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92 GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED Jameer Thurman and Mark Sewall. "Improved depth on the defen- sive line was also a big factor in last year's resurgence of the defense as rotating fresh players allowed the pass rush to be more consistent, and that was a big factor in helping create more opportunities to force turnovers as a unit." The Sycamores return 10 start- ers, including their all-conference players, from a defense that allowed an average of 24.2 points per game last season (ranked No. 44 of 122 FCS schools) and forced the ninth- most turnovers (29, including 15 fumble recoveries). It also averaged 2.4 sacks per game. Underwood is the best of the bunch, a hybrid linebacker/end who was a second-team All-American by the AP and a first-team All-Mis- souri Valley Football Conference pick. Last season, he had school single-season records of 13.5 sacks and 25 tackles for loss. He led the league with four forced fumbles. "He has several traits that make him a great player, but it's his re- lentlessness and football smarts that set him apart," Fritz said. "He has a motor that never stops and the ability to beat linemen and make plays using many different skills, including his quickness, his power or anticipation, depending on the situation." The secondary could be the strength, though, with two of its four starters second-team all-con- ference selections. Cornerback Tra- vis Starks and Sewall, a safety, had four interceptions apiece. Offensively, there's work to do. The Sycamores are replacing their starting quarterback (Mike Perish, 3,515 yards, 21 touchdowns) and running back (Buck Logan, 797 yards), among other pieces, in 2015. Coach Mike Sanford told the Terre Haute Tribune-Star there won't be a decision on the new quarterback until training camp. Matt Adam, the No. 2 QB last season, and Zach Kline are competing to lead an of- fense that runs a no-huddle spread. It could be Kline's job to lose, even though Adam has more expe- rience in the system. As a redshirt freshman last sea- son, Adam started one game and completed 21-of-43 passes for 201 yards and two TDs against Illinois State. But after Kline's transfer to Indiana State from community col- lege, Sanford called Kline an "elite quarterback." Kline, a highly ranked recruit out of high school, initially attend- ed Cal but transferred after being told he wasn't the team's best op- tion. At Butte Community College, Kline passed for 1,708 yards and 13 TDs. Soon after his arrival at ISU, Sanford raved about Kline having a "very strong arm," being "very accurate" and also having "really good athletic ability and escapabil- ity," according to the Tribune-Star. Whoever the quarterback is, he'll have a pair of quality receivers to throw to. Gary Owen had 69 catch- es for 815 yards and five TDs last season, and converted quarterback Robert Tonyan Jr. (6-foot-5, 220) added 54 for 747 and four TDs. The No. 2 and 3 running backs from last season are back, though Logan had three times as many carries, so there's not too much ex- perience returning. Still, LeMonte Booker (64-367) and Dimitri Tay- lor (63-285) should get a chance to grab the top spot. — Stacy Clardie Big Ten Blunders Indiana State is 0-13 all-time against Big Ten schools. Here's how the games break down. Indiana: 0 -6 Purdue: 0 -4 Minnesota: 0 -2 Penn State: 0 -1