KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Indiana State heads to SEC country for the first time in 22 years for a showdown in Rocky Top against the No. 21/25 Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET and will air live on SEC Network.
QUICK HITS
• The Sycamores are coming off a heartbreaking 22-20 last-minute loss to Eastern Illinois in their home opener on Aug. 31. ISU held the Panthers to just 76 yards rushing while gaining 154 rushing yards from
LeMonte Booker alone, but fell on the final drive of the game.
• New head coach
Curt Mallory is looking for his first career victory. The last Sycamore head coach to earn his first win on the road was
Tim McGuire at Southeast Missouri in 1998 (21-14).
• Indiana State is looking for its first road opening win since beating Louisville in 1984 (44-21).
• All-time, the Sycamores are 384-518-23 and 61-148 in MVFC play.
• Neyland Stadium is the fifth largest college football stadium at 102,455 behind Michigan Stadium (Michigan, 107,601), Beaver Stadium (Penn State, 106,572), Ohio Stadium (Ohio State, 104,944) and Kyle Field (Texas A&M, 102,733). The largest crowd to witness an Indiana State Football game was 96,461 at Penn State in 2011.
THE BRADY HOKE CONNECTION
• Tennessee associate head coach Brady Hoke is a familiar name for several on the Indiana State coaching staff who coached under him at several different stops throughout his head coaching career:
at Michigan, 2011-14: Curt Mallory,
Mark Smith,
Jeff Hecklinski,
Darrell Funk
at San Diego State, 2009-10: Mark Smith,
Jeff Hecklinski,
Darrell Funk
at Ball State, 2003-08: Mark Smith,
Jeff Hecklinski,
Darrell Funk
• Mallory coached with Tennessee head coach Butch Jones at Central Michigan in 2001 as Jones' secondary coach.
• ISU wide receivers coach
Roy Roundtree was also a star wideout for Hoke at Michigan.
#FearTheFCS
• The Valley has had at least one FBS win in each of the last seven seasons, including a conference record four in 2016.
• This is Indiana State's first trip to the SEC since 1995 (at Ole Miss, L, 56-10).
• All-time, ISU is 58-138-3 against the FBS and 0-3 vs. the SEC with losses to Florida in 1983 (17-13) and 1988 (58-0), and Ole Miss in 1995.
• Since joining the Valley, the Sycamores have tallied five FBS/I-A victories: at Ball State in 2014 (27-20), at Western Kentucky in 2011 (44-16), at Eastern Michigan in 2001 (21-14), vs. Cincinnati at home in 1987 (40-16) and vs. Ball State at home the next week that same year (24-23).
• ISU has even or winning records with Arkansas State (1-1), Central Florida (1-0), Florida International (1-0), Marshall (1-1), New Mexico State (4-1), UL-Monroe (2-2), Northern Illinois (5-5) and Oklahoma State (1-0).
SYCAMORES IN THE NATIONAL POLLS/VS. RANKED TEAMS
• Indiana State has ranked nationally in some variation 52 times since joining the Valley in 1986.
• ISU was ranked a school-record 20 straight weeks from Sept. 19, 2014 until Nov. 2, 2015.
• Since joining the Valley, the Sycamores have reached a high ranking of No. 14 three times: 1989 (Preseason), 1995 (Nov. 6) and 2012 (Oct. 29).
• Prior to joining the MVFC, the Sycamores reached an all-time high ranking of No. 1 in the nation during the 1984 Playoff season.
• The Sycamores have faced the No. 1 team in the nation 10 times since joining the Valley, going 1-9 in such games. ISU's one victory came at No. 1 North Dakota State on Oct. 13, 2012, winning 17-14 in the Fargodome.
• The Sycamores own a 16-89 all-time record against Top-25 teams, which includes a 12-69 mark against ranked MVFC schools.
• Indiana State's last win against a ranked team came against No. 9 Illinois State in Terre Haute on Sept. 24, 2016 (34-31).
• Since joining the Valley, Indiana State is 20-25 as a ranked team.
• While ranked, Indiana State is 3-10 all-time vs. other ranked MVFC schools, all wins coming in 2014 vs. No. 10 Northern Iowa on Oct. 4 (20-19), at No. 19 Southern Illinois on Oct. 25 (41-26) and at No. 15 Youngstown State on Nov. 15 (27-24, OT).
