Indiana University Athletics
September Call-Up
9/21/2018 6:15:00 PM | Football
By Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Each September 1, Major League Baseball managers relish seeing their active rosters expand from 25 to 40 players.
They suddenly have many more options. They can absorb injuries better. It bolsters the bullpen. An array of pinch-hitters are available. And so on.
College football coaches can now relate a bit.
A new NCAA rule, which permits players with a redshirt option to participate in up to four games while retaining redshirt status, effectively expands college football rosters with an infusion of youth.
Freshmen can now help while staying on redshirt. Even upperclassmen, if they still have a redshirt option open, can avail themselves of the new rule and play four games while saving an entire season of eligibility.
The rule change clearly helps programs that, historically, have had less depth available.
Such as Indiana.
And especially when Indiana has the sort of freshman class it does right now, a class that has already shown it can help in a hurry.
"I think this is a (freshman) group that has come in and has been told, 'Look, we think you guys are special,' " IU radio legend Don Fischer told Dan Dakich on the latter's Indianapolis-based radio show Monday. " 'We think that this is a young group that might be as good a freshman class as we've had in a while. And you can include last year's freshmen who didn't play (and redshirted) in that group, as well.'
"And I think these guys have taken that to heart, have believed it. And I think they've got a coaching staff that is preaching, 'You can't go out there and think anything other than you're going to win the football game.' And I think they go into every ballgame believing that."
Indiana has done nothing but win through three games, heading into hosting Saturday night's Big Ten opener against Michigan State, and freshmen have played prominent roles.
IU rookie running back Stevie Scott, for example, has already earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors twice while rushing 69 times for 388 yards (5.6) and three touchdowns.
"He is very laid back and he doesn't get all worked up, so he's got a maturity about him," Hoosier head coach Tom Allen said of Scott during this week's Big Ten teleconference. "He is a mature person, physically. He's close to 240 pounds and is very strong naturally and in the weight room.
"The short time he's been here – which has not been long, he got here midway through the summer – I've been really encouraged by the progress. I think he's going to continue to develop. I think his best football is still ahead of him.
"He's a young, inexperienced running back but has a natural patience and vision that the good ones have. He carries himself older than he really is in terms of his grade and age, which is a good thing. I never really expected him to do this, this early, but I think he's filled a huge void that we needed to fill."
Scott is likely to play in more than four games, barring injury, as are his classmates that have played in all three games so far: Jaylin Williams (CB), Matt Bjorson (TE), Reese Taylor (ATH), Micah McFadden (LB), Devon
Matthews (S), Cam Jones (Husky) and Jamar Johnson (DB).
Michael Penix Jr. (QB) and James Head Jr. (DE) have appeared in two games and running back Ronnie Walker Jr. and defensive tackle Shamar Jones debuted in last week's win over Ball State.
Head and Walker were among the players cited Monday by Allen for their fine play versus BSU.
Walker's first collegiate carry came off well – an 18-yard TD gallop during which he spun out of a tackle to score.
"I mean, he scored on his first carry, so that was obviously pretty good," IU running backs coach Mike Hart said with a grin. "That's impressive.
"He does a great job. He's working hard. He's a kid that we continue to gain trust in. He's a smart player. He's a little bit faster of a player, which helps us out a bit out there."
IU offensive coordinator Mike DeBord concurred: "I just thought that Ronnie really played fast. I thought that was really the fastest I've seen him. And I think that is because he's learning things. He felt comfortable out there.
He played at his speed. We all loved what he did."
Walker is quick to point out he isn't alone when it comes to speedy IU freshmen.
"We've got a speed class," Walker said matter-of-factly. "And we've got strength, too. I feel like this class, overall, we have (guys) at each position and we're all doing our part. It's well-balanced. Lot of guys on defense and also
strong guys on offense. It's good on both sides (of the ball)."
Indeed, among the 12 true freshmen and 12 redshirt freshmen who have played so far this fall, it is almost evenly split on either side of the ball, 11 on offense and 13 on defense.
Head – who along with Walker, Penix and wideout Jacolby Hewitt was a January enrollee, able to participate in spring practice – is regaining his stride after a fall camp injury.
"We have multiple guys, at every position, that can really do their thing," Head said of his freshman class. "I feel it is more balanced, probably, than other classes.
"Guys like Reese Taylor – he's already doing his thing on the offensive side and defensive side. Jaylin Williams is getting a lot of playing time at DB. Stevie is doing his thing at running back … "
Head had a pair of tackles, including a tackle for loss, and a couple of key quarterback hurries against Ball State. In one instance, he was assigned to "shadow" Cardinals quarterback Riley Neal out of the pocket and Head's pressure forced a third-down incompletion – which prompted the BSU punt that J-Shun Harris II returned 86 yards for the team's second TD.
