The areas most in question after returning no starters from 2014 were the wide receivers and defensive backs.
At wide receiver, 6-foot-4 sophomore Simmie Cobbs is starting opposite 5-foot-10 junior Ricky Jones. Junior Mitchell Paige will start at slot receiver, the third receiving position.
Freshmen Nick Westbrook and Leon Thornton back up Cobbs and Jones, respectively, and IU Coach Kevin Wilson has expressed the possibility of playing time for receivers outside the two-deep chart as well.
The Hoosiers will start sophomores Rashard Fant and Noel Padmore at the cornerback positions, sophomore Chase Dutra at free safety and sophomore Tony Fields at strong safety.
Sophomores Ben Bach and Kiante Walton are slated to back up Fant and Dutra, respectively, and freshmen Jonathan Crawford and Andre Brown are backing up Fields and Padmore.
UAB transfer junior running back Jordan Howard will replace Tevin Coleman, who rushed for 2,036 yards in 2014. The 230-pound back will be backed up by sophomore Devine Redding.
Senior wide receiver Damon Graham will be handling kick returns, while Paige will field punts.
Sophomore Griffin Oakes will kick field goals, and senior Erich Toth will punt.
Twelve starters from 2014 will maintain their starting positions versus Southern Illinois, including senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld, who is returning from a season-ending shoulder injury.
One freshman, left guard Wes Martin, will make a start this weekend against SIU, while 13 freshmen will be second string.
Taylor Lehman
