It has been seven years since an Indiana defensive player made an All-Big Ten team -- defensive line Jammie Kirlew was a first-team pick by the media and a second-team selection by the league's coaches in 2008. That's the longest defensive drought of any Big Ten school.

Of course, that's not too surprising, either. The Hoosiers have struggled mightily on defense for the past several years, and they haven't produced many standouts on that side of the ball.

Tegray Scales might just break that trend. Maybe that's jumping the gun on such a young player, but he showed plenty of potential as a true freshman linebacker in 2014.

Tegray Scales had five tackles and a sack in Indiana's road upset of Missouri in 2014. Scott Kane/Icon Sportswire

He played in all 12 games, finishing with 46 tackles, two sacks, 4,5 tackles for loss and three interceptions. In just his third career game, he made the final tackle in Indiana's 31-27 road upset at Missouri.

"He already might be our best defensive playmaker," Hoosiers defensive coordinator Brian Knorr said. "Definitely in the top one or two."

It's unusual praise for an inexperienced player, but Scales is not like many Indiana defensive players of recent years.

Start with his pedigree. He played for Cincinnati's Colerain High School, a traditional powerhouse. He was a couple years behind current Big Ten linebackers Joe Bolden (Michigan) and Drew Smith (Northwestern). Colerain played a 3-4 system that is similar to Indiana's, helping with his transition to college.

Scales had offers from Oklahoma, Louisville, West Virginia and Wisconsin, among others, but he took a chance on the Hoosiers.

"It's close to home, and I have a big family, so I was thinking of them during the process," he said. "Plus, I thought I had a chance to play right away."

Scales was also a star wrestler in high school, finishing as a state runner-up his senior year. That helps explain why he's such a sure tackler in the open field.

"I think it helps with hand-eye coordination and balance," he said of his wrestling background. "Sometimes when I'm out there, man on a back, it's just like a one-on-one challenge I'm used to."

Scales made an impression with his athleticism last year but played at under 220 pounds. After a full offseason in the weight room and at the training table, he says he's up to 230. He's hoping that allows him to play more downhill and fare better against the physical running teams in the Big Ten. But Indiana doesn't want him to lose his speed.

"He had two picks last year on the sideline, so he's a guy you can play in man coverage," Knorr said. "It's certainly a benefit for us to have somebody that athletic at the linebacker position."

Now that Scales has a year of the system under his belt, Knorr said he'll be comfortable moving him around in the four-linebacker set. Knorr said Scales is a dynamic pass rusher who could grow to resemble Luke Kuechly, another Cincinnati high school product who people thought was undersized for his position.

Scales obviously has a long way to go before he's as good as Kuechly. Or to become Indiana's first All-Big Ten linebacker since 1998. But the potential is there, and that's something for the Hoosiers' defense to build around.