Indiana University Athletics
Full Pads and Familiar Faces
3/8/2018 7:42:00 PM | Football
By Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
Tegray Scales, Ian Thomas and Rashard Fant didn't spend much time on the sidelines during their stellar football careers at Indiana.
But that's where they stayed Thursday, fresh off appearances at the NFL Combine, as IU conducted its first full-pad practice of the spring.
Scales had a solid Combine, starting with a bench press performance ranking second among all linebackers at 27 repetitions lifting 225 pounds.
Thomas turned heads at the Combine, finishing in the top six among tight ends in the broad jump (2nd), 20-yard shuttle (2nd), vertical jump (3rd), 40-yard dash (6th) and three-cone drill (6th).
But Fant met misfortune. He tore a pectoral muscle while lifting at the Combine, which had his left arm in a sling but his spirit undaunted as he watched his former teammates work Thursday at Mellencamp Pavilion.
"I was excited to do the bench, looking to show them how strong I am," Fant said of his Combine experience, noting that teams that had expressed interest in him still encouraged him after the injury.
"They told me, 'Keep your head up. You've got a lot of good film. We can tell how fast you are.'" Fant said. "The teams are real positive, in my corner.
"They like how I've responded to it. They like my character and my personality. I'm fortunate and blessed."
Fant estimated surgery and rehabilitation would have him sidelined "four to six months" and that, if he hooks on with a NFL team, he'd then likely go on injured reserve for the 2018 campaign.
"It'd be like a redshirt year, like the one I had here, so I already know how to approach that," he said. "I can still keep learning, still get myself ready."
Fant did a whole lot of learning in his five years at IU, to the tune of two degrees earned. That was a topic for the NFL folks with whom he consulted, and the question arose if football was truly a priority for him, given the degrees augured in a different sort of future to immediately pursue if he wished.
"They were wondering if I really needed or wanted to play pro football, since I already have two degrees," Fant said. "But I told them I've always been passionate about playing football and that you can see that in my play.
"I love the game. When I wasn't doing school work, I was working out. I told them 'Y'all don't have to worry about my passion or motivation.' I grew up wanting to do this. Since I was 11, I've had something on my wall saying I was going to make it to the NFL.
"Why not work hard and earn degrees, and benefit from that, when you've got five years to do so? But I love football and was able to focus on football even more once I got to grad school because the class load wasn't as heavy."
GETTING A WORD IN EDGEWISE
Fant is rarely at a loss for words, but knows that veterans such as senior safety Jon Crawford now have to say what needs said on and off the field as the Hoosiers move forward. Fant isn't worried about that.
"Jon's more talkative than some might think," Fant said. "He won't have any problem leading in that way."
Apprised of Fant's comments, Crawford said, "Fant always wants to think he made all the calls last year. He likes to tell people that." Crawford grinned and added: "But I understand that (I need to talk more) and I'm working on that right now.
"Honestly, I don't think it'll be tough for me, because it's also something I want … I understand the situation and what I have to do."
Coach Tom Allen has made sure of that.
"Had a good talk with him about it," Allen said. "His position demands it, as a senior now, being the only guy back there with all that experience. He feels it. He knows it. He has to.
"Even though he's not naturally a loud guy who likes to talk a lot, he cares about this team and knows he has to do it, and he's doing a great job. I'm not surprised, but he's risen to the expectations, for sure."
Allen has seen stuff up front in the defense from senior lineman Jacob Robinson.
"I knew he would talk," Allen said of Robinson. "(Like Jon), he's earned the right, because of his performance. His work ethic has always been there, and when you start making more plays, guys listen better.
"He's another senior leader that we have to have. You look at our defense and it's, 'young guy, young guy, young guy, young guy.' Which is fun. There are going to be some growing pains, throughout spring and summer, which is part of it, but we're excited to have the guys we have. And we have more guys coming in June – a lot of guys, I think, who can give us some immediate help."
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
IU's defense graduated eight starters, on paper, but that stat does not tell all. It doesn't account for several players who have past starts and a lot of snaps played.
"It's a little bit misleading, for sure," Robinson said. "It's not as big a deal as you might think. Everybody points to the numbers and says, 'You lost all your production.' Well, no we didn't lose all of it.
"We still have a lot of experience. And we have a lot of guys who are hungry to get on the field and play."
Nile Sykes, for example. The defensive end who led the 2016 Hoosiers in sacks, missed all of 2017 with a torn pec sustained at the end of the summer lifting schedule but is back now.
"That's big," Allen said. "Leading sack guy two years ago. And to lose him at the last second, as we did, was a big blow last year. Having that 'twitchiness' that he brings, that ability to rush the passer, is a huge asset.
"So it's great to have him back. He's obviously rusty right now from being out for a whole year, but he'll get that back pretty quick and we'll rely on him pretty heavily."
