Bloomington Leader

Building Project – Hoosier Progress ‘Excites’ Allen

Flash back to early April. Tom Allen is doing what he always does in spring football, coach his Indiana Hoosiers with the energy of five men.

He strides through a Mellencamp Pavilion practice, seeing everything, addressing non-stop, wearing out a bullhorn so he doesn't wear out his vocal cords, although his raspy voice suggests otherwise.

A receiver catches and then drops a pass when a defender strips it free.

Allen notices.

"You've got to finish!" he shouts with a laser of a glare.

And then, "Nice job, defense!" because there's always a positive to every negative.

A few minutes later, a receiver is knocked down from minimal contact.

Allen wields the bullhorn like a sword, cutting to the point.

"Stay on your feet!"

The quest to return the Hoosiers to bowl-making status, to elevate the program into a consistent Big Ten title contender, remains Allen's top priority, fueled even more from last season's disappointment. His Love-Each-Other approach doesn't diminish the intensity or the demands.

"You've got to finish!" he shouts again.

Allen has changed his staff, lost players, added players, and modified spring practice to keep everyone sharp, focused, and healthy.

Now comes a crucial three months that likely will determine next season.

"I'm excited about where our team is building itself," Allen says. "They're building themselves individually in their position work, and their technique, and their fundamentals, and building our offense, defense, and our special teams."

IU avoided injuries while still maximizing live opportunities this spring. Allen called it "very game-like situations."

"We're creating the most realistic situations possible and still allow us to move forward."

As far as who looks good on offense, Allen points to speedster freshman running back Jaylin Lucas, ranked as the nation's No. 12 all-purpose back by Rivals.com.

As a senior, Lucas rushed for 958 yards, totaled 705 receiving yards, and returned punts and kickoffs. He also finished sixth in the 100-meter dash in the Louisiana state track meet.

"In every scrimmage we had," Allen says, "Jaylin Lucas flashed more and more. That was very obvious."

Allen also likes what he saw from college transfers Shaun Shivers at running back, and Cam Camper and Emery Simmons at receiver. Don't forget tight end AJ Barner's bid to go from backup to star.

"Shaun continues to show who he is," Allen says. "Cam seems to get better and better evert time we take the field. Emery is another one.

"AJ Barner is stepping in the role of being the lead guy in the (tight ends) room, and also the lead guy at that position in terms of production. I see a lot out of him."

Five quarterbacks -- Jack Tuttle, Connor Bazelak, Donavan McCulley, Dexter Williams II, and Grant Gremel -- provide depth IU lacked last season.

"Our quarterbacks played well," Allen says. "They've got to be able to do a great job."

That can't happen unless the offensive line picks up its play.

"(On the offensive line) we're trying to create depth more than anything," Allen says. "We have to have guys we can count on to consistently play at a high level, physically run the football, protect the quarterback and throw down field."

The line has received a heavy dose of emphasis from offensive coordinator Walt Bell as well as offensive line coach Darren Hiller.

"Their play is going to be critical," Allen says. "They're working extremely hard. I'm proud of that group."

It starts with key veterans Michael Katic, Matthew Bedford, and Luke Haggard.

"Michael Katic has gotten better," Allen says. "I'm seeing a high level of intensity, toughness, and fight that we're trying to get out of that whole group.

"The leaders of that group are Bedford and Haggard. Luke has really stepped up in his leadership even though he's a quiet guy. He understands that role and what it demands and what it needs.

"Bedford's probably grown the most as a leader and growing the most in terms of just trying to elevate his play and his production and the way he practices. So, as a collective group, we've been on those guys, and they've responded. I'm excited for them."

Beyond those three, veterans Khalil Benson, Zach Carpenter, and Vinny Fiacable stood out, as did Joshua Sales Jr., a redshirt freshman who played in one game last season.

"Khalil Benson got lots of reps," Allen says. "He has continued to grow.

