GRAHAM NOTEBOOK: Tough Guy Makes Good
8/14/2018 8:34:00 PM | Football
By: Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Coach Tom Allen, as is his wont, was preaching toughness during the latter stages of Indiana football practice Tuesday.
Using his bullhorn for emphasis, Allen suddenly called upon the entire squad to circle around him and bellowed: "This is about toughness!"
And despite Tuesday's work restricted to "shells," helmets and shoulder pads as opposed to full pads, the Hoosier head coach appeared ready to orchestrate an ultimate toughness drill – one offensive lineman versus one defensive lineman, crashing together in a confined space, best man wins.
"You've still got shoulder pads on!" Allen hollered. "You still have a helmet on! I want two young guys out here. One O-line, one D-line. I want Coy Cronk out here!"
Cronk, the junior offensive tackle from Lafayette Central Catholic, jumped into the center of the circle and took his stance. And the defensive line put forward Gavin Everett, the redshirt junior walk-on from Center Grove.
They two linemen got nose to nose, waiting for the whistle to ignite the impending collision.
"Now, listen to me!" Allen yelled. "This is a tough-man drill! This is about having heart! This is about having toughness! … That is why … Gavin Everett is getting a scholarship!"
And that was how Everett, as his teammates roared their approval, learned he is now an IU scholarship athlete. Amidst no collision. Just cheers.
Allen and his staff like to stage such surprise announcements, when able to bestow a scholarship upon a deserving walk-on, and Tuesday's definitely seemed appreciated all-around.
"It's awesome," redshirt sophomore quarterback Peyton Ramsey said later. "Especially for a guy like Gavin, who has worked so hard. Not everybody gets to see the behind-the-scenes stuff that he does every single day. He brings it, I'm telling you, every single day and I'm so happy for that kid. Because he's a hard worker and a good player."
There was a reason Everett was the first man selected last spring in the mock draft that split the squad for the annual Cream & Crimson intrasquad game.
Everett is an effort guy.
As evidenced, for example, by the time he flew down the line from the back side – horizontal to the ground – to blow up an Illinois play during the Hoosiers' 24-14 win in Champaign last Nov. 11. A couple of weeks later, he was forcing a fumble at Purdue.
"It was surreal, playing in my first Bucket game," Everett recalled at IU's Media Day.
Partly because that didn't seem a very real possibility to Everett upon graduating high school.
Everett was an all-state player and team captain at Center Grove, but the only Division I scholarship offer he received was to Western Illinois. And after spending 2015 with the Football Championship Subdivision
Leathernecks, Everett decided he wanted to be a Football Bowl Subdivision player, to chase a Big Ten dream closer to home.
"Guys that come through that Center Grove program, you know what those guys are all about, and we welcomed Gavin with open arms," defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator Mark Hagen said. "We weren't sure what he would bring to the mix, but he's a guy that's come out every day and worked hard, building his way up the depth chart.
"Losing Robert McCray (to graduation) and having Brandon Wilson bump inside and help us at that three-technique position, (Everett) took advantage of it this spring."
Everett is listed atop the depth chart at strong-side defensive end in the 2018 IU media guide and is certainly part of the planned playing rotation.
"He's not the most athletic guy we have out there, but he's tough," Hagen said. "He's athletic enough to give us good, quality snaps. He's just one of those guys that does everything right."
Allen made it clear how much he appreciates that. After the celebration of Everett's scholarship announcement finally subsided Tuesday, Allen told his assembled troops:
"LEO (Love Each Other) is a culture. It's about the guys around you. It's about people. It will never cease to be about people … that's why the teams that are special love each other.
"People will say what they want to about that. But that's who we are. It's our core fiber. And I promise you this. When you're playing for somebody else (for those around you), it's special."
"I love that guy (Everett). Because all he does is work. He doesn't make excuses. He came here as a walk-on. He came to compete. And he came to play."
Everett will now, barring anything unforeseen, most certainly play a lot.
"Gavin is one of those individuals we're going lean on," Hagen said at Media Day. "He's a guy I trust. He's tough and physical and you always know what you're going to get from him on the field."
There's that word again.
Tough.
As in scholarship-worthy toughness.
DEFENDING THE ROCK
When football Hoosiers speak of "defending The Rock," the reference is to the nickname for IU's Memorial Stadium – an especially handsome limestone edifice, now that it's a complete circle with both ends closed in via sparkling new facilities.
But "The Rock" in sporting parlance can also mean the ball.
And Indiana offensive coordinator Mike DeBord was pleased with how "the rock" was handled at "The Rock" during Sunday's scrimmage.
"I like, No. 1, that we protected the football," DeBord said while meeting the media Tuesday. "We had no turnovers. That was big.
