HERO Sports welcomes you to "Two-a-Days", where we will preview every single one of the 125 FCS programs, with two being released each day from June 18 to August 18 (with the final day having three in one day). Today we give you … Indiana State.
[divider] MORE: Compare Any Two FCS Players or Any Two FCS Teams [divider]
FCS TEAM BY TEAM PREVIEW: The countdown
FCS PRESEASON TOP 25: The poll
FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA: The teams
INDIANA STATE (0-11 IN 2017)
MVFC (ISU was 11th in 2017)
COACH: Curt Mallory – 2nd year (0-11 record)
2017 OFFENSE: 14.4 ppg. (T114th in FCS)
2017 DEFENSE: 44.9 ppg. (122nd in FCS)
SUM IT UP: Indiana State is going through a major rebuilding process right now. A program that won a playoff game not too long ago in 2014, the Sycamores struggled to keep momentum on their side. Mallory was brought in to push things back in the right direction. A 0-11 record in his first year last season obviously wasn't ideal. But this is the year where that next step will be taken. It won't be easy in the brutal slate of Valley games. Gone from last season are ISU's starting running back, top four players in receiving and the two quarterbacks who split reps. The defense should be better, led by linebackers Katrell Moss and Jonas Griffith, both who surpassed 100 total tackles.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: A nonconference win against Eastern Illinois can get this team to 2-1 entering Valley play. Once there, the Sycamores hope to just compete well in games and see what happens in the fourth quarter as the rebuild continues its progression.
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BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
TOP RETURNEE: LB Jonas Griffith (Second Team All-MVFC)
THE NEXT BEST: LB Katrell Moss (101 total tackles); CB Rondell Green (66 tackles, 2 INT.); RB Jaquan Keys (top returning rusher): WR Rontrez Morgan (top returning pass catcher)
TOP NEWCOMER: OL Tate Leavitt (Kentucky transfer, 6-6, 330 pounds)
DID YOU KNOW?: Larry Bird played basketball at Indiana State and led the Sycamores to the 1979 NCAA Tournament title game, where they lost 75-64 to Magic Johnson and Michigan State.
THE QUOTE: "We wanted to get size and physicality up front and I think as a whole we were able to get five offensive linemen and three interior guys that we really needed. It's always going to start up front in the trenches and I think we signed young men that we feel physically can come in and help us immediately." — Head Coach Curt Mallory said on this year's recruiting class
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SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
THE HASHTAG: #MarchOn
FOOTBALL TWITTER: @IndStFB
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