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Jamar Johnson was the only Indiana football player to be drafted this weekend, but a few other Hoosiers will get NFL opportunities, too.
IU announced the first wave of free agent signings for former members of the program on Saturday night. Among the first Hoosiers to agree to deals, defensive tackle Jerome Johnson latched on with the Miami Dolphins, running back Stevie Scott landed with the New Orleans Saints and offensive lineman Harry Crider shook hands with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jerome Johnson developed into one of the better defensive linemen in the Big Ten over the past year, becoming the first Hoosier defensive tackle since Hurvin McCormack in 1993 to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors when he did so this past fall. Johnson made 18 tackles, including 12 solo stops, 4.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and one interception in eight games as a senior.
After setting IU true freshman records with 1,137 yards, 228 attempts, 10 touchdowns and six 100-yard games, Scott went on to finish fourth in program history with 30 rushing touchdowns, fifth with 32 total scores and ninth with 2,543 rushing yards.
A regular on IU’s offensive line from 2017 through this past season, Crider developed into a versatile player capable of manning all three interior spots for the Hoosiers. According to Pro Football Focus, he logged 935 snaps at center, 874 snaps at left guard and nine snaps at right guard during his four-year career in Bloomington, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition as a senior.
Although it’s not yet confirmed at the time of publication, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that receiver Whop Philyor has an agreement with the Minnesota Vikings. Philyor recorded the most career double-digit catch games (seven) in IU history, and he ranks fourth at IU in receptions (180) and 100-yard games (seven), and ninth in yardage (2,067).
We’ll update this post if/when more players find deals.
Sunday update: Swann gets tryout with Steelers
Jerome Johnson won’t be the only member of IU’s defensive line getting a look from an NFL team this spring. According to CNHI’s Kevin Brockway, defensive tackle Jovan Swann has a rookie mini camp tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers set for later this month. The 6-foot-2, 280-pound former Stanford graduate transfer appeared in all eight games in 2020, posting four tackles and three hurries.