And Head feels other freshmen will continue to emerge and make positive impacts.
"I feel like, our class, we got a lot of guys like (linebacker) James Miller, who hasn't played yet, but he's going to be good," Head said. "Jacolby Hewitt … lot of guys already out there playing and a lot of guys who are going to play."
Indiana has already played 33 defenders this season, 26 of whom had tackles Saturday. And there are 12 freshmen or sophomores on the defense's two-deep heading into the Michigan State game.
The Hoosiers have the 19th youngest roster in the nation and fourth youngest in the Big Ten, with 66.4 percent underclassmen – 55 freshmen (31 true frosh) and 22 sophomores.
Allen and his staff formulated a plan regarding playing time for freshmen heading into the season, with the four-game redshirt rule in mind, and he elaborated a bit on its broad outlines Monday.
"Of those 12 (true freshmen who have played), I'd say probably eight of them are probably going to just keep on playing," Allen said. "There's probably three or four in there … that played maybe one or two (games) at this point, we're continuing to look at (for possible redshirts).
"Now that you get into conference play, you say, 'Who are really going to be the guys you want to invest in for a whole season's worth of their experience?' There's some guys we've already said, you know what, probably going to be redshirting those guys. That can change. There's still going to be opportunities."
Especially late in the season, when freshmen who still have three or four available games banked could step in to give the Hoosiers fresh legs and an overall lift.
"We have several guys that haven't played yet in any games that I think before the season is over will play because you have those four games you can use," Allen said. "That's the beauty of the rule. You can take a guy just for special teams week eight, nine, 10, whatever, get him on there to give us depth. Or if a guy gets injured (you have help available).
"That's really where I think you're going to see the true benefit of the rule is to be able to maximize those guys late in the season. They may not have been ready to help you in the beginning (but are more ready later on.) They may play on offense, defense, for certain snaps, then still be able to keep the redshirt."
So perhaps it'll be a November call-up for some, rather than September, or October.
But the effect remains the same. Youth will serve, will answer when the call comes.
And that will help Hoosier competitiveness during the long, tough Big Ten campaign that commences Saturday.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Each September 1, Major League Baseball managers relish seeing their active rosters expand from 25 to 40 players.
They suddenly have many more options. They can absorb injuries better. It bolsters the bullpen. An array of pinch-hitters are available. And so on.
College football coaches can now relate a bit.
A new NCAA rule, which permits players with a redshirt option to participate in up to four games while retaining redshirt status, effectively expands college football rosters with an infusion of youth.
Freshmen can now help while staying on redshirt. Even upperclassmen, if they still have a redshirt option open, can avail themselves of the new rule and play four games while saving an entire season of eligibility.
The rule change clearly helps programs that, historically, have had less depth available.
Such as Indiana.
And especially when Indiana has the sort of freshman class it does right now, a class that has already shown it can help in a hurry.
"I think this is a (freshman) group that has come in and has been told, 'Look, we think you guys are special,' " IU radio legend Don Fischer told Dan Dakich on the latter's Indianapolis-based radio show Monday. " 'We think that this is a young group that might be as good a freshman class as we've had in a while. And you can include last year's freshmen who didn't play (and redshirted) in that group, as well.'
"And I think these guys have taken that to heart, have believed it. And I think they've got a coaching staff that is preaching, 'You can't go out there and think anything other than you're going to win the football game.' And I think they go into every ballgame believing that."
Indiana has done nothing but win through three games, heading into hosting Saturday night's Big Ten opener against Michigan State, and freshmen have played prominent roles.
IU rookie running back Stevie Scott, for example, has already earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors twice while rushing 69 times for 388 yards (5.6) and three touchdowns.
"He is very laid back and he doesn't get all worked up, so he's got a maturity about him," Hoosier head coach Tom Allen said of Scott during this week's Big Ten teleconference. "He is a mature person, physically. He's close to 240 pounds and is very strong naturally and in the weight room.
"The short time he's been here – which has not been long, he got here midway through the summer – I've been really encouraged by the progress. I think he's going to continue to develop. I think his best football is still ahead of him.
"He's a young, inexperienced running back but has a natural patience and vision that the good ones have. He carries himself older than he really is in terms of his grade and age, which is a good thing. I never really expected him to do this, this early, but I think he's filled a huge void that we needed to fill."
