopefully be a key contributor next season," he said. "This unit has some great talent and we'll definitely be a threat."\nSome people think of Lance Bennett as the guy who worked behind the scenes co-writing pop music hits "Nod Ya Head" and "Switch" with Will Smith. Others associate the Brooklyn, N.Y., native as a junior wide receiver, kickoff and punt returner who emphatically returned the second longest kickoff return for a touchdown in school history against Oregon Sept. 11 last season. Bennett's return went 98 yards, solidifying the upset against the No. 24 Ducks.\nAthlon's magazine named Bennett a first team all-league kickoff returner, something he said will serve as motivation for the upcoming season. \n"This really gives me enough fuel going into the offseason to make me work more for next year," he said.\nBennett was first in the Big Ten and third in the country with a 29.95 kickoff yard return average. His punt return average of 10.9 yards was good for sixth in the conference and 41st in the nation. \nBennett was limited to special teams last season due to an injury he suffered, but he is now looking forward to also serving as wide receiver in Hoeppner's spread offense. His experience and talent are crucial to the system as the wide receiving corps is very inexperienced going into the 2005 season. His personal goals for the upcoming year are ambitious, yet given his skills, fall under the realm of \npossibility.\n"I want to be the guy that every time I touch the ball, I change the game," he said. "I want to be the most dangerous all-purpose player in the country. I want to be that extra weapon."\nBut more important than his own recognition, Bennett stresses that anything short of a bowl game will be a failure for IU next season. He pointed out numerous mistakes that occurred last year that he said turned a possible 8-3 record into a 3-8 one. With the speed and athleticism the team boasts, coupled with the new coaching staff, he believes having a winning season is expected.\nSophomore cornerback Tracy Porter rounds out the trio as he was named first team all-league by Street and Smith's magazine. The Port Allen, La., native made an immediate impact in his first collegiate game by picking off a pass and returning it 96 yards for a touchdown against Central Michigan last season. The pick marked the third longest interception return for a touchdown in school history.\nPorter made the 2004 Big Ten All-Freshman Team. He was only one of two true freshmen to start for the Hoosiers last season, starting the first seven games of the season. An injury prevented him from competing for the remainder of the schedule. Although Porter suffered an injury and could not play in the last four games, he mustered a team-high three interceptions for 115 yards.\nEven with Hoeppner only being on the job a few months he didn't need much time to recognize how much potential Porter has.\n"The scary thing about Tracy Porter is that he is just a sophomore," he said. "He is extremely athletic and will only improve with experience."\nSeeing his players attract pre-season acknowledgements is a testament to what they did last season and what they are capable of this year, Hoeppner said.\n"It is great to see all three of these guys get the recognition that they deserve," he said.