Indiana University Athletics
Oliver’s ‘It” Has Him Among IU’s Best
11/27/2015 11:35:00 AM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Each week, Indiana's coaching staff awards the best offensive, defensive, special teams and scout players of the week with public recognition. The award winners have their picture placed on the wall just outside IU's team meeting room at Memorial Stadium.
The Hoosiers who get recognized are setting the best example on the field. Sometimes weeks pass without any players being recognized. Other weeks have two or three players get their pictures put up on the wall.
Earning the award once is difficult to begin with. That sets the expectation.
Winning multiple weeks means the player continues to elevate his game and stand out among his teammates.
In 11 possible weeks, redshirt sophomore linebacker Marcus Oliver has been named Indiana's defensive player five times. He leads the team in recognition, impressing head coach Kevin Wilson week in and week out with his ability to consistently make plays.
"Week to week, he's been banged up. He's been out there hobbling at times, but always on gameday, he brings it," defensive coordinator Brian Knorr said. "He's a guy just by his actions, certainly he has all our guys' attention."
Oliver isn't particularly overwhelming. The 6-foot-1, 238 pound Hamilton, Ohio, native wasn't receiving notoriety of extra attention in the preseason. He wasn't even listed as a starter on Indiana's initial depth chart.
By the time games started, it was difficult for the coaches to keep Oliver off the field. He was making the plays he needed to and had a knack for forcing turnovers. He quickly emerged as one of IU's most consistent defensive players at the highly touted linebacker position.
So what separates Oliver? What were people missing?
Ask linebackers coach William Inge, and he'll tell you Oliver has "it."
"It's the it," Inge said. "And the 'it' has to deal with high care value, 100 percent effort on the field, great attention to details and focus and a high care value for your teammates. If you possess that, and Marcus does, typically a lot of things are going to work our pretty good."
Oliver said he knew he had "it" all along. He just hadn't had the opportunity to show it.
"I had confidence in myself," he said. "I have the expectations to be one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten and college football period. It's just understanding football and taking coaching. The coaches put me in good spots. From there, I'm able to make plays."
Oliver's third year in Bloomington has been a comeback story of sorts. His true sophomore season was cut short only four games in after suffering a knee injury in IU's win against Missouri last season.
Fully healthy, Oliver leads Indiana with 91 tackles, a mark that ranks ninth in the Big Ten.
What's been more impressive has been his ability to force turnovers. Oliver has four forced fumbles this season, sharing fifth nationally. He also has one interception, three pass breakups and a sack.
Inge said Oliver's playmaking ability is a result of his preparation. In IU's win against Maryland last week, he said there were about five or six plays where he recognized the Terrapins' play before the snap and benefited from being able to anticipate where he needed to be.
"I've always been pretty good at getting turnovers since high school," Oliver said. "The mindset just helps me and everyone else keep pressing."
Oliver rotates in at linebacker with junior T.J. Simmons and sophomore Tegray Scales. The three of them make bets among themselves during games where the loser has to do pushups or run sprints after practice while the winner watches.
Oliver does more watching than he does pushups.
"It just keeps us competitive," he said.
Inge explained that one of IU's program goals is to see constant, consistent improvement.
Oliver is a living example.
He may not have been at the top of the scouting report at the beginning of the season, Inge said, but he's surely there now. If he wants to be one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten, Inge sees no reason why he can't.
He's got the "it" to be one of the best, Inge said.
Whatever that is.
"All the small things you need to do to be great, Marcus does those things," Inge said. "It's unexplainable. It's in his actions. He wants to make a difference, and he wants to be great."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Each week, Indiana's coaching staff awards the best offensive, defensive, special teams and scout players of the week with public recognition. The award winners have their picture placed on the wall just outside IU's team meeting room at Memorial Stadium.
The Hoosiers who get recognized are setting the best example on the field. Sometimes weeks pass without any players being recognized. Other weeks have two or three players get their pictures put up on the wall.
Earning the award once is difficult to begin with. That sets the expectation.
Winning multiple weeks means the player continues to elevate his game and stand out among his teammates.
In 11 possible weeks, redshirt sophomore linebacker Marcus Oliver has been named Indiana's defensive player five times. He leads the team in recognition, impressing head coach Kevin Wilson week in and week out with his ability to consistently make plays.
"Week to week, he's been banged up. He's been out there hobbling at times, but always on gameday, he brings it," defensive coordinator Brian Knorr said. "He's a guy just by his actions, certainly he has all our guys' attention."
Oliver isn't particularly overwhelming. The 6-foot-1, 238 pound Hamilton, Ohio, native wasn't receiving notoriety of extra attention in the preseason. He wasn't even listed as a starter on Indiana's initial depth chart.
By the time games started, it was difficult for the coaches to keep Oliver off the field. He was making the plays he needed to and had a knack for forcing turnovers. He quickly emerged as one of IU's most consistent defensive players at the highly touted linebacker position.
So what separates Oliver? What were people missing?
Ask linebackers coach William Inge, and he'll tell you Oliver has "it."
"It's the it," Inge said. "And the 'it' has to deal with high care value, 100 percent effort on the field, great attention to details and focus and a high care value for your teammates. If you possess that, and Marcus does, typically a lot of things are going to work our pretty good."
Oliver said he knew he had "it" all along. He just hadn't had the opportunity to show it.
"I had confidence in myself," he said. "I have the expectations to be one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten and college football period. It's just understanding football and taking coaching. The coaches put me in good spots. From there, I'm able to make plays."
Oliver's third year in Bloomington has been a comeback story of sorts. His true sophomore season was cut short only four games in after suffering a knee injury in IU's win against Missouri last season.
Fully healthy, Oliver leads Indiana with 91 tackles, a mark that ranks ninth in the Big Ten.
What's been more impressive has been his ability to force turnovers. Oliver has four forced fumbles this season, sharing fifth nationally. He also has one interception, three pass breakups and a sack.
Inge said Oliver's playmaking ability is a result of his preparation. In IU's win against Maryland last week, he said there were about five or six plays where he recognized the Terrapins' play before the snap and benefited from being able to anticipate where he needed to be.
"I've always been pretty good at getting turnovers since high school," Oliver said. "The mindset just helps me and everyone else keep pressing."
Oliver rotates in at linebacker with junior T.J. Simmons and sophomore Tegray Scales. The three of them make bets among themselves during games where the loser has to do pushups or run sprints after practice while the winner watches.
Oliver does more watching than he does pushups.
"It just keeps us competitive," he said.
Inge explained that one of IU's program goals is to see constant, consistent improvement.
Oliver is a living example.
He may not have been at the top of the scouting report at the beginning of the season, Inge said, but he's surely there now. If he wants to be one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten, Inge sees no reason why he can't.
He's got the "it" to be one of the best, Inge said.
Whatever that is.
"All the small things you need to do to be great, Marcus does those things," Inge said. "It's unexplainable. It's in his actions. He wants to make a difference, and he wants to be great."
Players Mentioned
FB: Spring Game - Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, April 23
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21