Just after losing much of his sophomore season to an elbow injury, Indiana junior safety Chris Adkins could miss a significant portion of the 2010 campaign because of an injured ankle.

IU coach Bill Lynch addressed Adkins’s injury, which occurred during an IU football scrimmage Saturday, at the IU Alumni Tailgate Tour event Monday and said the Indianapolis native will undergo surgery.

The injury to Adkins subtracts yet another mainstay from a defense in transition.

The Hoosiers were set to enter 2010 with only four returning starters before Adkins was sidelined. Among the departed defensive stalwarts are NFL draft selections, linebacker Jammie Kirlew and cornerback Ray Fisher.

IU plans to implement a new 3-4 defensive scheme this season in wake of the roster overhaul, but now the team must do so without one of its veterans.

Adkins placed fifth on the team with 54 tackles while starting his entire freshman season in 2008 and recorded 14 tackles in six games in 2009 before sustaining his elbow injury.