INDIANA STATE AS A RANKED TEAM (SINCE JOINING THE VALLEY)
1989 (1-0)
Preseason, #14
1995 (1-3)
Oct. 9, #23; Oct. 23, #22; Nov. 6, #14; Nov. 13, #19; Nov. 20, #24; Final, #24
1996 (2-3)
Preseason, #24; Sept. 2, #25; Oct. 14, #23; Oct. 21, #21; Oct. 28, #23; Nov. 4, #21
2011 (3-4)
Sept. 26, #23; Oct. 3, #17; Oct. 10, #21; Oct. 17, #16; Oct. 24, #18; Oct. 31, #16; Nov. 7, #23; Nov. 14, #23
2012 (4-4)
Preseason, #23; Sept. 3, #23; Sept. 10, #22; Sept. 17, #22; Oct. 15, #21; Oct. 22, #15; Oct. 29, #14; Nov. 5, #18; Nov. 12, #18; Nov. 19, #23
2014 (5-5)
Sept. 29, #25; Oct. 6, #20; Oct. 13, #22; Oct. 20, #22; Oct. 27, #19; Nov. 3, #17; Nov. 10, #23; Nov. 17, #18; Nov. 24, #21; Final, #19
2015 (4-5)
Preseason, #20; Sept. 7, #21; Sept. 14, #23; Sept. 21, #22; Sept. 28, #21; Oct. 5, #19; Oct. 12., #21; Oct. 19, #18; Oct. 26, #21; Nov. 2, #23
2016 (0-1)
Sept. 26, #24
OFFENSIVE NOTES
• New offensive coordinator
Jeff Hecklinski has installed a brand new offensive system for the Sycamores in 2017, moving away from the spread system of years past toward a pro-style, run-oriented offense.
• Indiana State's 293 yards of total offense vs. EIU is the most by ISU since Oct. 22, 2016 (438, at Southern Illinois).
• After beginning the 2016 season with eight straight games at 350 yards of total offense or more, the Sycamores have now been held under 300 for four straight games (226 at Youngstown State, Oct. 29, 2016; 201 vs. UNI, Nov. 5, 2016; 244 at North Dakota State, Nov. 12, 2016; 293 vs. Eastern Illinois, Aug. 31, 2017).
• This is the first streak of at least four games since ISU was held under 300 yards for eight straight games from Oct. 12, 2013 to Aug. 30, 2014.
• Redshirt senior
RB LeMonte Booker missed all of 2016 due to injury but returned to the field with 154 rushing yards and 158 all-purpose yards with two total touchdowns against Eastern Illinois, accounting for 53.9 percent of ISU's offense.
• Booker's 154 rushing yards was a career-high (previous high was 137 vs. Butler in 2015), and the 55th game in ISU history of at least 150 rushing yards.
• Booker's rushing totals were the most since
Shakir Bell tallied 201 yards at Tennessee Tech in 2013. His 31 rushes also constitued the first 30-plus rush game by a Sycamore since Bell had 33 carries at Southern Illinois in 2012.
• Booker is the first ISU back not named Shakir Bell to rush for 150 yards in a single game since
Darrius Gates rushed for 160 vs. St. Joseph's in 2010.
• Booker eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for his career in rushing yards, currently sitting at 1,133. Booker also ranks just 134 yards shy of the all-time top-10 in all-purpose yards at 2,479.
• Currently, Booker leads the Valley and ranks seventh in the FCS in rushing.
• Booker was named a Preseason Honorable Mention All-MVFC member as a running back this fall, his second preseason honor after also earning Honorable Mention as a return specialist in 2015.
• Both redshirt junior
Isaac Harker and redshirt freshman
Cade Sparks played at quarterback in ISU's season opener vs. Eastern Illinois. Harker started the game but was pulled in the final drive of the first half in favor of Sparks.
• Sparks completed his first career pass for 43 yards to
WR Bob Pugh.
• Sparks redshirted the 2016 season after leading the state of California in passing touchdowns as a high school senior with 52 TD in 2015. His senior year final line read 184-of-308 for 3,225 yards, 52 TD, 4 INT and one rushing TD.
• Harker won the training camp battle for the starting QB spot for the second straight season.
• Harker was an Honorable Mention All-MVFC member in 2016 after becoming the first Valley QB to 2,000 yards, ending with the third-best passing season in school history at 2,559 yards.
