Darius Willis can avoid defenders, as his 152-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance at Michigan last year showed.

Now he looks to avoid injuries that limited the running back to nine games his freshman season.

Willis led the Hoosiers with 607 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He missed time because of ankle and ribs injuries.

He learned a lot on and off the field.

"That year of experience was a big learning curve," he said Tuesday. "With the speed of the game and how fast things adapt. You have to watch film, get in the training room, do this and that. The little things in practice is what's going to help those plays in the game."