Despite a subpar record, one of Indiana football’s brightest spots over the past few seasons has been its offensive line. Leading the way is right guard Dan Feeney.

The redshirt junior has allowed just one sack in 24 career starts (1,736 snaps). He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last year and is already getting recognition for the coming season. Feeney was named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy (awarded to college football’s best interior lineman) and the Rotary Lombardi Award (given to the best lineman or linebacker in college football).

If he can help the O-line do what it did last year, he might have a shot at these honors. Last season, Feeney led his team with 80 knockdowns, and IU set a program single-season record with 3,163 rushing yards, averaging 263.6 rushing yards per game (ninth in the nation). The Hoosiers averaged 5.9 yards per carry (eighth in the nation) and scored 29 rushing touchdowns.

Indiana’s main running back, Tevin Coleman, finished with more than 2,000 yards on the ground and seventh in Heisman Trophy voting. The offensive line was brilliant, and Feeney was a huge part of its success.

Indiana will need him to be just as good this season if it expects to make a bowl game for the first time since 2007.