IU’s Robbins and Bonhomme Making Their Freshman Mark
6/19/2019 9:54:00 AM | Football
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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana isn't messing around with its load-up-the-defense recruiting strategy.
Case in point -- freshmen Beau Robbins and D.K. Bonhomme.
Robbins is a four-star defensive line prospect out of Indiana powerhouse Carmel. Bonhomme is a three-star linebacker from an unbeaten Florida high school team. Both can deliver what all elite defenses need, and what new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack seeks:
Speed, athleticism and game-changing playmaking.
"One of my main things is my speed," Bonhomme says. "I can run. I can move sideline to sideline. That's a good thing for me."
It's also good for Indiana given he's 6-3 and 238 pounds, which means he's fully capable of rocking somebody's world.
Robbins, meanwhile, has the high-impact potential you'd expect from the state's No. 4 overall prospect in the Class of 2019, and the nation's No. 29 defensive player according to ESPN.
"I will try to be a guy who can play all three downs," he says. "I can defend the run and rush the passer. I want to be a motor guy and get after the ball. Come in and work as hard as I can."
The 6-5, 250-pound Robbins understands how hard work can lead to winning. In his last three high school seasons, Carmel won the 2016 state championship, reached the 2017 semistate and was 2018 state runner-up.
A three-time all-state player, Robbins totaled 82 tackles (17 for loss), six sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries (1 for a touchdown) and one blocked punt as a senior. He also won the 2018 Class 6A Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award.
Exceling against high school competition is one thing. Doing it against Big Ten-caliber offensive players requires added size and strength.
"Throughout the summer I'd like to put on 10 to 15 pounds," Robbins says. "I was a good size for a high school defensive end, but for a college defensive end, I have to get bigger and work harder in the weight room."
He also has to work harder in the food line. In other words, take full advantage of IU's upgraded nutrition program.
"I try to eat as much as I can," he says. "It's kind of fun. Anytime you see anything you can go, 'Oh, I can eat that.'"
Robbins is a couple weeks in to his first summer of IU workouts and classes. The transition, he says, has been "Pretty smooth."
"You have resources everywhere. Any question you have can be answered quickly. Anything you need, there is someone there to help you."
Amid starting college uncertainty, football provides welcome familiarity.
"Even though you're in college and on your own," Robbins says, "you're still playing football. Your life is pretty structured. You wake up, do your workouts, have your meals here, go to class. It's not that difficult. There's no point where you're really by yourself."
Robbins reflects IU's commitment to in-state recruiting. Coach Tom Allen wants to get as many of the state's top players as he can. Robbins and Avon running back Sampson James (the state's No. 3 rated player) are the kind of four-star prospects needed to compete with national powers Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State in the Big Ten East.
Allen and his staff also have strong ties to the Southeast, including talent-rich Florida, which came in handy in landing Bonhomme and his offense-wrecking potential.
As a senior at Clearwater Academy International, Bonhomme totaled 100 tackles, eight sacks and 22 tackles for loss. He also forced three fumbles, recovered one, intercepted a pass and blocked two punts. He was named the most valuable linebacker at the 2018 Best of the Midwest Combine, and was ranked as the nation's No. 48 outside linebacker by Rivals.
Like all the Hoosiers, his summer goal is clear.
"I'm trying to get in shape. Get bigger, faster, stronger and get ready for the season."
So far, so good.
"It's a big adjustment," he says. "The level of competition is different. You have higher expectations. You have to work harder. Everyone is hungry and wants to get to the next level, and to win as a team."
Bonhomme has an international background similar to fellow Hoosier freshman Sio Nofoagatoto'a, also a Clearwater Academy International grad with ties to New Zealand, American Samoa and Australia. Bonhomme was born in Haiti and moved to Canada before finishing his high school career in Florida. He's the first Canadian to play for IU since offensive lineman Paul Hearn in 2006.
As far as what drew him to IU, Bonhomme says it centers on Allen's Love Each Other (L.E.O.) philosophy.
"Coaches emphasized the family. That was big to me. They were always contacting me and keeping in touch. It was like it was meant to be."
