After returning every offensive starter from last year's team, the Ball State University football team had few questions this offseason regarding its starting personnel on that side of the ball.
However, one of the priorities coach Brady Hoke placed on the offense during spring practice was to establish a reliable third and fourth receiving option, behind wide receiver Dante Love and tight end Darius Hill. After Saturday's spring scrimmage, Daniel Ifft has become the frontrunner for the position.
Ifft, who is entering his sophomore season, caught two passes Saturday, but both were touchdowns. Entering summer conditioning, Hoke said Ifft has separated himself from his competitors - Louis Johnson, Joe Everett and Myles Trempe.
"Dan's a guy who has very good hands, and we knew that when we recruited him," Hoke said. "He's learning a little bit more about route running and doing some things as far as converting routes."
Ifft played in every game with three starts as a true freshman and finished with one touchdown reception on nine catches. His primary rival for the No. 2 wide receiver position is Louis Johnson, who was third on the team with 17 receptions, 422 receiving yards and three touchdowns last year.
Johnson, who will be a fifth-year senior in the upcoming season, didn't record a reception in the spring game.
"Lou had a chance to make a play on the ball late in the scrimmage, and he's got to make that catch," Hoke said.
Despite receiving two of quarterback Nate Davis' three touchdown passes, Ifft called his performance "all right" and said he had plenty more to improve.
"Last year I was just coming out of high school and I didn't know a whole lot about the speed of the game and the coverages," Ifft said. "We've spent a lot of time with that and I'm starting to feel more comfortable about it, but I still have a lot of work to do."
While Ifft continues to learn about the game, Hoke said, he would like his second-year player to bulk up during summer conditioning. Hoke said added muscle will help his receiver take better advantage of his 6-foot-3-inch frame.
"I think the big thing for Dan is to get a little more strength because when guys want to get up and press him it's not easy for him," Hoke said. "That's part of the maturity and physicalness that he has to play with."
Even though Ifft is the current frontrunner for the No. 2 wide receiver position, he said he understands there's still plenty of offseason left to play.
The Cardinals will also add three wide receivers next season, including one of their top recruits - Briggs Orsbon.
"It means a lot to me, but I think it would mean a lot to anybody," Ifft said of being Ball State's No. 2 receiver next year. "Nothing is in stone, and nothing is going to be in stone. We've still got all summer to go yet, and we've got very talented freshmen coming in. It's going to be a battle the rest of the way until the first game."
2007 statsGames played: 13Games started: 3Total yards: 83Average yards: 9.2Receptions: 9Longest reception: 17 yardsTouchdowns: 1
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