Former Lawrence North stars Donaven McCulley and Omar Cooper Jr. have been pivotal in the Indiana University offense, contributing to the Hoosiers’ strong 5-0 start. This impressive run has propelled IU into the Top 25 rankings for the first time since 2020.
Ranked 23rd in The AP Poll and 25th in The Coaches Poll, IU’s offense, under head coach Curt Cignetti, has been on a tear, averaging 49 points per game through the first five weeks of the season.
Cooper has been a standout, recording 16 catches for 328 yards and three touchdowns, while McCulley has added two catches for 21 yards and a touchdown of his own.
Looking to extend their undefeated streak, the Hoosiers will face Northwestern on the road this week as they aim for a 6-0 record.
Former Indiana High School Coach Jason Simmons Named Interim Offensive Coordinator at Purdue
Purdue head coach Ryan Walters has named former Indiana high school football coach Jason Simmons as the interim offensive coordinator. Simmons, who has a strong coaching background in Indiana, steps into the role with Walters expressing confidence in his ability to excel.
Simmons brings a wealth of experience from his time as a head coach at several Indiana high schools. He served as the head coach at Ben Davis from 2018-2022, leading one of the state’s most storied programs. Before that, he was the head coach at Noblesville from 2016-2018 and the offensive coordinator there from 2013-2015. Simmons also gained valuable experience as an assistant coach at Hamilton Heights earlier in his career.
Most recently, Simmons left Ben Davis to take on the role of running backs coach at Miami (Ohio) in 2022. With a strong resume and Walters’ trust, Simmons is poised to make a significant impact on Purdue’s offense as they move forward this season.
