By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Senior All-American linebacker Connor Underwood has already put together an impressive, Hall of Fame-worthy resume in his first three seasons with the Sycamores. But, as he would like to point out, it's not over yet.
Underwood returns to Indiana State for his final season in 2015 to anchor a veteran defense for the 20th-ranked Sycamores, one that has the potential to be one of the best in recent memory. According to Underwood, the beginning of training camp has been a solid start for the Sycamore defense.
“It's going really well on the defensive side,” Underwood said. “We had a slow start, but I think we've picked it up a lot and improved a lot in pretty much all aspects of the game.”
Aside from Underwood, ISU returns fellow seniors and fellow Preseason All-MVFC honorees Mark Sewall (safety) and Travis Starks (cornerback) in the secondary, as well as linebackers Kendall Walker and Jameer Thurman.
“Our back half is phenomenal,” Underwood said. “That's what you need on third downs, and we're going to be great in that aspect. We have a great cover corner in Travis Starks and at safety in Mark Sewall. If they cover long enough hopefully we can get to the quarterback, rush the ball out and make some plays.”
Underwood and the Sycamore defense are hoping to be the catalyst in keeping the excitement around ISU football up, considering the historic year Indiana State is coming off of. The 2014 Sycamores went 8-6, clinching their first playoff berth since 1984 and winning their first playoff game since 1983.
“We know we can do it, so that's what we're setting our heads toward right now,” Underwood said. “We don't want to be an average or just above-average team. We want to be one of the best defenses, if not the best, in the country this year.”
Individually, the Washington, Ill., native returns as one of the top linebackers in both the MVFC and the nation after finishing second in the MVFC Defensive Player of the Year balloting, as well as ninth on the national Buck Buchannan Award ballot in 2014. For his final season in Terre Haute, Underwood isn't splitting hairs.
“I just want to try to be the best defensive player in the nation and lead this team to being the best defense in the nation,” Underwood said. “That's about it.”
Underwood already broke the Indiana State all-time record in career sacks last season (28.5), and is just two tackles for a loss shy of that record as well. But, numbers aren't the legacy Underwood is worried about.
“I want to leave a legacy for people to remember and hopefully a defense for everyone to remember and compare to,” Underwood said. “We'll see if we can get that done.”
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