Back Home – Jovan Swann Seeks to Make Most of IU Opportunity
6/2/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Forget talking a good game. Jovan Swann aims to deliver one, and if he only has one Indiana football season to do it, well, urgency has its benefits.
"It's one thing to say this game means a lot to you," IU's newest defensive lineman says, "but to live it out each and every day tirelessly and be obsessed with it is what I try to do.'
With three seasons of Stanford football in his rear view mirror, and a grad transfer opportunity ahead, Swann is all about Cream & Crimson obsession, driven to deliver by word and deed what the Hoosiers need to jump from 8-5 bowl team to all-things-are-possible success.
That means leadership in every phase, taking what he learned at Center Grove High School near Indianapolis, from recruiting visits to programs such as Indiana, Stanford, Northwestern and more, from parents Jolanda and Mario, and various difference-makers he's met and seen.
"Everybody says that this game means a lot to them," he says. "I try to emulate the great players before me from my high school, the colleges that I visited, things like that. Just taking bits and pieces from really great players and great men.
"It's easy to do. Everybody wants to be a winner, so just do what winners do. That's what I try to do every day."
If that means pushing teammates harder than they want to be pushed or showcasing work and dedication when others seek easy answers and chill-out indifference, so be it.
"I know some guys might look at me and say this guy is a little uptight, he's a little too serious," he says, "but that's all right by me because I'm going to try to do what I can until my body can't do it anymore."
Swann doesn't want to just lead, but lead greatly, a challenge not everyone wants. But then, not everyone wants to earn a human biology degree, as Swann did at Stanford, one of the nation's top academic schools.
"I hope that turns out into being a great leader," he says. "I hope guys follow me and I hope I'm doing the right thing at the end of the day, which I try and do each and every day."
Swann figures to make a huge impact for Indiana this coming season. He's an athletic 6-2 and 270 pounds capable of pressuring the quarterback and shutting down the run. He can play inside or on the edge.
Last season for Stanford, he was second on the team with 5.5 sacks and fourth with eight tackles for loss. In 2018, he earned All-Pac-12 honorable-mention honors.
In three Cardinal seasons, he totaled 85 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception and one blocked field goal.
That's a lot of disruption IU figures to put to good use under new defensive line coach Kevin Peoples.
"First of all, production," Peoples says when asked what Swann will bring to IU. "You're talking about somebody who has almost a dozen sacks in his career in a different scheme that might be a bit harder to get sacks out of. He's going to provide a lot of play-making ability."
Swann saw more opportunity to do that at IU than at Stanford.
"I think Stanford had a great defense," he says, "but at the end of the day I wanted to get into a scheme that fit my playing style better. Just more of an attack-react style than a react-attack. I know Coach Peoples definitely coaches it.
"I've been talking with him for the last couple of months since he got hired on. I'm excited to get to work with him. He's got some great philosophy on what he's doing up front. He's got a lot of guys that are in the NFL and I watch their tape.
"Just to see what he's been able to develop them into is what I'm all about. I'm excited to get up front and play more of that attack-style defense. It's similar to what I did in high school. I know that was a long time ago, but I still got it in me. I'm excited to tap into that and get after it."
If he does, well, Swann talks about having an 11-sack season, which would tie Joe Huff for third on IU's single-season-record list behind Greg Middleton (16 in 2007) and Van Waiters (14 in 1987).
"I know what I bring to the table," he says. "It's quickness and some agility. I know leverage up front coming from a guy that's 6-1, 6-2. I know I'll be able to do a lot of different things and play all four (defensive line) positions and do whatever is asked of me.
"I'm going to try to be a versatile guy and make the most chaos that I can in the backfield."
Swann joins a deep, talented defensive line with veterans Jerome Johnson, Demarcus Elliott, Michael Ziemba, James Head Jr. and Lance Bryant, plus young players such as Sio Nofoagatoto'a, C.J. Person and Damarjhe Lewis.
"What I can bring to the (defensive line) room is trying to have guys understand that everyday matters," he says. "Every rep matters. Not to take a moment off.
"Not every rep is promised. Not every play is promised. If I can get that through to the guys, it's going to be a great season."
That's exactly what Peoples and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack want to hear.
"I know that they play hard," Swann says. "I wouldn't have committed to a school that I didn't think was a group of guys that play with a tenacious mentality or full of energy or always ballhawks. You talk with Coach Wommack and we have that philosophy of Swarm D. That was really what influenced my decision to play with a group of guys that really care. It's all 11 to the ball.
"I'm excited to get working with the dogs."
