Indiana University Athletics
Share The Rock – IU Has Potential to Run To Success
6/10/2019 10:36:00 AM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Could Indiana's running back group rock the Big Ten?
The potential is there.
There's Stevie Scott, who had the greatest freshman running back performance in school history by rushing for 1,137 yards -- including six 100-yard games -- and 10 touchdowns.
Not even All-America Anthony Thompson did that. Injuries cost him several games and he totaled 806 yards and five touchdowns his first season.
There's another freshman, Ronnie Walker Jr., who rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns in a limited role.
Then comes a pair of freshman standouts in Avon's Sampson James, a four-star prospect who rushed for 3,451 yards and 38 touchdowns as a senior, and Missouri's Ivory Winters, who rushed for 59 touchdowns and 2,700 yards while leading Hayti High School to a 15-0 record and a 1A state title.
How do you keep this much talent happy?
That's not the point, coach Tom Allen said at IU's annual Huber's Orchard and Winery alumni event.
"Keeping everybody happy is not the objective," he said. "The objective is the success of the team.
"When you establish a culture of L.E.O. (Love Each Other), it's not about me. That's what I want. Selfishness can kill your team.
"I get it that if I'm a running back, I want to run the ball. If I'm a receiver, I want to catch the ball. You recruit these guys -- we have a freshman (Winters) who scored 60 touchdowns in a year. That young man is used to carrying the ball a lot."
Winters is unlikely to get a huge number of carries next season. As a freshman, he might not get any.
"You have to teach and train them to understand their role," Allen said, "yet you want them hungry enough to never be satisfied with that role. Be content within it to be at your best.
"To me, that's the job of our coaching staff to lead and motivate them. As you develop depth, and more position competition, that will be a rising issue. At the same time, you have to have that. It's a challenge.
"(Running backs coach Mike Hart) has to do a great job of helping the guys understand that if you want to run the ball, you'd better do things right. If you don't, somebody will take your place. That room is indicative of that."
Doing right won't get anyone 30 or more carries a game. Those days are mostly gone in pass-oriented college football.
"Guys have to understand that," Allen said. "It allows us to keep guys fresh. It allows us to avoid wear and tear on their bodies, and for their future. We talk about that. They'll have good mileage on their bodies when they go pro."
The bottom line, Allen said, is "We want a group of unselfish guys who want to do what's best for this team."
Allen touched on others topics during the event. Here are a few more:
*****
Allen has had over a month to analyze spring practice and project how that will impact the upcoming season.
"With a new defensive coordinator (Kane Wommack), we did not change the scheme," he said, "but we're doing a few things differently.
"I liked the way we flew around. I liked the speed I saw. I liked the number of guys who flashed and made plays on the defensive line, linebackers and the secondary. That was encouraging. We still need to work on the strength and depth of our defensive line. That's a priority.
"Offensively, I was encouraged by the rapid growth of putting in a new offense. I liked the things we're able to do, the flexibility and multiplicity of things we'll be able to have with our system and the ability to maximize our roster.
"An area of concern is the depth of our offensive line. The strength of that group. That's a priority this summer. I thought they had a great month of May. We can't require them to be there, but they know what's at stake and how hard they have to work. They had a great work ethic.
"(Redshirt freshman receiver) Miles Marshall continues to impress me with his work ethic. I like his mindset right now. (Fifth-year senior receiver) Nick Westbrook is really rising up.
"The three senior offensive linemen (Coy Cronk, Hunter Littlejohn and Simon Stepaniak) have been excellent, as you'd expect them to be. They're doing the extra things. They had the most workouts of anyone on our team in the month of May. That shows where they're at mentally and how much this means to them.
"Linebackers is a room I like. You have to be on your toes and look over your shoulder, because there are a lot of guys who can take your job. They have to keep working hard. That sticks out.
"We're starting to create some depth. We need more. That has to continue with recruiting. This (freshman) class is exciting. That's what we have to have -- the quality depth you need to finish out games in the Big Ten."
*****
What position is IU's strongest?
The secondary, Allen said.
"It's the strongest overall in terms of depth and high-end players. That sticks out to me. We've got more talent and better depth. That jumps out."