Scott is likely to play in more than four games, barring injury, as are his classmates that have played in all three games so far: Jaylin Williams (CB), Matt Bjorson (TE), Reese Taylor (ATH), Micah McFadden (LB), Devon
Matthews (S), Cam Jones (Husky) and Jamar Johnson (DB).
Michael Penix Jr. (QB) and James Head Jr. (DE) have appeared in two games and running back Ronnie Walker Jr. and defensive tackle Shamar Jones debuted in last week's win over Ball State.
Head and Walker were among the players cited Monday by Allen for their fine play versus BSU.
Walker's first collegiate carry came off well – an 18-yard TD gallop during which he spun out of a tackle to score.
"I mean, he scored on his first carry, so that was obviously pretty good," IU running backs coach Mike Hart said with a grin. "That's impressive.
"He does a great job. He's working hard. He's a kid that we continue to gain trust in. He's a smart player. He's a little bit faster of a player, which helps us out a bit out there."
IU offensive coordinator Mike DeBord concurred: "I just thought that Ronnie really played fast. I thought that was really the fastest I've seen him. And I think that is because he's learning things. He felt comfortable out there.
He played at his speed. We all loved what he did."
Walker is quick to point out he isn't alone when it comes to speedy IU freshmen.
"We've got a speed class," Walker said matter-of-factly. "And we've got strength, too. I feel like this class, overall, we have (guys) at each position and we're all doing our part. It's well-balanced. Lot of guys on defense and also
strong guys on offense. It's good on both sides (of the ball)."
Indeed, among the 12 true freshmen and 12 redshirt freshmen who have played so far this fall, it is almost evenly split on either side of the ball, 11 on offense and 13 on defense.
Head – who along with Walker, Penix and wideout Jacolby Hewitt was a January enrollee, able to participate in spring practice – is regaining his stride after a fall camp injury.
"We have multiple guys, at every position, that can really do their thing," Head said of his freshman class. "I feel it is more balanced, probably, than other classes.
"Guys like Reese Taylor – he's already doing his thing on the offensive side and defensive side. Jaylin Williams is getting a lot of playing time at DB. Stevie is doing his thing at running back … "
Head had a pair of tackles, including a tackle for loss, and a couple of key quarterback hurries against Ball State. In one instance, he was assigned to "shadow" Cardinals quarterback Riley Neal out of the pocket and Head's pressure forced a third-down incompletion – which prompted the BSU punt that J-Shun Harris II returned 86 yards for the team's second TD.
And Head feels other freshmen will continue to emerge and make positive impacts.
"I feel like, our class, we got a lot of guys like (linebacker) James Miller, who hasn't played yet, but he's going to be good," Head said. "Jacolby Hewitt … lot of guys already out there playing and a lot of guys who are going to play."
Indiana has already played 33 defenders this season, 26 of whom had tackles Saturday. And there are 12 freshmen or sophomores on the defense's two-deep heading into the Michigan State game.
The Hoosiers have the 19th youngest roster in the nation and fourth youngest in the Big Ten, with 66.4 percent underclassmen – 55 freshmen (31 true frosh) and 22 sophomores.
Allen and his staff formulated a plan regarding playing time for freshmen heading into the season, with the four-game redshirt rule in mind, and he elaborated a bit on its broad outlines Monday.
"Of those 12 (true freshmen who have played), I'd say probably eight of them are probably going to just keep on playing," Allen said. "There's probably three or four in there … that played maybe one or two (games) at this point, we're continuing to look at (for possible redshirts).
"Now that you get into conference play, you say, 'Who are really going to be the guys you want to invest in for a whole season's worth of their experience?' There's some guys we've already said, you know what, probably going to be redshirting those guys. That can change. There's still going to be opportunities."
Especially late in the season, when freshmen who still have three or four available games banked could step in to give the Hoosiers fresh legs and an overall lift.
"We have several guys that haven't played yet in any games that I think before the season is over will play because you have those four games you can use," Allen said. "That's the beauty of the rule. You can take a guy just for special teams week eight, nine, 10, whatever, get him on there to give us depth. Or if a guy gets injured (you have help available).
"That's really where I think you're going to see the true benefit of the rule is to be able to maximize those guys late in the season. They may not have been ready to help you in the beginning (but are more ready later on.) They may play on offense, defense, for certain snaps, then still be able to keep the redshirt."
So perhaps it'll be a November call-up for some, rather than September, or October.
But the effect remains the same. Youth will serve, will answer when the call comes.
And that will help Hoosier competitiveness during the long, tough Big Ten campaign that commences Saturday.
Players Mentioned
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QB
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ATH
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