"The second part of it is that I liked the tempo we played at. We had explosive plays. We were able to run the football, and that was good."
And catch it.
"I think we've got some explosive guys," DeBord said when asked about the performance of IU's receivers. "We've also got tall guys who can go up and make plays. So I like our group right now. We're just trying to create depth there."
EQUAL TIME
All three quarterbacks vying for the starting job – grad transfer Brandon Dawkins, Ramsey and true freshman Michael Penix Jr. – got snaps with the No. 1, 2 and 3 units Sunday.
"We tried to split it up evenly," quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan said. "And we focused even more so on making sure they got the same number of opportunities with each group (1s, 2s and 3s).
"And then it was up to them, at that point. If you had a longer drive, maybe you got a few extra snaps. But we wanted to make sure each guy had a chance to run with the 1s. Obviously, the (starting) offensive line being a strength for us, that provides a different experience out there.
"We've been intentional in breaking up the reps, so everybody's right in the thick of it. And, obviously, the scrimmages are a huge evaluation tool for the entire staff. They're all competing, all still getting reps, and every day is important. And every rep matters. That's been emphasized to the guys."
Sheridan and all the other coaches have stayed mum regarding how the quarterback race is shaking out so far, but he did say he generally liked what he saw Sunday.
"For the most part, from the quarterback perspective, we were pleased," Sheridan said. "We were able to convert and score some touchdowns.
"We were a little sloppy on some third-down things that need to be better. When you have 137 plays, there are always going to be good and bad. But when you look at, really, what winning football looks like – taking care of the football, that was important to us and they did a good job."
GETTIN' TIGHT
DeBord counts specialized tight end instruction among his IU coaching duties and acknowledged redshirt junior tight end Austin Dorris continued to make a good impression this fall with a pair of TD catches in Sunday's scrimmage.
"Austin was here the entire summer, volunteered his time," DeBord said, "and he was one of the guys who the strength coaches said, 'Hey, you're going to be surprised how much faster he is.' And he is faster. And he's playing faster and all that.
"He had two or three really nice catches in the scrimmage. He had a couple of touchdowns that way. Made a really great catch back behind (him) that was really tough. So he's really improved as a football player."
Redshirt freshman Peyton Hendershot had a nice TD catch during Tuesday's practice. And DeBord isn't ruling out his two true freshmen, Matt Bjorson and TJ Ivy, from augmenting the tight end depth on the field this fall.
"Bjorson has done a really good job of learning the system and all that," DeBord said. "He's got to clean up a couple of technique things.
"And TJ is learning on the run, more or less, and was kind of tentative, and I said, 'You know, you've got to go – whether you make a mistake or not, you've got to play full-speed.' So he's picked that up."
???????DeBord noted the offensive linemen alongside which the tights ends will align this fall have also built their bodies this offseason.
Asked which unit he thought had especially benefited on his side of the ball from the ministrations of director of athletic performance David Ballou and speed specialist Dr. Matt Rhea, DeBord replied:
"I would really say everybody. I mean, our offensive line is stronger, bigger, more powerful. The guys out on the perimeter, they're faster right now. Our backs are running stronger, bigger. I mean, everywhere. I see it everywhere. I see different things, but I see it everywhere."
OUT. BUT NOT OUT.
DeBord confirmed that some Hoosiers who rehabilitated injuries this past offseason are getting planned days off during camp, meant to elongate.
Fifth-year senior J-Shun Harris II was held out of Sunday's scrimmage entirely, for example. And Tuesday saw redshirt junior wideout Donavan Hale – who had a splendid TD catch Sunday -- spend the session working in sweats beyond the sideline.
"There are certain things that players fight through, injury-wise," DeBord said. "And we have a plan that we follow from our trainers, and whatever they say, we do. That's (Hale's) plan right now. When he's out there, he works hard. And when he has a day off, he does some other things."
???????DeBord said both should be ready to go, barring anything unforeseen, before the Sept. 1 opener at Florida International. Asked what Harris, back from a third ACL rehab, means to the team, DeBord said:
"I think, No. 1, tremendous person. The players out there really have a great respect for him. And the other thing is that he's playing quick right now. Fast. And he's making some plays. He's helping us out."
BIG TEX (AND OTHER HONORABLE HOOSIERS)
Fifth-year senior wideout Luke Timian, who is continually trying to promote his self-styled "Big Tex" nickname among his peers, perhaps has some more criteria for that now.
???????Timian was just named to the watch list for the Earl Campbell-Tyler Rose Award, which honors the nation's top offensive performer with a tie to Texas. Timian is a Southlake, Texas, native.
Other Hoosiers announced earlier on award watch lists include punter Haydon Whitehead (Ray Guy Award), running back Ricky Brookins (Wuerffel Award) and wideout Nick Westbrook (Biletnikoff Award.)