The secondary is led by Marcelino Ball, Khali Bryant, Andre Brown Jr., A'Shon Riggins and Raheem Layne.
The 6-foot, 219-pound Ball is a do-it-all junior who totaled 59 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and three pass breakups last season.
Layne had 39 tackles, a fumble recovery and three pass breakups. Bryant had 38 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery. Brown had 29 tackles and six pass breakups. Riggins had 20 tackles and three pass breakups.
Optimism is tempered by the defensive line, which needs to build the quality depth necessary for Big Ten success.
"The depth of our defensive line is a concern," Allen said. "Some young guys have got to step up and have a big June and July in the weight room.
"We play in the Big Ten. It's big-boy football. You've got to have a lot of beef up front that can move. Having enough mass, enough strong guys in the box is critical for us."
Rotating players is part of any defensive line success.
"It can't be just one group," Allen said. "It has to be multiple to keep those guys fresh. That continues to be a concern. That's the focus."
*****
IU took full advantage of the rule that allows true freshmen to play as many as four games without losing a year of eligibility.
Last year's freshmen who made the biggest impression on Allen were linebacker James Miller, defensive lineman Madison Norris and wide receiver Miles Marshall.
Miller had three tackles in three games. Marshall played in one game and didn't catch a pass. Norris got in on special teams for a game.
"The first one who comes to mind is James Miller," Allen said. "He got a chance to play later in the year without burning his redshirt. He had a huge play against Michigan to show the skillset, the toughness, he has. He can make plays. It was great to let him do that and still have four more years.
"Miles Marshall is another guy who got to get out there. Madison Norris had a chance to run down some kickoffs. Those guys come to mind.
"It's a great rule. We utilized it to the fullest. You never know how a guy will handle his freshman year. How they respond to the transition to compete and play.
"Sometimes it's for those four games. Sometimes it's more than that, and if that's the case, they're helping you quite a bit."
Allen expects to utilize that four-game opportunity again this season with freshmen who are ready to take advantage of it.
"We have a set group of guys you put in that category. We'll know more after fall camp and then the season."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Could Indiana's running back group rock the Big Ten?
The potential is there.
There's Stevie Scott, who had the greatest freshman running back performance in school history by rushing for 1,137 yards -- including six 100-yard games -- and 10 touchdowns.
Not even All-America Anthony Thompson did that. Injuries cost him several games and he totaled 806 yards and five touchdowns his first season.
There's another freshman, Ronnie Walker Jr., who rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns in a limited role.
Then comes a pair of freshman standouts in Avon's Sampson James, a four-star prospect who rushed for 3,451 yards and 38 touchdowns as a senior, and Missouri's Ivory Winters, who rushed for 59 touchdowns and 2,700 yards while leading Hayti High School to a 15-0 record and a 1A state title.
How do you keep this much talent happy?
That's not the point, coach Tom Allen said at IU's annual Huber's Orchard and Winery alumni event.
"Keeping everybody happy is not the objective," he said. "The objective is the success of the team.
"When you establish a culture of L.E.O. (Love Each Other), it's not about me. That's what I want. Selfishness can kill your team.
"I get it that if I'm a running back, I want to run the ball. If I'm a receiver, I want to catch the ball. You recruit these guys -- we have a freshman (Winters) who scored 60 touchdowns in a year. That young man is used to carrying the ball a lot."
Winters is unlikely to get a huge number of carries next season. As a freshman, he might not get any.
"You have to teach and train them to understand their role," Allen said, "yet you want them hungry enough to never be satisfied with that role. Be content within it to be at your best.
"To me, that's the job of our coaching staff to lead and motivate them. As you develop depth, and more position competition, that will be a rising issue. At the same time, you have to have that. It's a challenge.
"(Running backs coach Mike Hart) has to do a great job of helping the guys understand that if you want to run the ball, you'd better do things right. If you don't, somebody will take your place. That room is indicative of that."
Doing right won't get anyone 30 or more carries a game. Those days are mostly gone in pass-oriented college football.
