Indiana University Athletics
‘Extra Work’ Pays Off for Indiana Safety Jamar Johnson
10/28/2020 9:36:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Throw at Indiana safety Jamar Johnson at your own risk.
The junior has intercepted a pass in three-straight games. That included a big one during Saturday's epic 36-35 overtime win over then Top-10 Penn State that led to an early Hoosier touchdown
It was a part of an 80-snap effort that left Johnson ready for more.
"I didn't know it was that many snaps," he says via a Zoom press conference opportunity. "It turned out well. I was a little sore the next day. I'm all good now."
He certainly was on Saturday, when he added a forced fumble -- ending a Penn State drive inside the Hoosier 10-yard line -- and totaled 10 tackles. That earned him Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Not bad for a guy making his first start at safety.
"I'm putting in the extra work after practice to be ready for the moment," he says.
Johnson's interception streak started last season at rival Purdue, when he intercepted a pass in the end zone to stop a Boiler scoring threat.
In the bowl game against Tennessee, he had a pick-6.
That led to his monster Penn State performance.
"I want to get (an interception) every game," he says. "I've been getting the opportunity and I've capitalized on them."
Johnson is delivering the promise head coach Tom Allen saw when he recruited him out of Florida.
Allen first noticed Johnson, a two-way standout at Sarasota Riverview High School, when he was the defensive coordinator at South Florida.
Their bond has grown during their years together in Bloomington.
"Coach Allen is just a great guy," Johnson says. "During games, he is always fired up. During practice, he is always fired up.
"He is hard on us. He is hard on me. He is hard on everybody. We just love him. We know he has been through so much. We know he brought us here to change this program and he has done exactly what he was planning on doing since we got here. It is all coming together now."
Is it ever.
IU's first victory over a Top-10 team since 1987 jumped it to No. 17 in the Associated Press Poll, No. 19 in the Coaches' Poll. It plays at Rutgers (1-0) on Saturday.
"This shows where we are now," Johnson says. "Every week we are going in there with the 1-0 mindset. We are taking it week per week."
Rutgers is coming off a victory at Michigan State that snapped a 21-game conference losing streak.
The Scarlett Knights have a new coach (Greg Schiano) and a new quarterback (Nebraska transfer Noah Vedral) and looked like a new team against the Spartans, Johnson says.
"We are just going to treat them like we treat any other opponent. We are not going to take anyone lightly.
"They have got good players; we have got good players. They like to run. They have good running backs. They have a good slot receiver. Their quarterback came from Nebraska, so we know a little bit about him. Their coaches are doing a good job, but that is up to us. We just have to come out with the win."
With COVID-19 rates rising across the country, IU's ability to avoid infection may be even more critical than its level of play.
"We've got to stay locked in," running back Stevie Scott III says. "That's one thing I stress to my teammates a lot. Stay locked in at all times. Stay cautious of your surroundings, what you are doing, who you associate with.
"We'd hate to see something bad or negative, especially dealing with coronavirus, tear down this team. That's something we stress a lot, in meetings and in the locker room, in general, making sure everybody is staying safe and staying cautious."
No player tested positive during IU's last update before Saturday's game.
"We always say this," Allen says. "What do you want, how hard are you willing to work to get that, and what are you willing to sacrifice to get what you want?"
Allen's passion and L-E-O (Love Each Other) mantra isn't for show. It's heartfelt message is shared by the players.
So when someone yelled, "We love you, Coach!" while Allen was talking during Saturday's post-game locker room celebration, the coach went into crowd-surfing mode that become a social media video hit.
"The crowd surfing," Scott says with a smile, "was something new."
The emotion behind it wasn't.
"We really do love him," linebacker Micah McFadden says. "He sets the example.
"A lot of coaches can talk the talk, but not every coach lives out what they speak to their players every day. Coach Allen brings that to the table every single day. I've not seen him not bringing energy or not motivating his players or living out what he says.
"We can joke about (LEO), but it's true. He lives it out; we recognize it; and we follow him. He's a true leader."
Allen's leadership helped deliver one of the more remarkable victories in program history, and enabled him to win Bobby Dodd Trophy national Coach-of-the-Week honors.
Dodd Foundation chairman Jim Terry cited Allen's "bold decision" to go for the winning two-point conversion in overtime.
"He always brings energy," kicker Charles Campbell says of Allen. "He is always yelling around, jumping around, even in team meetings he gets so fired up. You love, as a player, to see someone who cares so much about the team."
That caring is focused on more victories, an approach his players share.
