Analysis: The latest on Camion Patrick

[IndyHutch 1,718]

With one wide receiver already lost for the season with an ACL injury (J-Shun Harris), the one player that everyone in the media wants to know about is junior college transfer wide receiver Camion Patrick and what the hold up is for him being cleared academically. That was one of the primary topics Thursday when the Hoosiers practiced for the first time in the 2015 preseason camp.Often times, when a new season is about to begin, the focus can be on the players who are not eligible or physically able to play rather than those who are.

That was clearly the case at Indiana Thursday when the Hoosiers took the field for their first practice of the 2015 preseason camp. On a rain-soaked and dreary day, a lot of the talk focused on players who had question marks surrounding their status.

From an injury standpoint, IU only really appears to have two significant injuries early on and one of them has already been ruled out for the season. Former Fishers (Ind.) wide receiver J-Shun Harris suffered an ACL injury early in the summer and has been ruled out for the season. IU coach Kevin Wilson made that announcement at Big Ten Football Media Days last week.

The other injured player is former Fort Wayne South Side cornerback Donovan Clark. The true sophomore continues to be slowed by a back injury and there is talk around the program that he may end up redshirting this season. It may still be a little early to make that determination but that’s not good news for an IU secondary that was already basically starting over. Clark was seen as a player who could very likely step right in and start from the beginning of the season. We’ll keep an eye on Clark in the coming days and weeks and monitor his situation.

With IU already down a player at the wide receiver position, it's easy to see why there is concern over the situation of Camion Patrick. Patrick, the sophomore wide receiver from East Mississippi Community College, is another player that many believe could step in and start right away at wide receiver. He has good size, good hands and good speed. He was in uniform and at practice going through drills on Thursday but as of the official start of practice he has yet to be cleared academically.

Patrick has had academic problems before. Out of high school he committed to play for Tennessee but ended up going the JUCO route because of his grades. All indications were that he had a good year in community college with his studies but there is still a red flag that is preventing Patrick from being given academic approval at the university level at IU. It is believed it has to do with the university needing confirmation that Patrick passed a summer school class at EMCC. One would think that could be a simple phone call that would shed light on the situation. But the reality is there is never anything simple when it comes to clearing players academically.

And these things are never done quickly.

If Patrick is cleared to play, the 6-3, 225-pound receiver would have three years of eligibility with the Hoosiers. And with a capable quarterback like Nate Sudfeld delivering Patrick the ball, he could have a solid year.

On the flip side, while it’s not a huge deal yet, the longer this one lingers could be a cause for concern. There is still just over two weeks before school begins at IU on Aug. 24. Prior to that things will be fine as long as Patrick is ultimately cleared to play. But when school arrives that’s when things will get more tense. The week after that is IU’s first game week leading into the season opener at home against Southern Illinois.

Wilson said Thursday that his team will have a few days of helmets only before having the first practice in pads on Monday and the first two-a-day on Tuesday.

Btownbanners will be in Bloomington every step of the way as the Hoosiers prepare for the 2015 season. Every day there is availability we’ll be on hand to bring you the news of the day.

@IndySportsHutch

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[ThompsonHoosier 3,414]

I really hope Patrick is deemed eligible, we really need wide receivers with some college experience. Does anyone know when a decision on his status will be made?

[IndyHutch 1,718]

That's the problem with eligibility issues like this one. There is no set in stone timetable. Since it sounds like it was a summer school situation, those things are known to take time. i think one positive in terms of learning something though is that my understanding is that this isn't an NCAA Clearinghouse situation but it's something at the university level. You would think people there would do their due diligence to get this done in a timely manner. At the same time, I'm sure everyone wants to sign off on it before anything is official, too.

[ThompsonHoosier 3,414]

Well Wilson sounds pretty optimistic as to his eligibility. I think him (and Patrick) know the outcome of that summer class; it's just a matter of getting everything processed. 

