BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football has five offensive linemen with starting experience, but the Hoosiers are still figuring out how all the pieces go together.
The main question mark this spring lingering over the group is who will start at center.
According to Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, Drew Evans and Bray Lynch are getting extended looks in the starting role while also repping at the positions they manned each of the last two seasons. They emerged as starters in Week 1 of the 2024 season — Evans at left guard and Lynch at right guard — and helped IU win a national title last year in those same roles.
Lynch is currently limited as he recovers from offseason surgery.
“His biggest challenges right now are physical,” Cignetti said of Lynch. “He’s not 100%. I think he’s smart, and he can be a really good center. And we also think Drew Evans, another better guy, can be a really good center.”
They have a combined 48 career starts between them, but neither has much game experience at center. Lynch played a handful of snaps at the position, with all but one of those reps coming in a 2023 win over Indiana State.
Whoever wins the job will face the not-so-easy task of replacing Pat Coogan. The Notre Dame transfer was remarkably consistent last season as IU’s second-highest graded offensive linemen (78.0) behind Carter Smith. He also had the second-best run (75.3) and pass blocking grades (84.0).
Coogan allowed just 10 quarterback pressures — he didn’t give up a sack — while playing the second-most snaps on the team (1,027). The offensive lineman also earned Rose Bowl offensive MVP honors.
The decision could also impact where Wisconsin transfer Joe Brunner ends up this season. He’s played nearly his entire career working at left guard, but he might move to the right side depending on how the competition at center shakes out.
“Well, I think what you’re trying to do is find your best five first,” Cignetti said. “And then your best backups.”
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Indiana football auditioning pair of returning starters at center to replace Pat Coogan
Reporting by Michael Niziolek, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
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