Indiana Football Notebook: Indiana football 2024 Pro Day storylines

Indiana football hosted its 2024 Pro Day where graduating players from the 2023 team were able to work out in front of NFL Scouts and local media.

While some players like Andre Carter and Aaron Casey have already had opportunities to work out in front of NFL personnel, other players like DeQuece Carter, Josh Henderson, Noah Pierre, Christian Turner, and Sean Wracher were able to join them Tuesday and participate in the Pro Day.

The players did the standard combined workouts including bench press, high jump, broad jump, 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, and the three-cone drill. After players split into position groups and worked out for those in attendance.

NOTE: Some players did not participate in some drills and the official times of the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, and the three-cone drill were not made public. For Aaron Casey, his performance from the NFL Combine was used if he did not participate in a drill.

Individual Drill Performance

Bench Press

Andre Carter: 33 reps

DeQuece Carter: 12 reps

Aaron Casey: 16 reps (NFL Combine)

Josh Henderson: 22 reps

Noah Pierre: 14 reps

Christian Turner: 26 reps

Sean Wracher: Did not participate

High Jump

Andre Carter: Did not participate

DeQuece Carter: 34″

Aaron Casey: 34″

Josh Henderson: 35″

Noah Pierre: 37″

Christian Turner: 34″

Sean Wracher: Did not participate

Broad Jump

Andre Carter: 8’9″

DeQuece Carter: 9’11”

Aaron Casey: 9’9″ (NFL Combine)

Josh Henderson: 10’0″

Noah Pierre: 10’0″

Christian Turner: 10’5″

Sean Wracher: Did not participate

Christian Turner Stands out

Christian Turner had a strong showing during the Pro Day and started with his performance on the bench press.

The 5-foot-11 205-pound running back was able to do 26 reps of 225 pounds. That would have tied for second at the NFL Combine with Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen and only behind Michigan RB Blake Corum who was able to do 27 reps.

While his vertical would have slotted him into the middle of the pack, his broad jump would have placed him fourth among running backs at the combine.

Turner who rushed for 227 yards on 52 carries and scored two touchdowns in seven games last season. While his time on the field was limited, his performance Tuesday could do a lot to potentially help him earn a training camp spot on an NFL roster this summer.

Noah Pierre’s Recovery

Noah Pierre was able to perform in front of scouts for the first time since he suffered a season-ending injury in October.

“I feel good, I hit the numbers that I wanted to hit. Had my family come out and watch me which is a blessing,” Pierre told reporters after the pro day. “Something that they always wanted to do. I feel like I performed very well. I feel good.”

Pierre revealed he was cleared in January and has been working hard to get ready for Indiana football’s pro day.

“I got cleared sometime in early January. I’ll tell you that was a long four months,” Pierre said. “A lot of battling, but I give all the glory to god, he got me here where I am now, fully healthy, ready for whatever is next.”

Pierre’s versatility made him an integral part of the Indiana defense before his injury. Pierre spent time at safety, corner, and nickel during the season.

“Obviously, I’m athletic, I feel like I showed that today, but I think the biggest [strength] is my IQ,” Pierre said. I feel like I come with a lot of, knowing the defense and knowing what the offense is going to give you. I’m able to help any team in that aspect.”

Pierre who was a captain for Indiana football had 22 total tackles, 1.5 TFL, a sack, and two pass breakups in seven games in 2023.

“The experience that I have helps moving forward or whatever is next for me on my journey,” Pierre said. “I think [scouts] see that, I think they appreciate that plus I was a team captain so they know that I’m a leader.”

Pierre who has been training back home in Miami, recognized that Tuesday’s pro day signals the end of his Indiana football journey.

“It’s kind of bittersweet. I mean coming back here, this the place that I came in as a boy basically and left as a man.” “… So kind of bittersweet, but I’ll be back around. I love IU.”

Aaron Casey’s experience with the draft process

Aaron Casey who also participated in the NFL Combine, participated in some drills during Indiana’s Pro Day and shared some insight into his experience with the pre-draft process.

“We’ve prepared for months for this opportunity and this moment,” Casey said after the Pro Day. “As I got into the combine, I wanted to take advantage of the situation, take advantage of the opportunity to go out there in front of everybody and perform there.”

Casey was the only Hoosier to be invited to the NFL Combine after an impressive 2023 season where he was named a Phil Steele 2nd Team All-American and a member of the Big Ten first team after he finished the regular season second nationally in tackles for loss with 20.0. He also made 78 solo tackles which also led the Big Ten.

Casey will be the third Indiana linebacker to head to the NFL in recent years. Micah McFadden and Cam Jones who were teammates with Casey have secured roster spots in the NFL and Casey says he has looked to them for advice during the draft process.

Yes, I get on the phone with Cam [Jones] like every week. [He’s] pretty much my brother for the most part. Micah [McFadden], I talk to him every now and then, especially early on in the process, just like asking him how he handles certain things,” Casey said about his former teammates. “They’re both two guys that I look up to, two guys that set the path to do things the right way and I can feed off of them.”

Casey also shared what it has been like to speak to NFL coaches and scouts during the draft process.

“Being able to sit down in front of them and pick their brain about how they feel about me and also questions I have for them,” Casey said. “Allowing me to just see what type of program they have to see out like what they like about me, don’t like about me and that type of thing. It was really good feedback. Really good like to have that time to get to know a little bit more information.”

Casey mentioned his instincts have been the part of his game that has stood out most to scouts during the pre-draft process. His ability to make plays in the backfield has stuck out to scouts for obvious reasons and was a big reason why he was one of the most productive linebackers in the country last season.

After six years in Bloomington, Casey will follow his former teammates as he pursues his next challenge of playing in the NFL.

“Man this is a long time, I put in work here. Long time making friendships, making connections with players, coaches, staff everybody just coming back and feels good,” Casey said about his time with Indiana Football. “I grew up here for the most part. So getting back to see how things are seeing the new new guys coming here too excited for them excited for new opportunities they have and I just wish the best for IU.”

First Look at QB Kurtis Rourke

The goal of Tuesday’s Pro Day was to showcase the talent and ability of the players moving on from Indiana football, but it did not stop us from getting our first up close look at new quarterback Kurtis Rourke.

The transfer from Ohio University threw to wide receiver DeQuece Carter and both running backs Christian Turner and Josh Henderson during pass catching drills.

While the throws were all uncontested and a number of them were short passes, the 2022 MAC Offensive Player of the Year connected on a number of deep balls during the drills.