• Harker nearly broke
Mike Perish's 2014 single-season record for 300-yard passing games, coming one short at five 300-yard games. Indiana State did not have a single 300-yard passer in 2015.
• Harker also nearly broke Perish's 2014 single-season passing TD record of 21, coming up two short at 19 passing scores.
• Harker ended the season 214-of-370 (57.8 %) for 2,559 yards, 19 TD, 8 INT and was ranked in the national top-50 in: completions per game (16th, 21.4/game), yards per game (20th, 255.9 YPG), total yards (22nd, 2,559), passing TD (32nd, 19 TD), and completion percentage (47th, 57.8)
• Harker had 35 passing plays of 20 yards or longer in 2016, including five 50 yards or longer. The longest of those was an 85-yard TD pass to
Miles Thompson at SIU, the longest pass play since Indiana State joined the Valley.
• Harker had at least one passing TD in nine of 10 games played, and had at least 200 yards passing in eight of his 10 games played.
• In 13 career games played, Harker has only thrown multiple interceptions in two. Harker did not throw an interception in his first 146 career pass attempts, his first INT coming late against No. 9 Illinois State on Sept. 24, 2016.
•
RB Jaquan Keys had a productive sophomore season in 2016 as a compliment to starter
Roland Genesy after missing the 2015 season due to injury. Last year, Keys rushing for 311 yards and one score.
• True freshman
RB Titus McCoy had an extremely lucrative career at Center Grove High School, which he led to the state finals twice and a state title in 2015. There, McCoy recorded an incredible 3,828 career rushing yards, 645 career receiving yards and 54 total TD.
• Also returning from injury is redshirt sophomore
RB Marlon Fleming II, who missed all of 2016 alongside Booker. Fleming saw the field in a supporting role as a true freshman in 2015, recording 159 yards and two rushing touchdowns for the Sycamores that season.
• Two former running backs -- senior
Dimitri Taylor (752 career rushing yards) and true freshman
Peterson Kerlegrand (5,919 career all-purpose yards at Concordia Lutheran High School -- transitioned to cornerback during training camp.
• Indiana State loses 73.8 percent of its receiving output from 2016 -- including 25.9 percent alone from
Robert Tonyan Jr.
• ISU's top returning receiver is senior
WR Bob Pugh with 276 yards and one 56-yard TD in eight games in 2016.
• ISU's next-best returning receiver is senior
TE Jacquet McClendon, who hauled in 157 yards as a junior in 2016 and is set to see an increased role both in the passing and running games under the new offensive system.
• Former walk-on and senior
WR Curtis Lee has only played in one career game on special teams, but is listed as one of three starting receivers following great showings in the spring and fall.
• Senior
LT Matt Byrne was the top graded offensive lineman vs. Eastern Illinois at 85 percent, no sacks or pressures and three knockdowns. Byrne is the elder statesman on the line with 30 career games played with 20 starts, alongside East Carolina transfer and RT
Kyle Erickson (18 career games played at ECU.
DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• New defensive coordinator
Brad Wilson has installed a change from the nickel set, 3-4 base of years past into a 4-3 defensive front that puts more emphasis on the front seven attack.
• Indiana State held Eastern Illinois to just 278 yards of total offense, the fewest allowed by a Sycamore defense since yielding 226 to Youngstown State on Nov. 21, 2015.
• Indiana State had just one game in 2016 where the defense allowed fewer than 300 yards of total offense (291, at Youngstown State).
• The Sycamores allowed just 76 yards rushing to EIU, the fewest since holding Southern Ilinois to 27 yards on Oct. 25, 2014.
• Indiana State leads the FCS and the MVFC with 5.0 sacks recorded against Eastern Illinois, the most since Sept. 28, 2013 at Tennessee Tech (5.0).
• Two different Sycamore linebackers recorded 13 tackles against Eastern Illinois -- redshirt sophomore
Jonas Griffith and redshirt junior
Katrell Moss -- the most since
Jameer Thurman recorded 14 against Missouri State in 2016.
• Both Griffith and Moss rank 14th in the FCS in total tackles after the first week.
• Moss is the top returning tackler for the Sycamores with 46 total tackles in 2016 (28 solo). Moss also had two pass breakups and one fumble recovery for eight yards.