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Coach Tom Allen, as is his wont, was preaching toughness during the latter stages of Indiana football practice Tuesday.
Using his bullhorn for emphasis, Allen suddenly called upon the entire squad to circle around him and bellowed: "This is about toughness!"
And despite Tuesday's work restricted to "shells," helmets and shoulder pads as opposed to full pads, the Hoosier head coach appeared ready to orchestrate an ultimate toughness drill – one offensive lineman versus one defensive lineman, crashing together in a confined space, best man wins.
"You've still got shoulder pads on!" Allen hollered. "You still have a helmet on! I want two young guys out here. One O-line, one D-line. I want Coy Cronk out here!"
Cronk, the junior offensive tackle from Lafayette Central Catholic, jumped into the center of the circle and took his stance. And the defensive line put forward Gavin Everett, the redshirt junior walk-on from Center Grove.
They two linemen got nose to nose, waiting for the whistle to ignite the impending collision.
"Now, listen to me!" Allen yelled. "This is a tough-man drill! This is about having heart! This is about having toughness! … That is why … Gavin Everett is getting a scholarship!"
And that was how Everett, as his teammates roared their approval, learned he is now an IU scholarship athlete. Amidst no collision. Just cheers.
Allen and his staff like to stage such surprise announcements, when able to bestow a scholarship upon a deserving walk-on, and Tuesday's definitely seemed appreciated all-around.
"It's awesome," redshirt sophomore quarterback Peyton Ramsey said later. "Especially for a guy like Gavin, who has worked so hard. Not everybody gets to see the behind-the-scenes stuff that he does every single day. He brings it, I'm telling you, every single day and I'm so happy for that kid. Because he's a hard worker and a good player."
There was a reason Everett was the first man selected last spring in the mock draft that split the squad for the annual Cream & Crimson intrasquad game.
Everett is an effort guy.
As evidenced, for example, by the time he flew down the line from the back side – horizontal to the ground – to blow up an Illinois play during the Hoosiers' 24-14 win in Champaign last Nov. 11. A couple of weeks later, he was forcing a fumble at Purdue.
"It was surreal, playing in my first Bucket game," Everett recalled at IU's Media Day.
Partly because that didn't seem a very real possibility to Everett upon graduating high school.
Everett was an all-state player and team captain at Center Grove, but the only Division I scholarship offer he received was to Western Illinois. And after spending 2015 with the Football Championship Subdivision
Leathernecks, Everett decided he wanted to be a Football Bowl Subdivision player, to chase a Big Ten dream closer to home.
"Guys that come through that Center Grove program, you know what those guys are all about, and we welcomed Gavin with open arms," defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator Mark Hagen said. "We weren't sure what he would bring to the mix, but he's a guy that's come out every day and worked hard, building his way up the depth chart.
"Losing Robert McCray (to graduation) and having Brandon Wilson bump inside and help us at that three-technique position, (Everett) took advantage of it this spring."
Everett is listed atop the depth chart at strong-side defensive end in the 2018 IU media guide and is certainly part of the planned playing rotation.
"He's not the most athletic guy we have out there, but he's tough," Hagen said. "He's athletic enough to give us good, quality snaps. He's just one of those guys that does everything right."
Allen made it clear how much he appreciates that. After the celebration of Everett's scholarship announcement finally subsided Tuesday, Allen told his assembled troops:
"LEO (Love Each Other) is a culture. It's about the guys around you. It's about people. It will never cease to be about people … that's why the teams that are special love each other.
"People will say what they want to about that. But that's who we are. It's our core fiber. And I promise you this. When you're playing for somebody else (for those around you), it's special."
"I love that guy (Everett). Because all he does is work. He doesn't make excuses. He came here as a walk-on. He came to compete. And he came to play."
Everett will now, barring anything unforeseen, most certainly play a lot.
"Gavin is one of those individuals we're going lean on," Hagen said at Media Day. "He's a guy I trust. He's tough and physical and you always know what you're going to get from him on the field."
There's that word again.
Tough.
As in scholarship-worthy toughness.
DEFENDING THE ROCK
When football Hoosiers speak of "defending The Rock," the reference is to the nickname for IU's Memorial Stadium – an especially handsome limestone edifice, now that it's a complete circle with both ends closed in via sparkling new facilities.
But "The Rock" in sporting parlance can also mean the ball.
And Indiana offensive coordinator Mike DeBord was pleased with how "the rock" was handled at "The Rock" during Sunday's scrimmage.
"I like, No. 1, that we protected the football," DeBord said while meeting the media Tuesday. "We had no turnovers. That was big.
"The second part of it is that I liked the tempo we played at. We had explosive plays. We were able to run the football, and that was good."
