Are You Ready for Some Basketball? TE Fuchs Joins Hoosier Hoop Roster

In an era of specialization, Jordan Fuchs is a rarity. Fuchs, a freshman from Queens, N.Y., joined Indiana's basketball squad after playing in all 12 games for the Hoosiers' football team, catching three passes for 31 yards and one touchdown (against North Texas). Will Fuchs eventually join former IU two-sport player Ross Hales among the few athletes who appeared in a football bowl game and NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament in the same school year?

To date, there is scant evidence Fuchs will be the next elite NFL tight end who played college hoops or join IU legend Vern Huffman as a basketball All-American who eventually competed in the NFL. Odds are against Fuchs joining Martellus Bennett, Jordan Cameron, Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham and Julius Thomas among active standout NFL tight ends who previously played college hoops. But Fuchs will join the following alphabetical list of versatile athletes who played basketball for Indiana and had an impact on the gridiron:

Malcolm "Cam" Cameron - Assistant coach of the NFL's San Diego Chargers for five years before he was named head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2007 (1-15 mark was the worst in team history). Offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2008 to mid-December 2012 when he was replaced by former Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell. LSU offensive coordinator was head coach at his alma mater for five years from 1997 through 2001 (18-37 record). Class of '83 member played quarterback for the Hoosiers' football squad. Assistant coach at Michigan under Bo Schembechler before becoming an assistant for three years with the Washington Redskins. Stepfather Tom Harp was Indiana State's head football coach in the mid-1970s. Collected 33 points and 12 rebounds in 30 games for the Hoosiers' basketball squad in 1981-82 and 1982-83. Teammate of All-Americans Ted Kitchel and Randy Wittman scored two points in 1982 NCAA Tournament Mideast Regional first-round 94-62 win over Robert Morris. Played briefly vs. Oklahoma team featuring Wayman Tisdale in 1983 playoffs. Said coach Bob Knight: "He was a kid who really understood his role on the team. He did everything he possibly could to help the team become better, in practice, the times that he played, and the way he handled himself in the locker room. Has a real understanding of what it takes, from a variety of directions, to be good."

Bob Cowan - Back caught 21 passes for five touchdowns and made three interceptions with two AAFC franchises (Cleveland and Baltimore) in three years from 1947 through 1949. Averaged 1.7 ppg in 19 basketball contests for IU in 1942-43.

Ross Hales - Tight end had 51 receptions for 580 yards and two touchdowns in 1992 and 1993, catching a 34-yard pass in the second quarter of a 45-20 loss against Virginia Tech in the 1993 Independence Bowl. The 6-7 Hales collected 3 points and 4 rebounds in 13 basketball games under coach Knight in 1993-94, making a token appearance in the Hoosiers' 67-58 second-round victory over Temple in the NCAA playoffs.

James Hardy - Second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2008 NFL draft (41st pick overall) had two touchdown receptions among his nine catches in five games as a rookie. The only wide receiver in IU history to surpass 2,500 yards, 175 receptions and 35 touchdowns. Second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection as a freshman in 2005 when he caught 61 passes for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a career-high 12 receptions for 203 yards at Iowa. First player in school history to catch at least one TD pass in six straight games. As a sophomore in 2006, he led IU with 51 catches for 722 yards and 10 TDs, including a school-record four TDs against Michigan State. In 2007, he set school season-records with 79 receptions for 1,125 yards and 16 receiving TDs (2nd in the nation). The 6-6 Hardy started three basketball games for the Hoosiers in 2004-05 when he averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.8 rpg.

Vern Huffman - Quarterback-defensive back passed for 484 yards and rushed for 368 yards with the Detroit Lions in 1937 and 1938. Third-round draft choice (27th pick overall) scored one touchdown and passed for two touchdowns each season. The 6-2, 215-pound guard was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference basketball selection (first-team pick in 1935-36 and second-team choice in 1936-37).

Ken Johnson - Defensive lineman with the Cincinnati Bengals for seven years from 1971 through 1977. The 6-6 Johnson averaged 13.1 ppg and 9.8 rpg for the Hoosiers from 1967-68 through 1969-70. All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection as a junior led them in rebounding his last two seasons and grabbed a career-high 21 boards in a game at Minnesota.

Don Luft - The 6-5, 225-pounder played one season (1954) as an end with the Philadelphia Eagles, catching three passes for 59 yards. Backup center to All-American Bill Garrett for the Hoosiers' basketball team as a junior in 1950-51, scoring 15 points in 17 games. In the final contest of Garrett's career with the Hoosiers, Luft replaced IU's first African-American player.

Antwaan Randle El - Big Ten Conference freshman of the year in 1998 became the first conference player to accumulate 5,000 total yards as a sophomore. The 5-11 quarterback compiled 3,000 passing yards and 1,500 yards rushing through his 19th game, faster than anyone in NCAA Division I-A history. His brother, defensive back Curtis, played with him his first two seasons with the Hoosiers. Second-round draft choice by the Pittsburgh Steelers as a wide receiver. Key kick returner caught more than 30 passes each of his first four years in the NFL, including a career-high 47 as a rookie in 2002. Signed seven-year, $31 million contract with the Washington Redskins as an unrestricted free agent after throwing a flea flicker touchdown pass in Super Bowl XX. Returned to the Steelers and played in Super Bowl XXV in Dallas. Collected 16 points and 11 assists in 11 games for IU's 1999 NCAA Tournament team, including two points in each of the Hoosiers' playoff contests (against George Washington and St. John's). He scored 69 points in a single basketball game for Thornton High School in Harvey, Ill.

Trent Smock - Caught 36 passes for five touchdowns as a sophomore when he was an AP All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection. Split end was a 15th-round draft choice by the Detroit Lions in 1976 after leading IU in pass receptions three straight years. Collected 51 points and 49 rebounds in 34 games in coach Knight's first two 20-win seasons with the Hoosiers. Played briefly as a freshman forward at the 1973 Final Four. His teammates included All-Americans Quinn Buckner, Steve Downing and Steve Green.

Joe Zeller - End scored two touchdowns for the Chicago Bears during his six years with them from 1933 through 1938 after playing one season with the Green Bay Packers. The 6-1, 200-pounder averaged 4.1 ppg as a three-year basketball letterman with IU from 1929-30 through 1931-32.