Because of pandemic shutdown, Swann works by himself for now.
Still, he looks forward to using IU's facilities, and working with strength coach Aaron Wellman and his staff.
"We've been using Zoom, FaceTime and everything to stay in touch," he says. "I haven't met Coach Wellman in person. We've had a couple phone conversations. He's organized a training plan for us.
"Luckily, I have access (to equipment). I sent him a list of the items I have. He made a specific workout for the things I'm able to do. It's been great in that way. He's been detailing. Stay in shape."
Team success rides on it.
"We're going to have to get in good football shape if we stay on top of that," Swann says. "That's going to be the best for us in the end.
"I believe in my strength and I know what weaknesses I need to work on. (The coaches) emphasized work on what you know you need to work on and they're trusting me to go through my process and trust in my process."
Trust comes after a Stanford detour, but it has come.
"Jovan is a very mature, sound player who will make our team better," head coach Tom Allen says. "He brings us tremendous leadership and production."
IU had made a big push to get Swann during his first-team, all-state run at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Ind. He was named the state of Indiana's 2015 defensive player of the year while helping the Trojans win the Class 6A title. He was the state's No. 5 prospect according to ESPN while totaling 64 tackles, 16.5 for loss, in three seasons.
The Hoosiers missed out then, but could benefit now.
"Jovan is professional in the way he handles himself," Peoples says. "We've had meetings and he's taken notes. He goes about his business the way that we do at Indiana.
"He's a veteran guy who obviously has had success at this level. He can show the younger guys the way in which to study the game, the way in which to handle himself in meetings and the production that will come with it. I'm very excited about what he can bring for us. I think that he is going to have great success."
The chance to end his career near home was a big factor in coming to Bloomington. It didn't hurt that older brother Mario played safety for IU from 2013-15.
"It means more than you know," Swann says. "I had Indiana in my final three (the others were Northwestern and Stanford) before going to the West Coast. That wasn't just for show. That's because I truly valued the state of Indiana and the support that I have here."
That was reinforced during his visit to one of IU's December bowl practices. The energy he saw solidified his decision to become a Hoosier.
"I'm excited to be able to have my family around for games. It was $500 round trip to get to California and that wasn't fun. I had to get my degree and they knew that it was a business trip in that way. To be able to come back home and get that support in person means the world to me. I'm excited to give my all to everybody in Indiana."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Forget talking a good game. Jovan Swann aims to deliver one, and if he only has one Indiana football season to do it, well, urgency has its benefits.
"It's one thing to say this game means a lot to you," IU's newest defensive lineman says, "but to live it out each and every day tirelessly and be obsessed with it is what I try to do.'
With three seasons of Stanford football in his rear view mirror, and a grad transfer opportunity ahead, Swann is all about Cream & Crimson obsession, driven to deliver by word and deed what the Hoosiers need to jump from 8-5 bowl team to all-things-are-possible success.
That means leadership in every phase, taking what he learned at Center Grove High School near Indianapolis, from recruiting visits to programs such as Indiana, Stanford, Northwestern and more, from parents Jolanda and Mario, and various difference-makers he's met and seen.
"Everybody says that this game means a lot to them," he says. "I try to emulate the great players before me from my high school, the colleges that I visited, things like that. Just taking bits and pieces from really great players and great men.
"It's easy to do. Everybody wants to be a winner, so just do what winners do. That's what I try to do every day."
If that means pushing teammates harder than they want to be pushed or showcasing work and dedication when others seek easy answers and chill-out indifference, so be it.
"I know some guys might look at me and say this guy is a little uptight, he's a little too serious," he says, "but that's all right by me because I'm going to try to do what I can until my body can't do it anymore."
Swann doesn't want to just lead, but lead greatly, a challenge not everyone wants. But then, not everyone wants to earn a human biology degree, as Swann did at Stanford, one of the nation's top academic schools.
"I hope that turns out into being a great leader," he says. "I hope guys follow me and I hope I'm doing the right thing at the end of the day, which I try and do each and every day."
Swann figures to make a huge impact for Indiana this coming season. He's an athletic 6-2 and 270 pounds capable of pressuring the quarterback and shutting down the run. He can play inside or on the edge.
Last season for Stanford, he was second on the team with 5.5 sacks and fourth with eight tackles for loss. In 2018, he earned All-Pac-12 honorable-mention honors.
In three Cardinal seasons, he totaled 85 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception and one blocked field goal.
That's a lot of disruption IU figures to put to good use under new defensive line coach Kevin Peoples.
