Indiana University Athletics
Notebook: Ramsey Gets 'Dream' Opportunity
10/3/2017 8:33:00 PM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Peyton Ramsey feels the Cream 'n Crimson thrill. How could he not? The redshirt freshman is a Big Ten starting quarterback, and the plan is for it to stick, perhaps for the next three-plus seasons.
"This is what I've dreamed of," Ramsey says. "It's something that I've worked toward for a long time. It's exciting."
Ramsey has earned the starting nod by virtue of performance and potential to generate Indiana football victories.
It took four games and just over a month to convince head coach Tom Allen and offensive coordinator Mike DeBord to promote Ramsey from backup to starter.
Ramsey has paid his dues -- as a scout team sensation, as a backup difference maker, and as a relentless worker who refuses to lose in anything, even practice sprints, up-downs and other assorted conditioning drills.
Now it's about performance and winning.
Ramsey gets his first starting shot Saturday against Charleston Southern (2-2) before facing Michigan, the Big Ten's best in total defense, allowing just 203.3 yards, and then the rest of the conference challenges.
Is he ready?
Allen and Mike DeBord believe he is.
Ramsey isn't about to disagree.
"I think I'm ready. I've had opportunities to play and to play against good football teams. From that standpoint, I'm prepared and ready to go."
Ramsey spent the first four games – including top-10 teams Ohio State and Penn State -- in a rotation with Richard Lagow. The result -- Ramsey completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 316 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 117 yards and a TD.
The offense, particularly the running game, worked better with Ramsey running things.
"Having the opportunity to have gotten snaps in each of our four games is huge," Ramsey says. "It is important to have experience."
Ramsey says he didn't worry if a starting opportunity would come this year.
"Every day in practice I was focused on getting better. I wasn't worried about anybody else. I focused on myself."
Ramsey says replacing Lagow won't affect their relationship
"I don't see that changing. We'll continue to be good friends and teammates, and support each other."
Ramsey also says he won't play scared that a mistake or two will cost him the starting job.
"I don't want to have any bad plays, but it's the next play. You keep moving forward. That's how quarterbacks are supposed to play, whether you're the starter or coming off the bench. Play the next play."
When Allen took over as head coach last December, he said he wanted a quarterback with the ability to run as well as pass because it puts more stress on the defense.
Ramsey fits that mold. Allen and DeBord say they will gear the offense to Ramsey's pass-run strength.
"I can move around a little bit, and it helps out," Ramsey says. "It softens defenses a little bit. It works in our favor."
Ramsey says he bases his play on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
"I like the way he plays, the way he moves around. When he does move around, he protects his body. He does a good job of throwing the ball down the field."
How does a quarterback protect his body against defensive players eager to deliver big hits?
"You have to be aware of everything going down when you break the pocket," Ramsey says. "Do I need to get rid of the ball? Do I need to get down? Is there a guy open down the field?
"It's keeping your head on a swivel; keeping your eyes up; and protecting your body."
Ramsey's dual-threat ability surfaced while playing for his father, Doug, at Cincinnati Elder High School. For his career, he threw for 6,708 yards and 49 touchdowns. He rushed for 2,692 yards and 32 TDs.
"My father was demanding," Ramsey says. "He expected a lot out of me. He knew what I could do. My job was to get my teammates to play better. That carried over here. Coaches expect the quarterback to get players to play better on each down."
Ramsey says his father was the first person he contacted Sunday night when he learned he'd become the starter.
"He told me he's seen me work and that I earned it and that he was excited for me."
Ramsey's work includes winning all those sprints.
"All those small things, the sprints and up-downs and in the weight room, they say a lot about my character, and how hard I'm willing to work on the little things."
Why?
Because little things can lead to big things.
Ramsey began building his teammates' confidence in him as a scout team standout last fall, then again during spring practice, August camp, and now games.
"I think I earned the trust of the defense before I did the offense," he says.
"The biggest thing is earning their trust. Teammates have to trust you, especially as the quarterback, to be successful."
IU (2-2) projects to find success against Charleston Southern, a replacement opponent after the Sept. 16 home game against Florida International was canceled because of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
There will be no overlooking this opponent, Ramsey says.
"We prepare for every opponent like it's the biggest game of the year," he says. "That's what we'll do this week. We'll get after them just like we got after Virginia, Penn State and Ohio State."
CHARELSTON SOUTHERN CHALLENGE
Charleston Southern has won two straight games, beating Point University of Georgia 66-0 and Mississippi Valley State 58-7. It opened with a 49-0 loss to Mississippi State and a 19-17 defeat to Elon.
Quarterback Shane Bucenell has completed 29-of-49 passes for 497 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Tailback Noah Shuler leads the team with 204 rushing yards and four TDs. The top receiver is Kameron Brown (9 catches, 220 yards, 2 touchdowns).
Allen says Charleston Southern runs a triple-option rushing attack similar to Georgia Southern. IU beat Georgia Southern 52-17 on Sept. 23.
"It's challenging," he says. "It's assignment football.
"The last two weeks they've put up a lot of points and yards. It's your typical run the football, run the football, run the football and then play-action passes off of that. It will force us to be very, very assignment sound, extremely fundamental.
STALLINGS RISES TO CHALLENGE
Backup defensive end Allen Stallings IV has elevated his play in recent weeks. He's had a sack in each of the last two games. He has 12 tackles for the season.
"You get to a point where you sit a young man down and say this program needs you to step up," Allen says. "He responded. I'm really encouraged by that.
