Curt Cignetti is optimistic Turbo Richard and Rolijah Hardy will be available against Rutgers
- Alex Bozich
- 44m ago
Two of IU football’s key players who suffered injuries in Friday’s win against Northwestern are on track to be available for Saturday’s game against Rutgers.
At his weekly press conference on Monday, head coach Curt Cignetti provided positive updates on running back Turbo Richard and linebacker Rolijah Hardy.
Richard suffered a lower leg/ankle injury after being pulled to the ground out of bounds in the second quarter of Friday’s 29-23 win against Northwestern on Friday. Richard had to be helped to the injury tent and later to the locker room and did not return.
Hardy, meanwhile, left the game after attempting to tackle Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles late in Friday’s game.
On Monday, Cignetti provided an encouraging update on Richard and Hardy.
“We got really good news on Turbo, and he’ll be day-to-day,” Cignetti said. “And I’m optimistic he can play Saturday as well as Rolijah Hardy.”
Through IU’s first four games, Richard has 50 carries for 383 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He’s averaging 7.7 yards per carry.
With Richard sidelined on Friday and Khobie Martin out with an arm injury, the Hoosiers leaned heavily on Lee Beebe Jr., who racked up 203 rushing yards in IU’s win.
Hardy, meanwhile, is again producing at an All-America level through four games. He has 29 tackles, tied for the team-lead with Isaiah Jones and an interception, which he returned for a touchdown against Howard.
The 4-0 Hoosiers will kick off against Rutgers on Saturday night in primetime (8 p.m. ET) on BTN.
Other quick notes from Cignetti’s press conference:
• On the progress of Stephen Daley: “I think he’s getting closer. He was our defensive player of the game. Also he had a critical missed assignment on a critical play on their touchdown down near our locker room where he was supposed to rush and didn’t, but he played well. His presence in that game was felt.”
• On the challenge of playing on the road: “We’re going on the road. Still playing on a 100-yard football field, 52 yards wide. Got a lot of veterans on this team that have been there. It’s a business trip, so going there — we got prepare well this week and put it between the white lines.”
• On Nick Marsh’s play through four weeks: “I think Nick is improving every week, and we’re using him in a lot of different ways. You know, he’s a threat in the pass game and he’s also an excellent blocker. I think our receivers in general have done a pretty good job. Blocking can still improve. Shazz Preston, you saw a key block on that one long run. So I’m really encouraged by the way Nick is trending.”
• On Rutgers running back Antwan Raymond: “He’s a good player. He’s one of the premier backs in this conference. You know, they’re not really fancy in their run game. They do few things in the run game really well. He has great vision. Can stick his foot and get north and south and tremendous ball security. They want to run the ball but they have been very explosive also now on the outside. So you’ve seen them open it up a little bit more maybe than two, three years ago.”
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