USC opposing player scouting report – Tyrique Tucker, Indiana

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USC football plays Indiana this season. One player the Trojans will have to contend with is IU's Tyrique Tucker. ESPN has more on the Hoosiers' standout defensive tackle:

"Most of the so-called JMU crew — the group that followed coach Curt Cignetti and the staff from James Madison to Indiana — has moved on after helping IU to a once-unthinkable national championship. But Tucker is still in Bloomington, where he holds an integral role because of his playmaking ability and leadership skills. 'I'm holding down the fort,' he said this spring.

"Tucker earned third-team AP All-America honors last season, tying for third in sacks among primary defensive tackles and tying for first in pass-rush sacks created (8). He had at least one-half tackle for loss in nine contests and opened Big Ten play with two sacks against Illinois in a blowout win. Among primary defensive tackles, he tied for fourth nationally in pressures last season (28) and ranked fifth in pass rushes from the defensive tackle position (347).

"He was a rotational player my last year at JMU, and came in and made the rotation my first year [at Indiana] as a starter, and really has developed," Cignetti told ESPN. "We give our D-linemen a lot of freedom, depending on whether it's a down block or a back block or a pull, to do some things, and Tyrique is really dedicated to it. He's explosive, good, low center of gravity, he has got short-area quickness and good change of direction."

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football has to neutralize Indiana D-lineman Tyrique Tucker

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