"You need to keep elevating. Each week it doesn't change. We need him to do that."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Peyton Ramsey feels the Cream 'n Crimson thrill. How could he not? The redshirt freshman is a Big Ten starting quarterback, and the plan is for it to stick, perhaps for the next three-plus seasons.
"This is what I've dreamed of," Ramsey says. "It's something that I've worked toward for a long time. It's exciting."
Ramsey has earned the starting nod by virtue of performance and potential to generate Indiana football victories.
It took four games and just over a month to convince head coach Tom Allen and offensive coordinator Mike DeBord to promote Ramsey from backup to starter.
Ramsey has paid his dues -- as a scout team sensation, as a backup difference maker, and as a relentless worker who refuses to lose in anything, even practice sprints, up-downs and other assorted conditioning drills.
Now it's about performance and winning.
Ramsey gets his first starting shot Saturday against Charleston Southern (2-2) before facing Michigan, the Big Ten's best in total defense, allowing just 203.3 yards, and then the rest of the conference challenges.
Is he ready?
Allen and Mike DeBord believe he is.
Ramsey isn't about to disagree.
"I think I'm ready. I've had opportunities to play and to play against good football teams. From that standpoint, I'm prepared and ready to go."
Ramsey spent the first four games – including top-10 teams Ohio State and Penn State -- in a rotation with Richard Lagow. The result -- Ramsey completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 316 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 117 yards and a TD.
The offense, particularly the running game, worked better with Ramsey running things.
"Having the opportunity to have gotten snaps in each of our four games is huge," Ramsey says. "It is important to have experience."
Ramsey says he didn't worry if a starting opportunity would come this year.
"Every day in practice I was focused on getting better. I wasn't worried about anybody else. I focused on myself."
Ramsey says replacing Lagow won't affect their relationship
"I don't see that changing. We'll continue to be good friends and teammates, and support each other."
Ramsey also says he won't play scared that a mistake or two will cost him the starting job.
"I don't want to have any bad plays, but it's the next play. You keep moving forward. That's how quarterbacks are supposed to play, whether you're the starter or coming off the bench. Play the next play."
When Allen took over as head coach last December, he said he wanted a quarterback with the ability to run as well as pass because it puts more stress on the defense.
Ramsey fits that mold. Allen and DeBord say they will gear the offense to Ramsey's pass-run strength.
"I can move around a little bit, and it helps out," Ramsey says. "It softens defenses a little bit. It works in our favor."
Ramsey says he bases his play on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
"I like the way he plays, the way he moves around. When he does move around, he protects his body. He does a good job of throwing the ball down the field."
How does a quarterback protect his body against defensive players eager to deliver big hits?
"You have to be aware of everything going down when you break the pocket," Ramsey says. "Do I need to get rid of the ball? Do I need to get down? Is there a guy open down the field?
"It's keeping your head on a swivel; keeping your eyes up; and protecting your body."
Ramsey's dual-threat ability surfaced while playing for his father, Doug, at Cincinnati Elder High School. For his career, he threw for 6,708 yards and 49 touchdowns. He rushed for 2,692 yards and 32 TDs.
"My father was demanding," Ramsey says. "He expected a lot out of me. He knew what I could do. My job was to get my teammates to play better. That carried over here. Coaches expect the quarterback to get players to play better on each down."
Ramsey says his father was the first person he contacted Sunday night when he learned he'd become the starter.
"He told me he's seen me work and that I earned it and that he was excited for me."
Ramsey's work includes winning all those sprints.
"All those small things, the sprints and up-downs and in the weight room, they say a lot about my character, and how hard I'm willing to work on the little things."
Why?
Because little things can lead to big things.
Ramsey began building his teammates' confidence in him as a scout team standout last fall, then again during spring practice, August camp, and now games.
"I think I earned the trust of the defense before I did the offense," he says.
"The biggest thing is earning their trust. Teammates have to trust you, especially as the quarterback, to be successful."
IU (2-2) projects to find success against Charleston Southern, a replacement opponent after the Sept. 16 home game against Florida International was canceled because of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
There will be no overlooking this opponent, Ramsey says.
"We prepare for every opponent like it's the biggest game of the year," he says. "That's what we'll do this week. We'll get after them just like we got after Virginia, Penn State and Ohio State."
CHARELSTON SOUTHERN CHALLENGE
Charleston Southern has won two straight games, beating Point University of Georgia 66-0 and Mississippi Valley State 58-7. It opened with a 49-0 loss to Mississippi State and a 19-17 defeat to Elon.
Quarterback Shane Bucenell has completed 29-of-49 passes for 497 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Tailback Noah Shuler leads the team with 204 rushing yards and four TDs. The top receiver is Kameron Brown (9 catches, 220 yards, 2 touchdowns).
Allen says Charleston Southern runs a triple-option rushing attack similar to Georgia Southern. IU beat Georgia Southern 52-17 on Sept. 23.
"It's challenging," he says. "It's assignment football.
"The last two weeks they've put up a lot of points and yards. It's your typical run the football, run the football, run the football and then play-action passes off of that. It will force us to be very, very assignment sound, extremely fundamental.
STALLINGS RISES TO CHALLENGE
Backup defensive end Allen Stallings IV has elevated his play in recent weeks. He's had a sack in each of the last two games. He has 12 tackles for the season.
"You get to a point where you sit a young man down and say this program needs you to step up," Allen says. "He responded. I'm really encouraged by that.
"You need to keep elevating. Each week it doesn't change. We need him to do that."
Players Mentioned
FB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 9 (UCLA)
Thursday, October 23
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 9 (UCLA)
Wednesday, October 22
FB: Omar Cooper Jr. Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
FB: Stephen Daley Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21