"He had a major setback when he got here and was injured right away, but he's a guy that we expect to step up. This was a really important spring for him to take that next step. That's been a big thing.

"Zach Carpenter, who played last year, but wasn't a full-time starter, changed his body this off-season. He did a tremendous job with that. We need that growth to continue. He's doing a great job."

Allen says he's counting on Fiacable, "To give us solid depth in the interior of our offensive line."

As far as younger linemen, Sales impressed.

"He's another one that continues to grow and develop and get a lot of quality reps," Allen says. "I like the way he's progressing. That needs to continue."

Defensively, Allen will take on a more hands-on approach by calling the plays. He wants guys who will attack and, as much as possible, dictate to offenses.

Defensive lineman JH Tevis, a transfer from California, is a perfect fit.

"He continues to make plays," Allen says. "He's a consistent strong leader."

Another defensive lineman, true freshman Nick James out of Florida, has performed well. Rivals.com rated him the nation's No. 16 defensive tackle. He enrolled for the second semester.

"He has a lot of twitch," Alleh says. "I'm really impressed with him as a true freshman right out of high school. I see him making more plays all the time."

Veteran linebackers Cam Jones and Aaron Casey had strong springs.

"They've taken their play and their leadership to another level," Allen says. "Aaron Casey is a guy that I've really put a lot on him to step up and he's doing that. I've been really encouraged by that. There are a whole bunch of guys like that.

"I'm encouraged by them and how hard they practiced."

Cornerback figures to be a Hoosier strength with the return of Taiwan Mullen and Jaylin Williams, plus secondary talent such as Devon Matthews, Bryant Fitzgerald, and Noah Pierre.

"I'm encouraged by those guys, and by their growth, and by their ability to get a lot of good reps and get better," Allen says. "There is a lot of competition for that open (cornerback) spot.

"To see who it's going to be, it's going to have to probably go all the way into fall camp and then we'll see who those guys are.

"We want to play a lot of guys on this defense and keep us fresh and keep our guys where they can play at a high level for 60 minutes."

Matthews, Mullen, and Williams rate among the Big Ten's secondary best. Mullen has All-America honors on his resume. Williams and Matthews have generated all-conference acclaim.

We all know Monster (Matthews) is a special player," Allen says.

"Tiawan is a special, special player. So is Jaylin. He's been awesome. Those guys have established themselves. Their leadership has been really strong."

There's plenty of young talent behind them.

"Lem Watley-Neeley is a guy who has missed some time, got injured, and we haven't seen a lot of him in the past," Allen says. "I've really been encouraged by the way he's practiced and recovered from a season-ending injury last year. He has good burst, has good size, and is a really physical tackler.

"Larry Smith III is the same. I think the COVID year was tough on him in terms of he wasn't here. He missed the physical development that he needed with his growth and body mass. We're finally seeing that kick in. He has a chance.

"Bryson Bonds is another one. We lost him last season (to injury) and he's had a really good spring.

"The thing I love about Noah (Pierre) is his flexibility. He can play so many positions -- husky, safety, corner. We all know about him, but he's even elevated his play. He's probably been the MVP of the defense.

"It's the same with Bryant Fitzgerald. He's so dependable. He's a multiple-position guy that is really going to be critical to us to being a great defensive team.

"Jonathan Haynes was a guy we hardly got to see because he was injured in fall camp. He is one of the most gifted athletes on the entire team. He had the Achilles issue last year and never got to where he was able to play, so we ended up redshirting him and now he's back. He's another guy that adds a lot of depth."

Allen is also high on James Monds III ("He continues to grow and develop; he's getting a lot of chances to play") and Deland McCullough II, a former Miami (Ohio) transfer who played primarily on special teams last season.

"Deland is another guy that he's battled some things injury-wise," Allen says, "but he's now getting healthier, and we're seeing flashes of who he can be.

"Those guys are all going to be special teams guys for us that we're going to need."

Original source can be found here.