A'Shon Riggins, who started eight games and played in all 12 as a freshman in 2016 but had some injury issues while starting three last fall, doesn't technically count as a returning starter.
"A'Shon started as a freshman," Crawford said. "That tells you something."
Crawford also cited junior safety and fellow Floridian Khalil Bryant, who hasn't started but appeared in 11 games in each of the past two years.
"I can tell he wants it," Crawford said of Bryant. "Being behind so many people these past years, he knows his role is coming up and it's his time to shine. He's hit it head on."
And then there is Marcelino Ball, who led all Big Ten freshman in tackles in 2016, when he earned 247Sports Freshman All-American accolades. He was limited to three games at his Husky spot by injury last fall. He's healthy now and bringing a healthy dose of confidence.
"He has got some swagger to him, there is no doubt," new IU linebackers coach Kane Wommack said of Ball. "We talk about it all the time – the way you walk, the way you talk, it's all 'Swarm Swag.'
"He's one of those guys who has the production on the field to kind of earn that respect from the rest of his teammates. So when he turns up, they're going to turn up … that culture has to be created now. And it has to be carried over in the summertime and reinforced during fall camp, so that when we walk into that first game at FIU, it's already established."
NEW COACH, NEW BACKERS
Wommack is new and doesn't have All-American Scales and fellow 2017 linebacking starter Chris Covington at his disposal. And he wasn't surprised to see some rawness among some of his less experienced players when the Hoosiers went full pads for the first time.
"We can put it up on the board. We can talk it through. They can see it on film. We can walk through it. But when they're going fast, at tempo, it's a different level," Wommack said. "You see a couple of our young guys (with heads) starting to swim a little bit, when things are heating up and going fast."
But Wommack is grateful for fifth-year senior Kiante Walton and two players in their second years with the program, fifth-year senior junior college transfer Mike McGinnis and redshirt freshman Thomas Allen, in terms of helping the newcomers along.
"Mike McGinnis, Thomas Allen, Kiante Walton are doing a great job from the (middle) linebacker position in terms of at least communicating and getting us lined up," Wommack said. "If we didn't have those guys, who are all three pretty cerebral guys, making checks and communicating, it'd probably look a lot different out there.
"(Redshirt freshman) Mo Burnam, (January enrollee) T.D. Roof, and also (junior) Isaac James playing out at the Husky position, those are all inexperienced guys at their position (Stinger). They're swimming a little bit. But you see the athleticism from all three of them. They can all play at a very high level. So they're getting better from one day to the next, but it's a very slow process."
MOVING ON UP
While IU may have had more graduation losses from its starting defense, the offense might supply the first Hoosiers selected in the April 26-28 NFL Draft.
Sports Illustrated released a Top 100 list Wednesday of NFL Draft prospects and two Hoosiers made it, tight end Ian Thomas at No. 73 and wideout Simmie Cobbs Jr. at No. 97.
Scales is well-regarded amidst the linebacker crop. USA Today's draftwire has Scales listed at No. 7 among linebackers in the draft pool, and Walterfootball.com has him at No. 9.
Fant, in the wake of his recent injury, wasn't listed. But some project him as an ideal slot-corner for NFL schemes.
PENIX PLEASING
Just who will quarterback the IU offense next fall remains an open question, though redshirt sophomore Peyton Ramsey played extensively last fall, has the best handle on the offense in terms of knowledge and already has a 21-of-24 passing day in the books this spring.
But true freshman January enrollee Michael Penix Jr. has also caught Allen's eye.
"Decision-making has been good," Allen said of Penix. "Today, as we went live, with more pressure, you could tell that it got to him a little bit, which is expected. But the biggest thing – we knew he had a live arm and was athletic – (is) you get him in your system, making reads, dealing with the protections and how we set all that. And progression reads with the ball in his hand.
"It's easy to sit in the meeting room and talk about it. It's a lot harder when they're coming at you, live. I just think he's done a good job with that. He'll have good days and bad days, as all freshmen do, but he's been a guy who I've been encouraged by, by his immediate ability to make (reads and) plays early on."
HEADING TO BREAK
Allen's squad adjourns for spring break next week before resuming workouts leading up to the culminating April 14 annual Cream & Crimson Game.
And Allen has duly counseled his youthful charges about conducting an enjoyable but responsible and safe spring break.
"It's all about choices," Allen said. "You try to give them some life examples of guys who didn't make the right choices (and the ramifications of that.) Our coaches will check in with them, and know exactly where they're going to be, and they're accountable.
"(It's) that culture you try to create, where they feel accountable to themselves, first of all, and then to their teammates and ultimately to their families – they represent them in what they do and where they go while they're there. Still, as a coach, it's always a nerve-wracking week. You don't sleep very good until you know everybody is back and safe."
