Taylor Lehman of TheHoosier.com was kind enough to swing by this week and break down Indiana's strengths and weaknesses prior to its game against the Michigan Wolverines' football team on Saturday.
Lehman revealed how he sees this weekend's contest playing out between the two clubs, and whether or not the Hoosiers finally have what it takes to grab a big victory against the Maize and Blue.
Indiana’s Projected Starters On Offense
• Redshirt junior QB Peyton Ramsey — His 72.7 completion percentage is the best in the Big Ten and fourth best in all of college football, and he has also accumulated a 10-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio with 1,673 passing yards this year. Ramsey has only started four games, but has taken over as the team's primary quarterback once it was announced Nov. 5 that redshirt freshman Michael Penix (six starts) would miss the rest of the season.
• Sophomore RB Stevie Scott — His 791 yards are the fourth most in the conference and his nine touchdowns are tied for fifth most. Scott is also averaging 4.8 yards per carry, and is the only Hoosier with more than 153 rushing yards on the year.
• Junior WR Whop Philyor — He is Indiana's best wideout and one of the best pass catchers in the league, with his 61 receptions checking in second in the Big Ten and his 863 receiving yards third. Philyor was injured in last week's loss at Penn State, however, and is questionable for Saturday; Lehman revealed that freshman David Ellis will start in his place if Philyor's not able to go.
• Fifth-year senior WR Nick Westbrook — He is fourth on the team in both catches and receiving yards, with 31 and 387, respectively. Westbrook is averaging 12.4 yards per catch, and his four aerial touchdowns are tied with redshirt sophomore tight end Peyton Hendershot for the team lead.
• Fifth-year senior WR Donovan Hale — He has hauled in 21 receptions for 367 yards, and his 17.4 yards per grab is the highest average on the team. Hale has eclipsed 98 yards in two games this season, and poses a mismatch problem at 6-4, 218 pounds.
• Redshirt sophomore TE Peyton Hendershot — He is second in the Big Ten among tight ends in both receptions and yards, hauling in 36 of the former and 444 of the latter. Hendershot has been a consistent target in IU's passing game all year, compiling at least 51 yards in five of the Hoosiers' 10 affairs.
