IU linebacker Tegray Scales' successful 2016 campaign has earned him numerous preseason accolades entering 2017.
Maybe his top one comes from Street & Smith's college football preview, which tabbed him a first team preseason All-American candidate. Scales finished with a nation-leading 93 solo tackles and 23.5 tackles for loss last season.
Scales joined wide receiver Nick Westbrook and cornerback Rashard Fant on the publication's preseason first team All-Big Ten unit. Westbrook finished with 54 catches for 995 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season, while Fant is the NCAA active career leader with 48 passes defended and 44 pass breakups, which also makes him IU's all-time leader.
As a collective team, though, the magazine projects IU to finish sixth in the Big Ten East's seven-team division, and does not project the Hoosiers to make a bowl.
“There’s continuity, but there’s always uncertainty with a coaching change," the magazine wrote. "That will come to light in the home opener against Ohio State, which hired [former IU head coach] Kevin Wilson as its new offensive coordinator.
"The nonconference schedule includes a trip to Virginia. Indiana’s bye week is sandwiched between a trip to Penn State and a home game against Michigan. Wisconsin also visits Bloomington in November. Those are the games Indiana needs to take the next step, and Wilson was 1-16 against ranked Big Ten teams with the Hoosiers.
"Allen’s focus should be getting Indiana back in the postseason – it won’t be easy.”
IU's season-opener against Ohio State is scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff time in Bloomington. The Thursday night tilt will be televised live on ESPN.
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