Next Man Up – Look Out For Running Back Tim Baldwin Jr.
12/3/2020 8:30:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Next Hoosier man up has a new name:
Tim Baldwin Jr.
Indiana's true freshman running back went from near invisibility to mini celebrity against Maryland.
Rushing for 106 yards (making him the 14th IU true freshman to reach at least 100 yards in a game) on just 16 carries can do that. It was a dramatic case of taking advantage of an opportunity, in this case, the unavailability of back-up running back Sampson James.
"Tim Baldwin did a great job," head coach Tom Allen says. "I got some texts that said, 'Who is that guy?' But he is a guy that we have talked about that has been so steady in practice. He has earned everything that he has gotten. He is a guy that we really trust."
That leads to the obvious question as the No. 12 Hoosiers (5-1) prepare to play at No. 16 Wisconsin (2-1) on Saturday:
What's next?
For starters, perspective.
Baldwin began last Saturday's game with 18 yards on just three carries for the season. He ended it with 124, and the kind of attitude that suggests this is just the beginning.
"No matter what you do," Baldwin says via Zoom opportunity, "there is always room for improvement.
"It gave me a great confidence boost because it was my first real college football game. I got to see how people play and the speed of the game. That helped my confidence, but I was already pretty confident in myself."
Baldwin is another example of Indiana's strong recruiting in general, running back coach Mike Hart's ability to land standouts in particular.
Hart went to the state of Virginia and Patriot High School to get this all-state performer, who rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his final three seasons, including 1,604 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior.
This helped earn him the nation's No. 37 running back status by ESPN and a big spot on Hart's to-get list. The 6-foot, 217-pounder got an early jump by enrolling for the spring semester, although that was cut short because of the pandemic.
Still, he was ready when IU needed an alternative to starting running back Stevie Scott III, who ran for 80 yards and three touchdowns against Maryland. Baldwin's big game, which included a 26-yard run, could have been bigger, he says.
"I could have made the safety miss on three of my runs. I could have had better pass (protection). I could have had better recognition. I am looking to improve in any way that I can."
Adjusting to the speed of the game, he adds, came quickly.
"I practice hard," he says, "so I think that the game felt a little easier.
"I go against our defense every day and the way they are playing right now helped my transition. It really did not take too long to adjust to the speed, quickness and physicality of the defense."
For those who live and breathe football jargon, Baldwin was especially effective in running outside zone over inside zone.
"I think the outside zone helps with my running style," he says. "I like to set up my blocks a little bit. Being able to make the linebackers commit faster really helped me make the correct cuts.
"I believe I can run a little bit of everything. Whatever the coach thinks is necessary to help us win that week."
Sharing that mindset is backup-turned-starting quarterback Jack Tuttle, who hopes to take advantage of his opportunity in the aftermath of starter Michael Penix Jr.'s season-ending torn ACL.
He played just over a quarter against Maryland and was 5-for-5 for 31 yards, plus a two-point conversion pass.
Not bad for a guy who hadn't thrown a pass all season.
"Jack has continued to improve since the day he got here," offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan says. "He has prepared hard. He has each and every week."
Tuttle, a four-star prospect coming out of high school in California, says going from backup to starter won't change his routine.
"It is kind of the same for me. Every week I try to prepare like I am the starter. Every week we put earmuffs and blinders on to the outside to focus on the internal and our opponent."
As for that conversion pass, he says, "Being prepared, I came in ready to go. I did not feel like there was a lot of nerves. The preparation really helped."
Offensive lineman Dylan Powell expects more of the same against Wisconsin.
"Obviously, we feel for Mike," he says. "We love him and will support him in any way we can.
"The mantra around here is next man up and we expect Jack to do the same things Mike was doing.
"No matter what position group you are at here, if someone goes down you have to be ready and do the job. We expect Jack to do his job. We have all the faith in the world that he is going to do whatever he has to do to help us win."