"First of all, production," Peoples says when asked what Swann will bring to IU. "You're talking about somebody who has almost a dozen sacks in his career in a different scheme that might be a bit harder to get sacks out of. He's going to provide a lot of play-making ability."
Swann saw more opportunity to do that at IU than at Stanford.
"I think Stanford had a great defense," he says, "but at the end of the day I wanted to get into a scheme that fit my playing style better. Just more of an attack-react style than a react-attack. I know Coach Peoples definitely coaches it.
"I've been talking with him for the last couple of months since he got hired on. I'm excited to get to work with him. He's got some great philosophy on what he's doing up front. He's got a lot of guys that are in the NFL and I watch their tape.
"Just to see what he's been able to develop them into is what I'm all about. I'm excited to get up front and play more of that attack-style defense. It's similar to what I did in high school. I know that was a long time ago, but I still got it in me. I'm excited to tap into that and get after it."
If he does, well, Swann talks about having an 11-sack season, which would tie Joe Huff for third on IU's single-season-record list behind Greg Middleton (16 in 2007) and Van Waiters (14 in 1987).
"I know what I bring to the table," he says. "It's quickness and some agility. I know leverage up front coming from a guy that's 6-1, 6-2. I know I'll be able to do a lot of different things and play all four (defensive line) positions and do whatever is asked of me.
"I'm going to try to be a versatile guy and make the most chaos that I can in the backfield."
Swann joins a deep, talented defensive line with veterans Jerome Johnson, Demarcus Elliott, Michael Ziemba, James Head Jr. and Lance Bryant, plus young players such as Sio Nofoagatoto'a, C.J. Person and Damarjhe Lewis.
"What I can bring to the (defensive line) room is trying to have guys understand that everyday matters," he says. "Every rep matters. Not to take a moment off.
"Not every rep is promised. Not every play is promised. If I can get that through to the guys, it's going to be a great season."
That's exactly what Peoples and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack want to hear.
"I know that they play hard," Swann says. "I wouldn't have committed to a school that I didn't think was a group of guys that play with a tenacious mentality or full of energy or always ballhawks. You talk with Coach Wommack and we have that philosophy of Swarm D. That was really what influenced my decision to play with a group of guys that really care. It's all 11 to the ball.
"I'm excited to get working with the dogs."
Because of pandemic shutdown, Swann works by himself for now.
Still, he looks forward to using IU's facilities, and working with strength coach Aaron Wellman and his staff.
"We've been using Zoom, FaceTime and everything to stay in touch," he says. "I haven't met Coach Wellman in person. We've had a couple phone conversations. He's organized a training plan for us.
"Luckily, I have access (to equipment). I sent him a list of the items I have. He made a specific workout for the things I'm able to do. It's been great in that way. He's been detailing. Stay in shape."
Team success rides on it.
"We're going to have to get in good football shape if we stay on top of that," Swann says. "That's going to be the best for us in the end.
"I believe in my strength and I know what weaknesses I need to work on. (The coaches) emphasized work on what you know you need to work on and they're trusting me to go through my process and trust in my process."
Trust comes after a Stanford detour, but it has come.
"Jovan is a very mature, sound player who will make our team better," head coach Tom Allen says. "He brings us tremendous leadership and production."
IU had made a big push to get Swann during his first-team, all-state run at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Ind. He was named the state of Indiana's 2015 defensive player of the year while helping the Trojans win the Class 6A title. He was the state's No. 5 prospect according to ESPN while totaling 64 tackles, 16.5 for loss, in three seasons.
The Hoosiers missed out then, but could benefit now.
"Jovan is professional in the way he handles himself," Peoples says. "We've had meetings and he's taken notes. He goes about his business the way that we do at Indiana.
"He's a veteran guy who obviously has had success at this level. He can show the younger guys the way in which to study the game, the way in which to handle himself in meetings and the production that will come with it. I'm very excited about what he can bring for us. I think that he is going to have great success."
The chance to end his career near home was a big factor in coming to Bloomington. It didn't hurt that older brother Mario played safety for IU from 2013-15.
"It means more than you know," Swann says. "I had Indiana in my final three (the others were Northwestern and Stanford) before going to the West Coast. That wasn't just for show. That's because I truly valued the state of Indiana and the support that I have here."
That was reinforced during his visit to one of IU's December bowl practices. The energy he saw solidified his decision to become a Hoosier.
"I'm excited to be able to have my family around for games. It was $500 round trip to get to California and that wasn't fun. I had to get my degree and they knew that it was a business trip in that way. To be able to come back home and get that support in person means the world to me. I'm excited to give my all to everybody in Indiana."
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