Hagerup, Burrus Arrive at IU Early

Terry Hoeppner has welcomed two new members to his football team a little bit early.

Wisconsin punter/quarterback Chris Hagerup and Coffeyville (Kan.) J.C. defensive tackle Kevin Burrus both enrolled at IU in January and will be able to participate in spring drills. In addition, they’re scholarships will count against Indiana’s 2006 limit.

Burrus is a 6-3, 305-pounder who originally prepped at Indianapolis’ Ben Davis H.S. before going to Coffeyville. The brother of current IU defensive tackle Keith Burrus, Kevin is expected to play nose tackle for the Hoosiers.

“I always wanted to play with him in college,” Kevin said about his brother. “We’re on the same side of the ball together, and we feel when we’re on the same side, no one can stop us. It’s a great opportunity, it’s a team on the rise, and I feel like it’s great to go home.”

Hagerup, meanwhile, is a 6-4, 197-pounder from Whitfish Bay, Wis., who is the odds on favorite to take over for Tyson Beattie as the team’s punter in the fall. He averaged 45 yards/punt as a senior, earning All-State honors.

But Hagerup also will be given a chance to show what he can do at quarterback. He threw for 1,100 yards for Whitefish Bay as a senior and impressed the Hoosier coaching staff during last summer’s camp in Bloomington. He’ll join a stable of quarterbacks that also features returning starter Kellen Lewis, Ben Chappell and fellow newcomer Teddy Schell.

“Coach Hoeppner told me I’m not just a punter, I’m a football player,” Hagerup said after making his commitment last month. “He wouldn’t want to scholarship just a punter, but he looks at me as a football player who can also play quarterback. It think that’s a big reason why I got this offer. I went down there in the summer and I threw the ball really well and Coach (Matt) Canada was impressed, and I punted really well also.”