Adds linebacker D.K. Bonhomme: "I am 100 percent confident in Jack and what he can do."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Next Hoosier man up has a new name:
Tim Baldwin Jr.
Indiana's true freshman running back went from near invisibility to mini celebrity against Maryland.
Rushing for 106 yards (making him the 14th IU true freshman to reach at least 100 yards in a game) on just 16 carries can do that. It was a dramatic case of taking advantage of an opportunity, in this case, the unavailability of back-up running back Sampson James.
"Tim Baldwin did a great job," head coach Tom Allen says. "I got some texts that said, 'Who is that guy?' But he is a guy that we have talked about that has been so steady in practice. He has earned everything that he has gotten. He is a guy that we really trust."
That leads to the obvious question as the No. 12 Hoosiers (5-1) prepare to play at No. 16 Wisconsin (2-1) on Saturday:
What's next?
For starters, perspective.
Baldwin began last Saturday's game with 18 yards on just three carries for the season. He ended it with 124, and the kind of attitude that suggests this is just the beginning.
"No matter what you do," Baldwin says via Zoom opportunity, "there is always room for improvement.
"It gave me a great confidence boost because it was my first real college football game. I got to see how people play and the speed of the game. That helped my confidence, but I was already pretty confident in myself."
Baldwin is another example of Indiana's strong recruiting in general, running back coach Mike Hart's ability to land standouts in particular.
Hart went to the state of Virginia and Patriot High School to get this all-state performer, who rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his final three seasons, including 1,604 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior.
This helped earn him the nation's No. 37 running back status by ESPN and a big spot on Hart's to-get list. The 6-foot, 217-pounder got an early jump by enrolling for the spring semester, although that was cut short because of the pandemic.
Still, he was ready when IU needed an alternative to starting running back Stevie Scott III, who ran for 80 yards and three touchdowns against Maryland. Baldwin's big game, which included a 26-yard run, could have been bigger, he says.
"I could have made the safety miss on three of my runs. I could have had better pass (protection). I could have had better recognition. I am looking to improve in any way that I can."
Adjusting to the speed of the game, he adds, came quickly.
"I practice hard," he says, "so I think that the game felt a little easier.
"I go against our defense every day and the way they are playing right now helped my transition. It really did not take too long to adjust to the speed, quickness and physicality of the defense."
For those who live and breathe football jargon, Baldwin was especially effective in running outside zone over inside zone.
"I think the outside zone helps with my running style," he says. "I like to set up my blocks a little bit. Being able to make the linebackers commit faster really helped me make the correct cuts.
"I believe I can run a little bit of everything. Whatever the coach thinks is necessary to help us win that week."
Sharing that mindset is backup-turned-starting quarterback Jack Tuttle, who hopes to take advantage of his opportunity in the aftermath of starter Michael Penix Jr.'s season-ending torn ACL.
He played just over a quarter against Maryland and was 5-for-5 for 31 yards, plus a two-point conversion pass.
Not bad for a guy who hadn't thrown a pass all season.
"Jack has continued to improve since the day he got here," offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan says. "He has prepared hard. He has each and every week."
Tuttle, a four-star prospect coming out of high school in California, says going from backup to starter won't change his routine.
"It is kind of the same for me. Every week I try to prepare like I am the starter. Every week we put earmuffs and blinders on to the outside to focus on the internal and our opponent."
As for that conversion pass, he says, "Being prepared, I came in ready to go. I did not feel like there was a lot of nerves. The preparation really helped."
Offensive lineman Dylan Powell expects more of the same against Wisconsin.
"Obviously, we feel for Mike," he says. "We love him and will support him in any way we can.
"The mantra around here is next man up and we expect Jack to do the same things Mike was doing.
"No matter what position group you are at here, if someone goes down you have to be ready and do the job. We expect Jack to do his job. We have all the faith in the world that he is going to do whatever he has to do to help us win."
Adds linebacker D.K. Bonhomme: "I am 100 percent confident in Jack and what he can do."
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