Preseason accolades continue to pile up for Tegray Scales.
As part of its countdown of the Top 100 players in college football for the 2017 season, Sports Illustrated slotted the IU senior linebacker at No. 49.
"Scales led the nation in tackles for loss with 23.5 and was the Big Ten’s leading tackler as the Hoosiers defense shaved nearly 10 points per game off its scoring average in 2016, moving into the top half of the national rankings," SI's Eric Single wrote. "The linebacker’s streak of six straight games with double-digit tackles was the longest in the country last season. Defensive coordinator Tom Allen was promoted to the top job in December after the abrupt firing of Kevin Wilson, and Allen would be wise to lean on Scales for defensive leadership as the 6-foot, 230-pound senior makes one final case for the pros."
Last December, the same publication also named Scales a Second Team All-American. It marked the first time an Indiana linebacker received such recognition since Van Waiters in 1987.
In addition to the preseason recognition from SI, Scales also earned first-team All-American honors from Streeth & Smiths and second team All-America honors from Athlon Sports this month.
Scales finished with a nation-leading 93 solo tackles and 23.5 tackles for loss last season, helping the Hoosiers reach the Foster Farms Bowl and back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time in 25 years.
Indiana kicks off its 2017 campaign hosting Ohio State on Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
To view SI's recent rankings for its Top 100, click here.
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