Notes and observations as Indiana opens first fall practice

BLOOMINGTON -- Indiana opened preseason camp Thursday, with most players inside Mellencamp Pavilion, dodging the steady rain falling since early this morning.

The Hoosiers won't be in full pads for a few days, but media were allowed to watch the first 45 minutes or so of practice, after speaking with coach Kevin Wilson at length beforehand. Here are some thoughts and notes from the first day of the 2015 season:

Injuries and personnel issues

I'll have a full story on this later today, so we won't go into it in as much detail here, but Wilson opened Thursday by saying that beyond wide receiver J-Shun Harris (ACL) and cornerback Donovan Clark (back), his team is largely injury-free.

We're asked not to comment on players we see sitting out drills during open portions of practice until Wilson has commented on them, but he said Thursday that all other medical issues he knew of were minor concerns.

Clark, however, might have a long-term problem. Wilson said Indiana will be "tender with his back," and that he's not sure "if we'll have his services this year." That's an obvious blow to a cornerback position that's already understaffed and young.

Wilson added that wide receiver Camion Patrick, a junior college transfer, is not yet cleared. Patrick was dressed and working at practice Thursday.

Physical run game?

With Tevin Coleman gone, and both Devine Redding and Jordan Howard apparently first in line to replace him, it has been assumed Indiana would trend toward a more physical rushing attack this season. Again, Thursday was just helmets and shirts, so hitting was minimal, but the physical build of both Howard and Redding does little to discredit that belief.

Wilson also said redshirt freshman tight end Danny Friend is healthy again, giving IU another good blocking option at tight end.

Running the rule over receivers

We did get to watch a number of passing drills, with Nate Sudfeld's short, intermediate and deep throws all impressive.

There's no way to really gauge who is first-, second- or third-team right now, but a couple of players made nice grabs.

Patrick, running down the left sideline, showed good late acceleration -- not unlike Cody Latimer in this touchdown catch against Iowa in 2013 -- to grab a deep ball that sailed a little bit.

And Nick Westbrook, the freshman out of Florida who posted more than 1,800 receiving yards as a high school senior, made a good correction on a back-shoulder end zone throw that got the attention of position mate and UAB transfer Marqui Hawkins. We talked at length last week about Indiana's wide receiver questions. Westbrook could be tops among freshmen to keep an eye on at the position, as camp progresses.

Evans active, involved with o-line

When Ralston Evans' medical hardship was announced, Wilson suggested the fifth-year senior would take up a student coaching role. It hardly looked honorary Thursday -- Evans was side by side with offensive line coach Greg Frey during the portion of practice we watched, barking out instructions and correcting mistakes.

On the topic of the offensive line, Wilson mentioned redshirt junior Dimitric Camiel as a candidate for the starting right tackle spot Evans vacates, something we saw playing out on the first day of practice. In the preseason two-deep, Camiel was listed as the No. 1 left guard, with Tim Gardner behind Evans, but Camiel's career has largely been spent at tackle.

Redshirt freshman Delroy Baker is probably another player to keep in mind there, with Jason Spriggs holding onto his familiar left tackle spot.

And it sounds very much like redshirt freshman Wes Martin is in the mix at left guard, according to Wilson and what we saw Thursday.

Impressed with Greg Gooch

This is pretty offense-heavy, because without pads and without watching a scrimmage, it's hard to glean as much about defensive players. But Wilson said in his media briefing that he wants a more energetic, "aggressive" defense, one that carries itself in the same way his offense does. If I had to pick out a player who embodied that in what I got to see Thursday, it would be sophomore linebacker Greg Gooch, who will back up T.J. Simmons in the middle.

Just thought I'd mention it.

Again, we'll have a full story speaking with Wilson later today. Stay tuned.

Follow Star reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.