Before the start of the 2017 season, IU defensive end Robert McCray sat down with defensive line coach Mark Hagen to discuss goals for McCray's final season as a Hoosier.

Hagen has kept on McCray about those goals, and the persistence paid off with a career performance from McCray in last Saturday's contest against Wisconsin.

"I had a pretty decent first game, but then the next few games I kind of leveled out a little bit," McCray said. "He definitely got back in my head saying, 'Go harder, go harder,' keep pushing yourself, remember your goals."

Against Wisconsin, McCray recorded his first multi-sack game of his career, finishing with two along with four tackles. He was named IU's defensive player of the game for his performance.

While he appreciated the individual honor, he was quick to recognize his teammates and the impact they had on how he played last week.

"Honestly, it doesn't necessarily feel like I hit another level, but you could see the defense as a whole clicking," McCray said. "I wouldn't be able to get a sack if Rashard Fant, Tony Fields, Jonathan Crawford, Chris Covington and Tegray Scales aren't back there holding off the wide receivers and the running backs coming out of the backfield. You've got to beat your one-on-ones, but at the same time, you can't forget what the guys in the backfield are doing for you."

Thanks to those five Hoosier playmakers on defense, McCray has now recorded at least one-half of a sack in each of his last three games. The feat is impressive considering not only the level of competition but what had been going on prior to that run. He had one sack in the season-opener against Ohio State before going without a sack on the stat sheet for five straight games.

"Defensively Robert McCray III probably played his best game I believe since I've been here," IU head coach Tom Allen said. "Couple sacks; caused one of the fumbles and several hurries. I thought he was very physical in the run game, which we have to have that from him. Really challenged him. Applaud his effort and how well he played."

Indiana faces a critical final three weeks of the regular season, needing to win out to get to six wins and meet the minimum bowl game eligiblity requirements.

It will also continue to count on McCray to provide the same defensive boost like he did against Wisconsin.

"We need that the final stretch from him," Allen said. "Really proud of Robert and the way he performed."

----

• Talk about it inside The Hoops Forum or The Football Forum

• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes

• Follow us on Twitter: @IndianaRivals

• Like us on Facebook.