12/27/2016 football Edit

Dan Feeney Excited For NFL Future But Just Wants To Focus On Utah

Dan Feeney is a high-end draft prospect but said he's worried about ending his IU career with a win. (TheHoosier.com)

Sam Beishuizen • TheHoosier

Staff Writer

Even as he prepares for one final game with Indiana in the Foster Farms Bowl against No. 19 Utah, IU All-American right guard Dan Feeney acknowledges the NFL Draft is looming.

He just doesn't want to talk about it.

"I'm excited, but I'm also excited to play one more game with the Hoosiers," Feeney said. "It's a bittersweet feeling, I guess you could say."

Feeney has just one more game in an Indiana career that'll go down as one of the all-time greats in program history.

Despite missing about 18 quarters of play, Feeney was named a First-Team All-American by the Associated Press, among a slew of other honors, after also being named an All-American a year ago. Over the course of 3,278 snaps, Feeney has been credited with allowing just two sacks.

CBS Sports ranks Feeney No. 1 among guards in the upcoming draft, but he's also spent time playing tackle this season due to injuries. That leaves the door open for Feeney to move around at the next level, which makes him an even more valuable prospect.

He knows it, too. That's why he agreed to do it.

"Guard, center, tackle, receiver, man, I'll do whatever," Feeney said.

Feeney has turned to former teammates Tevin Coleman, Jordan Howard, Jason Spriggs, and Nate Sudfeld for NFL advice already. He was particularly close to watch Spriggs, an All-American last season before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers.

Feeney will play in the Senior Bowl following the Foster Farms Bowl to give NFL executives, coaches and other decision makers another chance to check him out. Apart from that, he's not sure whether he'll train in Bloomington or elsewhere beginning in January.

"I'm trying to do a bit of everything," Feeney said. "Maybe train at a facility, maybe at Indiana. I've got a few things circling."

Getting quotes about Feeney's future from the source himself isn't easy. He's shy to talk about the NFL and what's coming beyond this season. He gives the impression that he genuinely just wants to win with his IU teammates one more time.

"I think the best way to deal with it all is not to dwell on it much," Feeney said. "I'll be like, 'That's cool.' But I've got this right now. I'm focusing on this moment."