Spring Football Press Conference – Tom Allen - Indiana University Athletics

Below is a partial transcription of a Zoom press conference with Indiana head football coach Tom Allen on Wednesday, April 14.

Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen
Opening Statement…
ALLEN: Good afternoon. I appreciate everyone joining with us today. We are excited to wrap up spring football and our 15 practices. We were able to get all those in, which was very positive. I thought we had a really good final scrimmage with our guys. We put out the end of the year, end of the spring awards. I don't want to go over all of them again, but I want to hit on a few highlights.

I thought the most improved guys that we identified were AJ Barner and Tim Weaver on offense. We are really excited about their growth and development. These guys have been here for at least a full year now at Indiana. AJ and Tim being here for a couple of years are really starting to do some great things for us in their areas. Raheem Layne and Demarcus Elliot on defense, with Raheem moving to the safety position. We have done that before, but he obviously missed last season. It is really great to have him back and just his leadership. I thought he really took a big step in that area. I thought he showed tremendous maturity in his preparation. It is also just amazing that when you miss, and you realize that it is a privilege and a blessing to be out there practicing. He and I talked about that quite a bit. He had a renewed sense of everything because of not being able to play last year, so I am really proud of him.

With Demarcus, I am trying to make him more versatile upfront and play multiple positions. I thought he had a step quicker and is really strong in his consistency every single day. He has always been that way as such a consistent guy, so that has continued in his leadership role.

Then the LEO Awards, are awards many people don't necessarily know what they mean, but where we got that from a few years ago I really wanted to find a way throughout spring practices to recognize the guys who really buy into practicing at a high level, pay attention to detail, and give tremendous effort and focus during special teams drills. Not necessarily special teams group work but when we are doing the punt, punt return or kickoff, kickoff return. We are talking the fundamentals of being a great special teams player in both cover and return units. I make a big deal out of that because in the months of April and March when nobody is watching and it's so far away from the season, these guys are busting their tails. We make a big deal about that and have for several years now. We didn't have a chance to do it last year because we got cut short, but that is why I call them LEO Awards because it is guys who truly don't care who gets the credit because it is not about them. They are just working their tails off for this football team in the quietness of the months and months away from the season. But they are getting better, and they are making this team better. That is how you win football games in the fall. I have a whole list of guys that I want to read off: Cam Jones, Devon Matthews, Davion Ervin-Poindexter, Bryson Bonds, Javon Swinton, AJ Barner, Chris Childers, McCall Ray. All those guys did a really great job. There are a bunch of guys on that list, which is awesome to see. A whole bunch of them got nominated and discussed as a staff. So, just pleased with the effort and focus. We talk about attitude and effort all the time in special teams, and we talk about it as a football team because those are two variables that you can completely control. That has been the emphasis as we try to get better fundamentally, improve our depth, as well as make some modifications to our schemes. That is where we are at, and we are excited to move into our next phase of our training as we wrap up the school year here and our guys are working hard in the weight room."

Q: On how Demarcus Elliot has progressed to become the most improved guy and him playing three positions in the mix…
ALLEN: That is really what it came down to. As you mentioned, he really didn't have a good chance to have the full preparation last year, which I thought hurt him. It hurt a lot of our linemen because of the nature of that position and what you need in the weight room, what you need technique-wise during the spring a year ago and all that he missed in the fall camp piece as well with it being chopped up. I felt that he has always been a guy, since he has been here, that plays hard for us. Definitely, love his effort and his care factor. It is really high. He is such a good person off the field and doing everything he's asked of. We also want him to be more versatile and play that three-technique spot and to be able to play in the nose or the three. That is not something we have had him do in the past. It is not the same position. There are different things involved in it. There are different techniques involved and the block reactions are different. I felt like he got some very valuable reps there that showed a lot. It gives us more versatility within our defense and personnel as well. We are just proud of the way he has progressed.

Q. On filling out the 85-man roster...
ALLEN: That will be definitely something we're going to be aggressively looking at. I would just say right now when you just look at where we're at each position, I do think there is a need for some more depth at safety. That is definitely something that I would consider. Defensive line as well. Always looking for guys there that can maybe give you something more than what you have in terms of skillset-wise. I think you're always looking for the best available guy on offense that gives you a chance to increase your depth on the offensive line, whoever that might be. I'm not saying for sure we're going in that direction. With Dexter's injury at quarterback, that puts a little bit of concern on that spot. A little more pressure for our guys coming in to step up and be ready and to get Michael back 100 percent healthy lis the expectation. Playmaker on offense. Obviously, you don't have a ton of spots, just a few to look into and consider. Always looking for those options to be able to improve your football team. With the transfer portal, it's something that's not been a component in the past, but it is now part of the dynamic of college recruiting. Looking at all those options to see what guys are in there and who's a fit with us. That's really the key. That doesn't change. Guys that fit with us that can help us become a better football team.

Q. On Jack Tuttle...
ALLEN: It takes a special person to do that. It speaks to his character. It speaks to the way he was raised by his parents. The ability to truly be a selfless guy. I know we've seen other teams, other situations where the guy is not guaranteed the spot and he bolts to go somewhere else. That's a decision that they have to make. I recognize that that's not easy. I recognize that he has a special love for this team. He'll say it himself. He's said it many, many times. He and I talk a lot. There's a strong relationship with him and our staff, him and myself, and him and his teammates. He loves this place. This place means a lot to him. That's important. It goes back to finding guys that fit with your culture, fit with who you are and care about being developed as a man. Football is obviously a critical part of all this. It's what draws us all here. It drew me here, I get that. But at the same time, I think it's also what keeps you there is different things. If it's just all football, and that's the end all and that's all that person cares about and values, then if you're not getting to play at that position, then they might say, hey, I might go somewhere else.

You're right, he's not guaranteed any of that. He does know that Michael is the starter. But he's just been unbelievable in his preparation and continues to be. He was all last season. He was ready when called upon. That's why he won the LEO award for the whole team to end the season at our banquet a few weeks ago. That was chosen by myself and our staff. Just because of the unselfishness, the living out of that phrase to his teammates. Not just saying it, but really truly being that way. Whenever he's called upon, he's going to be ready. I truly believe that. And that's a special thing to have on your team. It's important to have. We're going to need everybody. You never know what's going to happen and he's learned that, and he knows that. But I think there's peace in his heart about where he is and what he's doing, and he just wants to do whatever he can to help this team be successful on gamedays. It's pretty special.

Indiana University Athletics

Spring Football Press Conference – Tom Allen

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Players Mentioned

AJ Barner

Bryson Bonds

Chris Childers

Davion Ervin-Poindexter

Cam Jones

Raheem Layne

Devon Matthews

McCall Ray

Javon Swinton

Jack Tuttle

Tim Weaver

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