[IndyHutch 1,718]

Well Wilson sounds pretty optimistic as to his eligibility. I think him (and Patrick) know the outcome of that summer class; it's just a matter of getting everything processed. 

 

I try not to count anything before all the paperwork is in though. I remember people being pretty optimistic at one point about Guy Marc Michel, too.

[hermanbgoode 27]

Hutch, did you hear Kevin Wilson say yesterday that former Ohio State recruit Tyler Green, a high school safety, is going to start his Hoosier career at cornerback? I think it was Mike Miller who reported that. What's your sense of Green's chance to get playing time at CB as a freshman? Also, Mike, after talking with Wilson about the offensive line personnel, made it sound like freshmen Wes Martin and Brandon Knight are in the competition for starting jobs. I doubt those guys start -- what do think? - but this time of year I'll take any little tidbit of possible news.   

[IndyHutch 1,718]

Hutch, did you hear Kevin Wilson say yesterday that former Ohio State recruit Tyler Green, a high school safety, is going to start his Hoosier career at cornerback? I think it was Mike Miller who reported that. What's your sense of Green's chance to get playing time at CB as a freshman? Also, Mike, after talking with Wilson about the offensive line personnel, made it sound like freshmen Wes Martin and Brandon Knight are in the competition for starting jobs. I doubt those guys start -- what do think? - but this time of year I'll take any little tidbit of possible news.   

 

I'll go back and listen to the tape and make a little notebook out of it. Mike heard the same thing i did as we were at the same media availability session. I would think Green's chances are good especially at that position and given the news on Donovan Clark. I'll put something together, though, and post it by 6. I was meaning to do that any way today to have some kind of football presence on the site.

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

Coach Wilson's meeting availability on Thursday:
http://youtu.be/aI8t9ujYltg

[IndyHutch 1,718]

Or we can just post the video like we did above and you can listen for yourself exactly what Kevin Wilson had to say. That saves me a lot of transcribing actually.

[Gahoosierfan 272]

Any status news on Patrick.

[ThompsonHoosier 3,414]

Any status news on Patrick.

Yesterday coach Wilson said they should be getting the announcement on the status of Patrick soon. He mentioned today or tomorrow.

[mhoban 161]

Let's hope this ends up as a green light. Everything about this guy's skill sets is very positive and he can bring a lot to the party. Is also interesting that Booth continues to have a low profile in spring/summer /fall ball. He was a very big deal signee - local 4*.

[Crimson and Cream 5,776]

This would help a lot if he's eligible

[mhoban 161]

C'mon, c'mon - what's the call on this? Taking way too much time to make a decision on transcripts...

[Hoosier116 318]

C'mon, c'mon - what's the call on this? Taking way too much time to make a decision on transcripts...

Agreed here. I saw that he played yesterday in the scrimmage.

[Gahoosierfan 272]

Are the people in the admissions office a bunch of idiots or what? There is no way it should take this long.

[GnarlyTimGarl 1,425]

Are the people in the admissions office a bunch of idiots or what? There is no way it should take this long.

I can assure you that our university's athletes get high priority and attention when it comes to resolving university matters (assuming this is an IU issue, not the NCAA.) If it's taking this long, there's a solid reason behind it. Regular John Doe student would take a lot longer to resolve, I promise.

 

Regardless, I hope Patrick becomes eligible for this year. I really like what he brings to the table and could be a huge asset to our receiving corps this year and beyond.

[jmsgws 2,181]

I can't imagine it is an IU issue.  I wouldn't think he would be on campus if it were IU's issue.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 83,808]

Coach Wilson just told the crowd at Indy that he's not been cleared and will have to sit out the year.  He also told the crowd Tommy Mister is transferring out.

[HoosierReb01 7,511]

Coach Wilson just told the crowd at Indy that he's not been cleared and will have to sit out the year.  He also told the crowd Tommy Mister is transferring out.

Well that sucks.