Departure, suspensions headline opening day of IU football camp - Examiner.com

105 football players reported for the beginning of Indiana University's 2012 football practice on Thursday. Unfortunately, off the field news dominated the first day of workouts.

Second-year head coach Kevin Wilson announced the dismissal of sophomore wide receiver Jay McCants for violating team rules. McCants saw limited action in 2011, but caught six passes for 54 yards.

Additionally, wide receiver Kofi Hughes, the team leader in receptions last season, cornerback Lawrence Barnett and safety Florisse Hardin have all been suspended for one game, also for a violation of team rules.

Wilson announced the news during a the team's media day event. “We have things we stand for and believe in,” Wilson said. “Those things are extremely explicit, articulated, known, communicated. You’re addressed if there’s an issue that you know things need to change and be careful of what you’re doing. There’s communication with families. … Bottom line, we’re not going to have kids back us into a corner where, I’m not going to stand up in front of my team and say we’re going to do certain things. If a guy does things we don’t do, I’m not going to handle it, I just do it.”

The bad news didn't end there. True freshman defensive end Adam Kranda has not reported for the start of camp. “Adam is dealing with a private matter. It is our intention to work with him to have him here in the near future. Adam has a bright future and will be a valuable piece on our defensive line,” Wilson said.

Running back Matt Perez, tight end Paul Phillips, linebacker Ishmael Thomas and walk-on tight end Jordan Jackson will not attend camp due to injuries.

“Matt (back), Paul (ankle), Ishmael (shoulder) and Jordan (knee) have been rehabbing their injuries, but they are not ready to compete at this time. We look forward to getting these men back on the field as soon as possible.”

Additionally, two backup players, Safety Shaquille Jefferson and wide receiver Logan Young, have left the program to pursue other opportunities. Jefferson is apparently headed to Grand Valley State in Michigan, while Young landed at the University of Indianapolis.

On the positive front, Wilson released the names of 18 walk-on players who will compete with the Hoosiers in fall camp. The list is below:

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Last School
2 Dareon Fuller DB 5-7 167 Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington
3 David Nelson QB 5-11181 Hudson, Ohio/Hudson
4 Corey Babb QB 6-5 221 Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral
9 Nate Boudreau QB 6-3 209 Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley
19 Ryan Parker WR 6-3 183 Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg
23 Blair Stellhorn WR 5-9 190 Russiaville, Ind./Western
33 Christian Englum TE 6-6 205 Indianapolis, Ind./Park Tudor
35 Quai Chandler DB 6-0 180 Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest Academy
38 Garrett Welch DB 6-1 192 Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville
43 Brandon Grubbe RB 5-11200 Lowell, Ind./Butler University
44 Andrew Wilson RB 5-11207 Columbus, Ind./Columbus East
52 Austin Schlosser LB 5-11201 Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley
54 Alex Ziedas OL 6-2 283 Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit
72 Michael Mitsch DL 5-11264 Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral
82 Sean Barrett LS 6-6 200 Carmel, Ind./Carmel
87 Mitchell Paige WR 5-7 166 Noblesville, Ind./Guerin Catholic
88 Anthony Corsaro TE 6-1 242 Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral
93 Nick Campos K 6-0 182 Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton-Warrenville South

For more on the Hoosiers, see http://www.examiner.com/article/iu-adds-juco-db-to-roster