"Guys have to understand that," Allen said. "It allows us to keep guys fresh. It allows us to avoid wear and tear on their bodies, and for their future. We talk about that. They'll have good mileage on their bodies when they go pro."
The bottom line, Allen said, is "We want a group of unselfish guys who want to do what's best for this team."
Allen touched on others topics during the event. Here are a few more:
*****
Allen has had over a month to analyze spring practice and project how that will impact the upcoming season.
"With a new defensive coordinator (Kane Wommack), we did not change the scheme," he said, "but we're doing a few things differently.
"I liked the way we flew around. I liked the speed I saw. I liked the number of guys who flashed and made plays on the defensive line, linebackers and the secondary. That was encouraging. We still need to work on the strength and depth of our defensive line. That's a priority.
"Offensively, I was encouraged by the rapid growth of putting in a new offense. I liked the things we're able to do, the flexibility and multiplicity of things we'll be able to have with our system and the ability to maximize our roster.
"An area of concern is the depth of our offensive line. The strength of that group. That's a priority this summer. I thought they had a great month of May. We can't require them to be there, but they know what's at stake and how hard they have to work. They had a great work ethic.
"(Redshirt freshman receiver) Miles Marshall continues to impress me with his work ethic. I like his mindset right now. (Fifth-year senior receiver) Nick Westbrook is really rising up.
"The three senior offensive linemen (Coy Cronk, Hunter Littlejohn and Simon Stepaniak) have been excellent, as you'd expect them to be. They're doing the extra things. They had the most workouts of anyone on our team in the month of May. That shows where they're at mentally and how much this means to them.
"Linebackers is a room I like. You have to be on your toes and look over your shoulder, because there are a lot of guys who can take your job. They have to keep working hard. That sticks out.
"We're starting to create some depth. We need more. That has to continue with recruiting. This (freshman) class is exciting. That's what we have to have -- the quality depth you need to finish out games in the Big Ten."
*****
What position is IU's strongest?
The secondary, Allen said.
"It's the strongest overall in terms of depth and high-end players. That sticks out to me. We've got more talent and better depth. That jumps out."
The secondary is led by Marcelino Ball, Khali Bryant, Andre Brown Jr., A'Shon Riggins and Raheem Layne.
The 6-foot, 219-pound Ball is a do-it-all junior who totaled 59 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and three pass breakups last season.
Layne had 39 tackles, a fumble recovery and three pass breakups. Bryant had 38 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery. Brown had 29 tackles and six pass breakups. Riggins had 20 tackles and three pass breakups.
Optimism is tempered by the defensive line, which needs to build the quality depth necessary for Big Ten success.
"The depth of our defensive line is a concern," Allen said. "Some young guys have got to step up and have a big June and July in the weight room.
"We play in the Big Ten. It's big-boy football. You've got to have a lot of beef up front that can move. Having enough mass, enough strong guys in the box is critical for us."
Rotating players is part of any defensive line success.
"It can't be just one group," Allen said. "It has to be multiple to keep those guys fresh. That continues to be a concern. That's the focus."
*****
IU took full advantage of the rule that allows true freshmen to play as many as four games without losing a year of eligibility.
Last year's freshmen who made the biggest impression on Allen were linebacker James Miller, defensive lineman Madison Norris and wide receiver Miles Marshall.
Miller had three tackles in three games. Marshall played in one game and didn't catch a pass. Norris got in on special teams for a game.
"The first one who comes to mind is James Miller," Allen said. "He got a chance to play later in the year without burning his redshirt. He had a huge play against Michigan to show the skillset, the toughness, he has. He can make plays. It was great to let him do that and still have four more years.
"Miles Marshall is another guy who got to get out there. Madison Norris had a chance to run down some kickoffs. Those guys come to mind.
"It's a great rule. We utilized it to the fullest. You never know how a guy will handle his freshman year. How they respond to the transition to compete and play.
"Sometimes it's for those four games. Sometimes it's more than that, and if that's the case, they're helping you quite a bit."
Allen expects to utilize that four-game opportunity again this season with freshmen who are ready to take advantage of it.
"We have a set group of guys you put in that category. We'll know more after fall camp and then the season."
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