Indiana State football preparing for spring game
Indiana State’s football team is preparing for its spring game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium and coach Curt Mallory is ready to get after it.
Fans should enter through the north gate near the practice field beyond the main stadium.
This will be more of a game-style format than last year’s spring festivities. Mallory said the Sycamores always have to do what’s best for the program, adding that he thinks fans will enjoy watching the game setting.
Mallory said they’ll do a walk-through at the beginning with stretches and warm-ups before a 10-minute pregame, then put the ball down and play football.
“Special teams will be managed,” Mallory told the Tribune-Star. “We won’t do kickoffs and kickoff returns. We’ll start the ball on the 25-yard line and let them play. If they get into field-goal range, we’ll have the snapper, holder and kicker kick a field goal. If we get held and we have to punt, it’ll just be a long snapper, punter and returner. So it’ll be managed special teams and then we’ll flip it and go the other way and let them play.”
Mallory said they’ll play a normal scoring system. He wants to get around 80 plays in and let his players have some fun. That’s what the team did last week, according to Mallory, as he said it went well.
The lineups won’t necessarily reflect the first game of the 2026 season, however.
“You’ll have guys that are going to be with the 1s,” Mallory explained. “You’ll have guys that are going to be with the 2s. We’ll mix and match throughout.”
But he said they will have the first-team defense going against the first-team offense.
Something that’s changed this year is the summer work the team will be able to put in as they’re now able to start workouts in June compared to last year, which started in August.
“That’s a big deal,” Mallory emphasized. “We’re able to have access with our players throughout the summer. So when we get back in June, it’s an extension of spring ball. When you think about it — from a pro camp so to speak — the summer is kind of a mini-camp.”
He said they’re able to take guys who maybe missed spring because of injuries or maybe some newcomers who joined the program in May.
For those wondering about Wabash Valley athletes, such as soon-to-be Linton graduate Paul Oliver and other future freshmen, those players won’t join ISU until summer practices in June. Mallory said starting earlier in the summer will benefit newcomers by allowing them get in work for a longer period of time.
Back to spring ball, Mallory said guys such as returning wide receiver Jake Dyer are getting a lot of opportunities and showing that they’ll be able to help the team in the fall.
Mallory also stressed that the quarterback room has stood out.
“Elijah Owens has really stood out,” the veteran coach pointed out. “The way that he approached his injury a year ago with the collarbone and still being able to go into each game as if he was playing in the game and knowing the game plan has helped him in the offseason and the spring going into his second year in the system.”
Mallory said Brock Riddle has shown growth, having done some good things in the team’s last practice.
“Of course, Brady Allen is doing a great job,” Mallory added about the high-profile transfer from Louisville. “He’s learning the system, but he’s gets better every day.”
Regarding the rest of the offense, he mentioned the Sycamores lost quite a few key linemen to graduation. Plus, running back Nick Osho transferred to North Texas and wide receiver Rashad Rochelle is at the Carolina Panthers ’ mini-camp. Lance Rees and Rocco Ciocca are two tight ends the team lost to graduation.
But Mallory emphasized that compared to past years, he has players returning on offense and defense.
“A lot of guys have returned that started and played a significant amount,” he pointed out. “It really shows on the offensive line. We returned four of the five starters.”
He emphasized how much he’s like Jaylan Johnson, whom he said has stood out at tight end.
“You’re seeing guys really step up — like [wide receiver] Keshaun Singleton,” Mallory continued. “He’s really had a good spring, B.J. Wuest has really done well and we’ve had some guys that we’ve added to the mix with Dane Pardridge, Willy Suarez, Tyler Stewart, Zach Drawdy … so that room I think has really shined.”
The Sycamores don’t have a playmaker like Rochelle yet, but Mallory said he’s a pretty special individual.
He said defensively, their ends have been the strongest point of the unit so far. He mentioned Kolten Gajewski and Jayden Childers, who started last year, and Caleb Harris, who played a lot. At the linebacker spot, the team is returning Northview High School graduate Braxton Sampson and Terre Haute South grad Alex Rose, whom he said played a significant amount and started a bit for them last year.
Devin Johnson and Xavian Andrews are two others Mallory mentioned as standouts.
“Guys that have started have really done a great job,” Mallory said. “Specialists of course, [like] Harry Traum, was a big weapon for us.”
The Sycamores lost the Aussie Traum to graduation.
“But I’ll tell you what, Spencer Conrad can go out there,” Mallory noted. “He has a leg and of course Sebastian [Lopez] returns as our starting kicker. Our starting long snapper returns and our starting holder. So you have two big shoes to fill with Kimal Clark and Rochelle and those guys were All-Conference, All-Americans for a reason.”
Looking to Saturday, Mallory admitted he’ll be excited to watch guys play like they did last Saturday. He enjoyed putting the ball down and letting them cut loose with unscripted plays.
“Probably where I’m most excited is that I’m going to be able to be back with them in June rather than August,” he said.