And catch it.
"I think we've got some explosive guys," DeBord said when asked about the performance of IU's receivers. "We've also got tall guys who can go up and make plays. So I like our group right now. We're just trying to create depth there."
EQUAL TIME
All three quarterbacks vying for the starting job – grad transfer Brandon Dawkins, Ramsey and true freshman Michael Penix Jr. – got snaps with the No. 1, 2 and 3 units Sunday.
"We tried to split it up evenly," quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan said. "And we focused even more so on making sure they got the same number of opportunities with each group (1s, 2s and 3s).
"And then it was up to them, at that point. If you had a longer drive, maybe you got a few extra snaps. But we wanted to make sure each guy had a chance to run with the 1s. Obviously, the (starting) offensive line being a strength for us, that provides a different experience out there.
"We've been intentional in breaking up the reps, so everybody's right in the thick of it. And, obviously, the scrimmages are a huge evaluation tool for the entire staff. They're all competing, all still getting reps, and every day is important. And every rep matters. That's been emphasized to the guys."
Sheridan and all the other coaches have stayed mum regarding how the quarterback race is shaking out so far, but he did say he generally liked what he saw Sunday.
"For the most part, from the quarterback perspective, we were pleased," Sheridan said. "We were able to convert and score some touchdowns.
"We were a little sloppy on some third-down things that need to be better. When you have 137 plays, there are always going to be good and bad. But when you look at, really, what winning football looks like – taking care of the football, that was important to us and they did a good job."
GETTIN' TIGHT
DeBord counts specialized tight end instruction among his IU coaching duties and acknowledged redshirt junior tight end Austin Dorris continued to make a good impression this fall with a pair of TD catches in Sunday's scrimmage.
"Austin was here the entire summer, volunteered his time," DeBord said, "and he was one of the guys who the strength coaches said, 'Hey, you're going to be surprised how much faster he is.' And he is faster. And he's playing faster and all that.
"He had two or three really nice catches in the scrimmage. He had a couple of touchdowns that way. Made a really great catch back behind (him) that was really tough. So he's really improved as a football player."
Redshirt freshman Peyton Hendershot had a nice TD catch during Tuesday's practice. And DeBord isn't ruling out his two true freshmen, Matt Bjorson and TJ Ivy, from augmenting the tight end depth on the field this fall.
"Bjorson has done a really good job of learning the system and all that," DeBord said. "He's got to clean up a couple of technique things.
"And TJ is learning on the run, more or less, and was kind of tentative, and I said, 'You know, you've got to go – whether you make a mistake or not, you've got to play full-speed.' So he's picked that up."
???????DeBord noted the offensive linemen alongside which the tights ends will align this fall have also built their bodies this offseason.
Asked which unit he thought had especially benefited on his side of the ball from the ministrations of director of athletic performance David Ballou and speed specialist Dr. Matt Rhea, DeBord replied:
"I would really say everybody. I mean, our offensive line is stronger, bigger, more powerful. The guys out on the perimeter, they're faster right now. Our backs are running stronger, bigger. I mean, everywhere. I see it everywhere. I see different things, but I see it everywhere."
OUT. BUT NOT OUT.
DeBord confirmed that some Hoosiers who rehabilitated injuries this past offseason are getting planned days off during camp, meant to elongate.
Fifth-year senior J-Shun Harris II was held out of Sunday's scrimmage entirely, for example. And Tuesday saw redshirt junior wideout Donavan Hale – who had a splendid TD catch Sunday -- spend the session working in sweats beyond the sideline.
"There are certain things that players fight through, injury-wise," DeBord said. "And we have a plan that we follow from our trainers, and whatever they say, we do. That's (Hale's) plan right now. When he's out there, he works hard. And when he has a day off, he does some other things."
???????DeBord said both should be ready to go, barring anything unforeseen, before the Sept. 1 opener at Florida International. Asked what Harris, back from a third ACL rehab, means to the team, DeBord said:
"I think, No. 1, tremendous person. The players out there really have a great respect for him. And the other thing is that he's playing quick right now. Fast. And he's making some plays. He's helping us out."
BIG TEX (AND OTHER HONORABLE HOOSIERS)
Fifth-year senior wideout Luke Timian, who is continually trying to promote his self-styled "Big Tex" nickname among his peers, perhaps has some more criteria for that now.
???????Timian was just named to the watch list for the Earl Campbell-Tyler Rose Award, which honors the nation's top offensive performer with a tie to Texas. Timian is a Southlake, Texas, native.
Other Hoosiers announced earlier on award watch lists include punter Haydon Whitehead (Ray Guy Award), running back Ricky Brookins (Wuerffel Award) and wideout Nick Westbrook (Biletnikoff Award.)
Players Mentioned
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