The Scoop
On June 1, the Indiana Hoosiers got their first big commitment of the 2019 recruiting class. 4-star defensive end Beau Robbins out of Carmel, Ind. chose to stay in-state and commit to the Hoosiers. Robbins stands at 6-5 and 238 pounds. According to 247Sports, he’s ranked as the fourth best 2019 recruit from Indiana. In addition, he’s ranked eighteenth in the nation positionally, and 256th overall. This commitment is the third to Indiana’s 2019 class and their first four star since 2016. Robbins joins a pair of 3-star recruits in Emery Simmons and Ivory Winters. Simmons is a WR attending South View in Hope Mills, N.C. Ivory Winters is a running back from Hayti, Miss.
Who is Beau?
On film, Beau can be seen delivering big hit after big hit which is undeniably fun to watch. This is especially true when picturing him in cream and crimson hitting somebody in a Boilermaker uniform. He has the ability to run over (or through) offensive linemen almost at will to take down opposing quarterbacks. Beau’s size and strength have undoubtedly helped him to dominate while in high school, but it’s no secret that players need a bit more than that to compete at the collegiate level.
That is exactly where Robbins separates himself from nearly every other player in the state. What is most impressive about his game is not the tackle he’s able to deliver to knock the ball loose. Instead, it’s how he puts himself in position to make that hit. His vision and ability to read a play as it develops are outstanding. If you watch his film, it’s easy to see how much his vision and football IQ impacts his game. Robbins is seen time and time again plugging up holes as they develop to stop the running back from exploiting them. When pressuring the quarterback, his strength is able to get him into the backfield efficiently. Then, his quickness ensures that he can track down the quarterback and complete the sack. Needless to say, it’s a pretty dangerous one-two punch.
The future with Robbins
Indiana will be very thankful to have his talent come 2019, especially considering their defense gave up 25.3 points a game and scored 26.8 in the 2017 campaign. Because their point differential is only separated by a point and a half, the defense plays a large factor in the outcome of their games. One defensive possession ending in a touchdown against as opposed to a field goal could be the difference maker in a game. Beau Robbins looks to have the skill set to prevent that from happening.
Can the Hoosiers turn the tide?
In their history, the Indiana Hoosiers have not had the best luck on the football field. They currently hold the record for most losses in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history with 672. Indiana has only made three bowl games since the year 2000 and have not won since the Bill Mallory era Hoosiers shut out Baylor 24-0 in the Copper Bowl. However, despite their tenth straight losing season this past year with a 5-7 (2-7 in conference) record, the future looks bright in Bloomington.
Nearly all athletic programs for Indiana are making major strides towards success, and football is no exception. The basketball program secured future lottery pick and Mr. Basketball of Indiana Romeo Langford this past spring. Men’s soccer finished second in the NCAA College Cup. The women’s basketball team won the WNIT Championship. And, notably, Indiana football was one win away from making their fourth bowl game in the last two decades. Furthermore, they sent eleven different players to ten different NFL teams.
Though the 2019 football season seems a ways away, the cultural shift Indiana is seeing in their athletics seems reason to believe the future is brighter for Indiana football than its past is. If nothing else, Hoosier fans are ensured entertainment watching Beau Robbins and the IU defense run down opposing Big Ten opponents, and (outside of tailgates in the parking lot before the game) what’s more fun than that?