"We just have to keep striving for greatness," Scott says, "and try to keep adding on to this great start to the season."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Throw at Indiana safety Jamar Johnson at your own risk.
The junior has intercepted a pass in three-straight games. That included a big one during Saturday's epic 36-35 overtime win over then Top-10 Penn State that led to an early Hoosier touchdown
It was a part of an 80-snap effort that left Johnson ready for more.
"I didn't know it was that many snaps," he says via a Zoom press conference opportunity. "It turned out well. I was a little sore the next day. I'm all good now."
He certainly was on Saturday, when he added a forced fumble -- ending a Penn State drive inside the Hoosier 10-yard line -- and totaled 10 tackles. That earned him Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Not bad for a guy making his first start at safety.
"I'm putting in the extra work after practice to be ready for the moment," he says.
Johnson's interception streak started last season at rival Purdue, when he intercepted a pass in the end zone to stop a Boiler scoring threat.
In the bowl game against Tennessee, he had a pick-6.
That led to his monster Penn State performance.
"I want to get (an interception) every game," he says. "I've been getting the opportunity and I've capitalized on them."
Johnson is delivering the promise head coach Tom Allen saw when he recruited him out of Florida.
Allen first noticed Johnson, a two-way standout at Sarasota Riverview High School, when he was the defensive coordinator at South Florida.
Their bond has grown during their years together in Bloomington.
"Coach Allen is just a great guy," Johnson says. "During games, he is always fired up. During practice, he is always fired up.
"He is hard on us. He is hard on me. He is hard on everybody. We just love him. We know he has been through so much. We know he brought us here to change this program and he has done exactly what he was planning on doing since we got here. It is all coming together now."
Is it ever.
IU's first victory over a Top-10 team since 1987 jumped it to No. 17 in the Associated Press Poll, No. 19 in the Coaches' Poll. It plays at Rutgers (1-0) on Saturday.
"This shows where we are now," Johnson says. "Every week we are going in there with the 1-0 mindset. We are taking it week per week."
Rutgers is coming off a victory at Michigan State that snapped a 21-game conference losing streak.
The Scarlett Knights have a new coach (Greg Schiano) and a new quarterback (Nebraska transfer Noah Vedral) and looked like a new team against the Spartans, Johnson says.
"We are just going to treat them like we treat any other opponent. We are not going to take anyone lightly.
"They have got good players; we have got good players. They like to run. They have good running backs. They have a good slot receiver. Their quarterback came from Nebraska, so we know a little bit about him. Their coaches are doing a good job, but that is up to us. We just have to come out with the win."
With COVID-19 rates rising across the country, IU's ability to avoid infection may be even more critical than its level of play.
"We've got to stay locked in," running back Stevie Scott III says. "That's one thing I stress to my teammates a lot. Stay locked in at all times. Stay cautious of your surroundings, what you are doing, who you associate with.
"We'd hate to see something bad or negative, especially dealing with coronavirus, tear down this team. That's something we stress a lot, in meetings and in the locker room, in general, making sure everybody is staying safe and staying cautious."
No player tested positive during IU's last update before Saturday's game.
"We always say this," Allen says. "What do you want, how hard are you willing to work to get that, and what are you willing to sacrifice to get what you want?"
Allen's passion and L-E-O (Love Each Other) mantra isn't for show. It's heartfelt message is shared by the players.
So when someone yelled, "We love you, Coach!" while Allen was talking during Saturday's post-game locker room celebration, the coach went into crowd-surfing mode that become a social media video hit.
"The crowd surfing," Scott says with a smile, "was something new."
The emotion behind it wasn't.
"We really do love him," linebacker Micah McFadden says. "He sets the example.
"A lot of coaches can talk the talk, but not every coach lives out what they speak to their players every day. Coach Allen brings that to the table every single day. I've not seen him not bringing energy or not motivating his players or living out what he says.
"We can joke about (LEO), but it's true. He lives it out; we recognize it; and we follow him. He's a true leader."
Allen's leadership helped deliver one of the more remarkable victories in program history, and enabled him to win Bobby Dodd Trophy national Coach-of-the-Week honors.
Dodd Foundation chairman Jim Terry cited Allen's "bold decision" to go for the winning two-point conversion in overtime.
"He always brings energy," kicker Charles Campbell says of Allen. "He is always yelling around, jumping around, even in team meetings he gets so fired up. You love, as a player, to see someone who cares so much about the team."
That caring is focused on more victories, an approach his players share.
"We just have to keep striving for greatness," Scott says, "and try to keep adding on to this great start to the season."
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