• Moss was a member of the 2015 MVFC All-Newcomer Team after recording 47 total tackles -- 11 and a forced fumble coming against then-defending national champions North Dakota State.
• Griffith played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2016 and returns as the third-best tackler on ISU's roster with 37 total tackles last year.
• Griffith helped lead ISU to a near-upset at No. 14 Youngstown State in 2016, where he led the Sycamores with a career-high nine tackles and his first career interception at a crucial juncture in the game.
• Senior
DE Evan Gill and sophomore
DE Inoke Moala both received their first career start and recorded 1.5 sacks against EIU, ranking them 13th in the FCS at the moment.
• Moala entered the season opener vs. EIU with seven career games played and five career tackles, and left with six tackles and 1.5 sacks.
• Gill is one of several transfers to Indiana State from Saint Joseph's College, which closed its doors following the Spring 2017 semester.
• There, Gill was a two-time All-Conference performer and a Team Captain with 78 tackles, 12 sacks and 22.0 TFL.
• Senior
LB Jordan Jackson recorded a career-high seven tackles vs. EIU. Jackson missed the 2014 and 2015 seasons in their entirety due to injury, but was able to play in 10 games and start in four during his redshirt junior season in 2016.
• Senior safety
Jamal Jones also recorded a career-high seven tackles vs. EIU in his fourth career start at ISU.
• Starting
CB De'Jaun Tyson recorded a career-high six tackles and his second career forced fumble against the Panthers.
•
CB Rondell Green recorded two pass breakups against EIU, his seventh and eighth career batted passes.
• Green was one of several heroes in ISU's thrilling 27-24 win at Southeast Missouri in 2016. Green recorded a key pass breakup on third down late in the game to give the Sycamore offense the ball back with 1:33 left to drive the field and win the game.
• Green was also a member of the MVFC All-Newcomer Team in 2014 after earning four starts as a true freshman.
•
DT Rex Mosley also batted down two passes against EIU in his first career start as a Sycamore. Mosley transfered to Indiana State after spending two seasons at Northern Illinois.
• Redshirt sophomore safety
Kevin Scott is the top returning tackler among Sycamore defensive backs after recording 28 tackles (17 solo) in 11 games played and four started during the 2016 season.
• Senior
DE Kenyota Rollins is ISU's second-leading returning tackler with 45 stops in 2016 (22 solo). Rollins was tied for the team lead in TFL with 9.0 and is the top returner with 3.0 total sacks for a loss of 25 yards.
•
DE Pishon Powell was one of two Sycamores to earn a surprise scholarship this training camp, alongside backup punter and primary holder
Jeremy Patterson.
• Senior
DT Norvell McGlaun owns the fourth-most tackles among Sycamore returnees with 36 total stops in 2016. McGlaun also tallied 3.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
• Sophomore kicker
Jerry Nunez went 2-for-3 in field goals against EIU, the 16th and 17th of his young career. Nunez connected from 43 and 19 yards out, while barely missing out on a potential game-winner from what would have been a career-long 48 yards.
• It was the sixth career multi-FG game for Nunez, and his 43-yarder stood as his eighth career field goal from 40 yards or longer after going 7-of-8 from there and a perfect 4-for-4 from 30-39 as a freshman.
• Currently, Nunez ranks tied for the Valley lead and fifth in the FCS in field goals made.
• Nunez led the MVFC and ranked ninth nationally in 2016 with a 15-of-18 mark in field goals last season. For his efforts, Nunez earned Second-Team All-MVFC and MVFC All-Newcomer honors in 2016, and this fall was just honored as the Preseason All-MVFC selection for kicker.
• In 2016, Nunez was one of nine kickers in the nation to start the season 7-for-7 in field goals.
• His 83.3 percentage in field goals in 2016 tied a school record set by Tanner Fritschle in 2012, who also hit 15 field goals on 18 attempts.
• Senior punter
Thomas Bouldin recorded the longest punt in the Valley in 2016, registering at 70 yards at Southern Illinois.
• Bouldin finished the season ranked fourth in the Valley at 41.0 yards per punt.
• Senior kickoff specialist
Andrew Lunsford has recorded 39 total touchbacks as a Sycamore and has a career kickoff average of 62.0 yards.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Football team, make sure to check out
GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including
Facebook and
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