Notebook: Defensive End Nile Sykes To Miss 2017 Season
Indiana's defensive line will be short one player entering fall camp.
IU head coach Tom Allen on Tuesday announced redshirt junior defensive end Nile Sykes will miss the entire 2017 season due to an undisclosed injury which required surgery.
"Disappointed that Nile Sykes is a young man that we've lost for the season due to an injury that occurred late in the summer," Allen told reporters at the program's local media day Tuesday. "Just unfortunate part of the workout. Already had surgery. He will miss the entire season. I hurt for him. He's worked extremely hard."
Sykes finished with 18 solo tackles, five sacks, seven tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups while playing in all 13 games last season, including making his first career start in the Old Oaken Bucket win at Purdue. He finished second on the team in sacks and fourth in tackles for loss.
Overall, Sykes has recorded 22 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss and five sacks in 25 career games with the Hoosiers.
"But as we just talked yesterday, he's excited about getting himself back and working hard and getting ready for his next season," Allen said. "That's our mindset here. We don't blink. We understand that sometimes life's not fair. You just got to respond."
Allen expects a group effort in order to make up for the lost production.
"As a collective group, once again, it's just a guy goes down, boy, that group has to step up, across the board," Allen said. "I've seen it. That's what happens. You just got to embrace adversity. It's what makes you strong."
Knight, Philyor limited at start of camp
Two other Hoosiers will be on the mend as fall camp begins Wednesday.
Allen also announced that both junior offensive tackle Brandon Knight and freshman wide receiver Whop Philyor will be "limited" as camp gets underway.
Knight started six games at right tackle last season before suffering a season-ending injury, helping IU's offense rank second in the Big Ten in passing offense (273.8 yards per game) and third in total offense (426 yards per game). Philyor arrived on campus as a two-star wide receiver from Tampa (Fla.) Plant High School.
Allen said Knight's absence will give Indiana a chance to look at some younger players with fewer game reps.
"We have the charge to be able to develop depth. That's one thing that happens," Allen said. "Like it or not, it happens wherever somebody is sidelined for whatever period of time that may be, that the guys behind him are forced to respond. (Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman) Grayson Stover is a guy that as a redshirt from last fall will be able to have a chance to come in now and do a great job. We expect that to happen. There will be several guys in that position."
Regarding both players, Allen said the goal is for them to return at some point during training camp.
"Yeah, the hope is to get them back," Allen said. "That's the hope. That's the plan."
Allen doesn't anticipate any position changes
The positions for all 113 players on IU's roster appear to be set.
Allen doesn't anticipate any position changes from the springtime heading into fall camp.
Allen mentioned three or four players from the incoming freshman class could change positions, but it just depends on their development in the future.
"Obviously, as camp rolls along, things happen, you may have to make some adjustments," Allen said.
Redshirt junior Kiante Walton had the most notable position change switching from safety to linebacker this spring, and Allen said Walton remain at linebacker.
"He's a guy that I want and am challenging to step up, to help us," Allen said. "A guy that's extremely athletic, very strong. From a weight room and testing perspective, he's one of our best guys. Need him to stay healthy and contribute. So that's one that we switched.
"Other than that, I see it being pretty consistent from spring to fall."
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