Hoosiers State of Mind: Don James Interviews NFL Analyst Brock Vierra

Ke'Shawn Williams and IU football look to continue their dominace and move to 7-0

Indiana's Ke'Shawn Williams (5) runs during the Indiana versus Charlotte football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Indiana's Ke'Shawn Williams (5) runs during the Indiana versus Charlotte football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

If you haven't heard the Indiana Hoosiers are off to a 6-0 start in 2024.

Indiana has the fourth-ranked offense in the country (515.7 yards per game) and sixth ranked defense (255.7 yards per game). They have won all their games by double-digits and are one of only two teams in the country that has yet to trail in any game.

I recently had a chance to sit down with Brock Vierra a NFL draft Analyst, host of the “College Football Forecast” podcast, and a Rams Wire contributor to talk all things Indiana football.

Hoosiers State of Mind: What do you think of the recent success of Indiana's football program, as they are off to a 6-0 start?

Brock Vierra: I think it's fantastic, for a fan base that's been starving for a winning football team they are well deserving. I remember the feeling around the Hoosiers in 2020 and now it's back and at a more consistent level. It also shows a pattern of success for football programs under head coach Curt Cignetti.

Hoosiers State of Mind: Would you consider Curt Cignetti as a premier head coach in college football as of today ?

Brock Vierra: Absolutley! You don't win at the places he's won at without having a deep understanding of the game of football. More importantly, you don't have a resume like Cignetti's without understanding the business of college football. Only the elite are good at both and he's one of the select few.

Hoosiers State of Mind: What do you think of Kurtis Rourke at the NFL level as a prospect?

Brock Vierra: I think he has a shot to be a longtime NFL starter in the league. He's shown the arm, decision making and calmness under pressure to develop in the NFL one day. I see him as a Day 2 or early Day 3 draft pick that will be a high end game manager similar to a Purdy, Darnold, Cousins type.

Hoosiers State of Mind: Who are some other NFL prospects on this Indiana football team?

Brock Vierra: There's a a few, Elijah Sarratt will be a 3rd or 4th round wide receiver but Trey Wedig, Ke'Shawn Williams, E.J Williams Jr, Mikail Kamara and Ty Son Lawton are guys that I've added to my big board for 2025.

Hoosiers State of Mind: Do you believe in Indiana to make a run at the College Football Playoff this season?

Brock Vierra: Yes. surely you could say Indiana's schedule has been "soft" but they've dominated every team they've faced so far. They have some tough games coming up but none that are automatic losses and considering IU doesn't have to travel to the west coast again, I'm all in on the Hoosiers making the CFP.

Okay Brock what is your final prediction on the big game at Noon ET, Nebraska or Indiana who wins?

"Big Red goes down tomorrow, Indiana wins 35-31 on their homecoming "
Brock Vierra (Rams Wire)

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