IUHoosiers.com
Tegray Scales, Ian Thomas and Rashard Fant didn't spend much time on the sidelines during their stellar football careers at Indiana.
But that's where they stayed Thursday, fresh off appearances at the NFL Combine, as IU conducted its first full-pad practice of the spring.
Scales had a solid Combine, starting with a bench press performance ranking second among all linebackers at 27 repetitions lifting 225 pounds.
Thomas turned heads at the Combine, finishing in the top six among tight ends in the broad jump (2nd), 20-yard shuttle (2nd), vertical jump (3rd), 40-yard dash (6th) and three-cone drill (6th).
But Fant met misfortune. He tore a pectoral muscle while lifting at the Combine, which had his left arm in a sling but his spirit undaunted as he watched his former teammates work Thursday at Mellencamp Pavilion.
"I was excited to do the bench, looking to show them how strong I am," Fant said of his Combine experience, noting that teams that had expressed interest in him still encouraged him after the injury.
"They told me, 'Keep your head up. You've got a lot of good film. We can tell how fast you are.'" Fant said. "The teams are real positive, in my corner.
"They like how I've responded to it. They like my character and my personality. I'm fortunate and blessed."
Fant estimated surgery and rehabilitation would have him sidelined "four to six months" and that, if he hooks on with a NFL team, he'd then likely go on injured reserve for the 2018 campaign.
"It'd be like a redshirt year, like the one I had here, so I already know how to approach that," he said. "I can still keep learning, still get myself ready."
Fant did a whole lot of learning in his five years at IU, to the tune of two degrees earned. That was a topic for the NFL folks with whom he consulted, and the question arose if football was truly a priority for him, given the degrees augured in a different sort of future to immediately pursue if he wished.
"They were wondering if I really needed or wanted to play pro football, since I already have two degrees," Fant said. "But I told them I've always been passionate about playing football and that you can see that in my play.
"I love the game. When I wasn't doing school work, I was working out. I told them 'Y'all don't have to worry about my passion or motivation.' I grew up wanting to do this. Since I was 11, I've had something on my wall saying I was going to make it to the NFL.
"Why not work hard and earn degrees, and benefit from that, when you've got five years to do so? But I love football and was able to focus on football even more once I got to grad school because the class load wasn't as heavy."
GETTING A WORD IN EDGEWISE
Fant is rarely at a loss for words, but knows that veterans such as senior safety Jon Crawford now have to say what needs said on and off the field as the Hoosiers move forward. Fant isn't worried about that.
"Jon's more talkative than some might think," Fant said. "He won't have any problem leading in that way."
Apprised of Fant's comments, Crawford said, "Fant always wants to think he made all the calls last year. He likes to tell people that." Crawford grinned and added: "But I understand that (I need to talk more) and I'm working on that right now.
"Honestly, I don't think it'll be tough for me, because it's also something I want … I understand the situation and what I have to do."
Coach Tom Allen has made sure of that.
"Had a good talk with him about it," Allen said. "His position demands it, as a senior now, being the only guy back there with all that experience. He feels it. He knows it. He has to.
"Even though he's not naturally a loud guy who likes to talk a lot, he cares about this team and knows he has to do it, and he's doing a great job. I'm not surprised, but he's risen to the expectations, for sure."
Allen has seen stuff up front in the defense from senior lineman Jacob Robinson.
"I knew he would talk," Allen said of Robinson. "(Like Jon), he's earned the right, because of his performance. His work ethic has always been there, and when you start making more plays, guys listen better.
"He's another senior leader that we have to have. You look at our defense and it's, 'young guy, young guy, young guy, young guy.' Which is fun. There are going to be some growing pains, throughout spring and summer, which is part of it, but we're excited to have the guys we have. And we have more guys coming in June – a lot of guys, I think, who can give us some immediate help."
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
IU's defense graduated eight starters, on paper, but that stat does not tell all. It doesn't account for several players who have past starts and a lot of snaps played.
"It's a little bit misleading, for sure," Robinson said. "It's not as big a deal as you might think. Everybody points to the numbers and says, 'You lost all your production.' Well, no we didn't lose all of it.
"We still have a lot of experience. And we have a lot of guys who are hungry to get on the field and play."
Nile Sykes, for example. The defensive end who led the 2016 Hoosiers in sacks, missed all of 2017 with a torn pec sustained at the end of the summer lifting schedule but is back now.
"That's big," Allen said. "Leading sack guy two years ago. And to lose him at the last second, as we did, was a big blow last year. Having that 'twitchiness' that he brings, that ability to rush the passer, is a huge asset.
"So it's great to have him back. He's obviously rusty right now from being out for a whole year, but he'll get that back pretty quick and we'll rely on him pretty heavily."
