Centerville grads set to face Buckeyes

Replogle brothers

After graduating from Centerville High School last spring, Adam Replogle stayed with his brother, Tyler, during the summer in a Bloomington, Ind., apartment.

Separated by two years, the brothers, both Indiana University football players, hadn’t lived together in several years, and the old twinge of competitiveness returned.

“It was pretty much like old times,” Tyler said.

During the football season, they’re using that spirit for the same side. When Ohio State visits Bloomington at 7 p.m. today, Oct. 3, Tyler (junior linebacker) and Adam (freshman defensive lineman) will be starters.

In becoming the first brothers to start for the Hoosiers since Antwaan (quarterback) and Curtis (defensive back) Randle El in 1999, the Replogles have helped the IU defense perform as one of the best in the Big Ten.

Through four games, Indiana ranks second in the conference in rushing defense (94.2 yards per game allowed), fourth in total defense (327.2 yards per game allowed) and fourth in points allowed (22.2 per game).

Tyler, also a former Centerville standout, played in the first six games during his freshman season in 2007 before missing the rest of the season with a knee injury. He made his first career starts in the Hoosiers’ final two games last season and entered 2009 with 46 tackles. He was also named Indiana’s special teams player of the year last season.

Then Adam came to campus. Bigger than his brother, Adam was the only true freshman to appear in IU’s season opener against Eastern Kentucky, and he has started since.

“There were some butterflies, and the game was a lot faster,” Adam said of adjusting to college, “but then it became the same old game I’ve been playing since second grade.”

The brothers have combined for 33 tackles while playing with the similar constant-motor mentality. They were obvious to any viewers of the Indiana-Michigan game on Sept. 26 as IU nearly collected a significant upset.

And so, while they’ve had their competitive days, the Replogles are focusing on working together for the Indiana defense.

“We’re pretty close. I can ask him any question I want and we help each other,” Adam said. “We know we’re teammates.”