That, in the end, might make all the difference.
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana isn't messing around with its load-up-the-defense recruiting strategy.
Case in point -- freshmen Beau Robbins and D.K. Bonhomme.
Robbins is a four-star defensive line prospect out of Indiana powerhouse Carmel. Bonhomme is a three-star linebacker from an unbeaten Florida high school team. Both can deliver what all elite defenses need, and what new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack seeks:
Speed, athleticism and game-changing playmaking.
"One of my main things is my speed," Bonhomme says. "I can run. I can move sideline to sideline. That's a good thing for me."
It's also good for Indiana given he's 6-3 and 238 pounds, which means he's fully capable of rocking somebody's world.
Robbins, meanwhile, has the high-impact potential you'd expect from the state's No. 4 overall prospect in the Class of 2019, and the nation's No. 29 defensive player according to ESPN.
"I will try to be a guy who can play all three downs," he says. "I can defend the run and rush the passer. I want to be a motor guy and get after the ball. Come in and work as hard as I can."
The 6-5, 250-pound Robbins understands how hard work can lead to winning. In his last three high school seasons, Carmel won the 2016 state championship, reached the 2017 semistate and was 2018 state runner-up.
A three-time all-state player, Robbins totaled 82 tackles (17 for loss), six sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries (1 for a touchdown) and one blocked punt as a senior. He also won the 2018 Class 6A Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award.
Exceling against high school competition is one thing. Doing it against Big Ten-caliber offensive players requires added size and strength.
"Throughout the summer I'd like to put on 10 to 15 pounds," Robbins says. "I was a good size for a high school defensive end, but for a college defensive end, I have to get bigger and work harder in the weight room."
He also has to work harder in the food line. In other words, take full advantage of IU's upgraded nutrition program.
"I try to eat as much as I can," he says. "It's kind of fun. Anytime you see anything you can go, 'Oh, I can eat that.'"
Robbins is a couple weeks in to his first summer of IU workouts and classes. The transition, he says, has been "Pretty smooth."
"You have resources everywhere. Any question you have can be answered quickly. Anything you need, there is someone there to help you."
Amid starting college uncertainty, football provides welcome familiarity.
"Even though you're in college and on your own," Robbins says, "you're still playing football. Your life is pretty structured. You wake up, do your workouts, have your meals here, go to class. It's not that difficult. There's no point where you're really by yourself."
Robbins reflects IU's commitment to in-state recruiting. Coach Tom Allen wants to get as many of the state's top players as he can. Robbins and Avon running back Sampson James (the state's No. 3 rated player) are the kind of four-star prospects needed to compete with national powers Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State in the Big Ten East.
Allen and his staff also have strong ties to the Southeast, including talent-rich Florida, which came in handy in landing Bonhomme and his offense-wrecking potential.
As a senior at Clearwater Academy International, Bonhomme totaled 100 tackles, eight sacks and 22 tackles for loss. He also forced three fumbles, recovered one, intercepted a pass and blocked two punts. He was named the most valuable linebacker at the 2018 Best of the Midwest Combine, and was ranked as the nation's No. 48 outside linebacker by Rivals.
Like all the Hoosiers, his summer goal is clear.
"I'm trying to get in shape. Get bigger, faster, stronger and get ready for the season."
So far, so good.
"It's a big adjustment," he says. "The level of competition is different. You have higher expectations. You have to work harder. Everyone is hungry and wants to get to the next level, and to win as a team."
Bonhomme has an international background similar to fellow Hoosier freshman Sio Nofoagatoto'a, also a Clearwater Academy International grad with ties to New Zealand, American Samoa and Australia. Bonhomme was born in Haiti and moved to Canada before finishing his high school career in Florida. He's the first Canadian to play for IU since offensive lineman Paul Hearn in 2006.
As far as what drew him to IU, Bonhomme says it centers on Allen's Love Each Other (L.E.O.) philosophy.
"Coaches emphasized the family. That was big to me. They were always contacting me and keeping in touch. It was like it was meant to be."
That, in the end, might make all the difference.
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