A'Shon Riggins, who started eight games and played in all 12 as a freshman in 2016 but had some injury issues while starting three last fall, doesn't technically count as a returning starter.
"A'Shon started as a freshman," Crawford said. "That tells you something."
Crawford also cited junior safety and fellow Floridian Khalil Bryant, who hasn't started but appeared in 11 games in each of the past two years.
"I can tell he wants it," Crawford said of Bryant. "Being behind so many people these past years, he knows his role is coming up and it's his time to shine. He's hit it head on."
And then there is Marcelino Ball, who led all Big Ten freshman in tackles in 2016, when he earned 247Sports Freshman All-American accolades. He was limited to three games at his Husky spot by injury last fall. He's healthy now and bringing a healthy dose of confidence.
"He has got some swagger to him, there is no doubt," new IU linebackers coach Kane Wommack said of Ball. "We talk about it all the time – the way you walk, the way you talk, it's all 'Swarm Swag.'
"He's one of those guys who has the production on the field to kind of earn that respect from the rest of his teammates. So when he turns up, they're going to turn up … that culture has to be created now. And it has to be carried over in the summertime and reinforced during fall camp, so that when we walk into that first game at FIU, it's already established."
NEW COACH, NEW BACKERS
Wommack is new and doesn't have All-American Scales and fellow 2017 linebacking starter Chris Covington at his disposal. And he wasn't surprised to see some rawness among some of his less experienced players when the Hoosiers went full pads for the first time.
"We can put it up on the board. We can talk it through. They can see it on film. We can walk through it. But when they're going fast, at tempo, it's a different level," Wommack said. "You see a couple of our young guys (with heads) starting to swim a little bit, when things are heating up and going fast."
But Wommack is grateful for fifth-year senior Kiante Walton and two players in their second years with the program, fifth-year senior junior college transfer Mike McGinnis and redshirt freshman Thomas Allen, in terms of helping the newcomers along.
"Mike McGinnis, Thomas Allen, Kiante Walton are doing a great job from the (middle) linebacker position in terms of at least communicating and getting us lined up," Wommack said. "If we didn't have those guys, who are all three pretty cerebral guys, making checks and communicating, it'd probably look a lot different out there.
"(Redshirt freshman) Mo Burnam, (January enrollee) T.D. Roof, and also (junior) Isaac James playing out at the Husky position, those are all inexperienced guys at their position (Stinger). They're swimming a little bit. But you see the athleticism from all three of them. They can all play at a very high level. So they're getting better from one day to the next, but it's a very slow process."
MOVING ON UP
While IU may have had more graduation losses from its starting defense, the offense might supply the first Hoosiers selected in the April 26-28 NFL Draft.
Sports Illustrated released a Top 100 list Wednesday of NFL Draft prospects and two Hoosiers made it, tight end Ian Thomas at No. 73 and wideout Simmie Cobbs Jr. at No. 97.
Scales is well-regarded amidst the linebacker crop. USA Today's draftwire has Scales listed at No. 7 among linebackers in the draft pool, and Walterfootball.com has him at No. 9.
Fant, in the wake of his recent injury, wasn't listed. But some project him as an ideal slot-corner for NFL schemes.
PENIX PLEASING
Just who will quarterback the IU offense next fall remains an open question, though redshirt sophomore Peyton Ramsey played extensively last fall, has the best handle on the offense in terms of knowledge and already has a 21-of-24 passing day in the books this spring.
But true freshman January enrollee Michael Penix Jr. has also caught Allen's eye.
"Decision-making has been good," Allen said of Penix. "Today, as we went live, with more pressure, you could tell that it got to him a little bit, which is expected. But the biggest thing – we knew he had a live arm and was athletic – (is) you get him in your system, making reads, dealing with the protections and how we set all that. And progression reads with the ball in his hand.
"It's easy to sit in the meeting room and talk about it. It's a lot harder when they're coming at you, live. I just think he's done a good job with that. He'll have good days and bad days, as all freshmen do, but he's been a guy who I've been encouraged by, by his immediate ability to make (reads and) plays early on."
HEADING TO BREAK
Allen's squad adjourns for spring break next week before resuming workouts leading up to the culminating April 14 annual Cream & Crimson Game.
And Allen has duly counseled his youthful charges about conducting an enjoyable but responsible and safe spring break.
"It's all about choices," Allen said. "You try to give them some life examples of guys who didn't make the right choices (and the ramifications of that.) Our coaches will check in with them, and know exactly where they're going to be, and they're accountable.
"(It's) that culture you try to create, where they feel accountable to themselves, first of all, and then to their teammates and ultimately to their families – they represent them in what they do and where they go while they're there. Still, as a coach, it's always a nerve-wracking week. You don't sleep very good until you know everybody is back and safe."
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