Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Fall Camp Edition - August 26 Update
8/26/2021 2:51:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The running backs took to the podium on Thursday (August 26) as the days of fall camp wind down in front of the Sept. 4 season opener at Iowa. Associate head coach Deland McCullough, along with running backs Stephen Carr and Tim Baldwin Jr., and linebacker Thomas Allen all answered questions inside of Memorial Stadium.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences from Thursday, August 26. Video of the full media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Deland McCullough | Associate Head Coach/Running Backs
On Stephen Carr…
DM: The biggest thing was assimilating to the way we work and blending into the culture here at IU. I knew it would be a cultural fit when the opportunity came to get him. Having him and immersing him into the playbook, but more importantly with the culture and getting to know the guys, that was the number one thing. I knew his skill set would be high level. He had to continue to learn our offense and see if he could fit into it. I think the last couple of scrimmages and practices have put him in the position to potentially have that lead role and continue to evaluate that as we prepare for Iowa.
On if anything that surprised him about Carr…
DM: It's a continuation of what we did at [Southern Cal]. He was taking pictures and sending stuff back to some of the other guys that I've coached there, saying that this is what it was like. We are back at it. It was good to reconnect and continue his maturation process to get him to where he wants to go and more importantly to get him blended into what we are doing so we can all go to the mountain top together.
On his approach to the running back spot…
DM: I think my history is pretty well noted. Here at IU and USC and in the NFL, I'm going to play several guys. There is going to be a lead horse guy that is the main feature guy, but I believe you get diminishing returns when you burn a guy out. Whoever is the lead guy, he will get the bulk of the action, but I think people will be surprised how much the second guy and other guys supplement the main person.
Tim Baldwin Jr.| So. | RB
On what he worked on in the offseason…
TB: I wanted to hit the holes faster and overall have a balanced attack in how I play: not being one- or two-dimensional but being whatever the team needs me to be. I have been growing and learning from every practice.
On how fall camp has gone…
TB: There has been a lot of competition, but it has been healthy which is awesome. You do not want to have a negative atmosphere in any [position] room, so it is always good to have that competition. It has brought out the best in all of us. One thing I have learned from camp is getting a different feel for the game whereas last year I was fresh and new. Now, I feel where the linebackers are and am learning to go this way and that way. I am cleaning up and fine-tuning things.
On what he has learned from running backs coach Deland McCullough…
TB: In comparison to what I learned last year versus this year, I feel like there are two ways of going about the same thing. One thing I would say is different is that there are more details about where we are looking pre-snap. Outside of that, we have learned how to do our job correctly and do it to the best of our ability.
Stephen Carr | Gr.+ | RB
Opening Statement
On relocating from California to Indiana…
SC: It was a very tough decision to leave one of my dream schools. I left so much family and so many friends behind. I also left of a lot of opportunity that Los Angeles has to offer. I think this I what I needed to take a further step in my life. It is good that I am out here on my own because this is the first time that I have lived alone, and I have learned a lot about myself. In terms of football, it gave me the chance to [refocus] and I am tuned in now. Everything is going how it needs to go.
On the comparison of the competition level at IU compared to USC…
SC: I love all the talent that is here. It is crazy seeing both sides: the PAC-12 and now the Big Ten. I know not a lot of people transfer between the two [programs], so it is unique that I am. I love being in this position because it gives another perspective on college football. These guys here are bigger and that helps me put some more tools in my toolbox if I want to get to the next level. The talent at Indiana is amazing and I think we are going to win a lot of games this season. We are eying that Big Ten championship, so we must stay focused and keep preparing like we have been.
On his relationship with associate head coach Deland McCullough factoring in to the transfer…
SC: It was a no brainer. I think it was just God's timing. By the time I entered the portal, I found out he was coaching here. Having a good relationship with Coach McCullough has meant a lot. He has taught me more about the game than I've learned from any other coach. I did learn a lot from my coaches as USC, Coach [Mike] Jinks and Coach [Tim] Drevno. They were amazing coaches who taught me a lot, but it has been amazing reuniting with Coach McCullough because we have a lot of history. He is still holding me to that high standard like he did when we first met.
Thomas Allen | Sr.-R | LB
On his decision to return for his final season…
TA: I think at the end of the day when you have had the injuries that I've had, you have to look at big pictures and be able to see is it worth it? At the end of the day, I wanted to finish the right way. I wanted to be able to help this team win. We have a special group and I think that was one of the biggest reasons I came back. We have a special group as a team, but in the linebacker room we have a special group. I wanted to finish he right way. I am able to get my MBA and I'm able to do some great things off the field as well. When you put it all together, I felt it was the perfect way to come back and finish the right way one more year.
On how he is doing physically…
TA: I feel great. When you have the injury I had you have your ups and downs and camp I don't think it matters if you have zero injuries, the surgeries I've had, I've had some pain through camp and that is part of it. As of right now, I feel really good and I'm excited to have the role that I'm in and be able to help our team win on Saturdays this fall.
On what the rehab process was like…
TA: This was a completely different process than I've ever had. When you dislocate your hip, you start, you don't do anything. I laid in bed for a while, you kind of hang out and let the bone heal. That was kind of a frustrating process at times, pretty bored, you kind of hang out and don't do much. It was just kind of everyday through the winter and spring and summer, it's a grind. You have your ups and downs. When I had a day, I felt really good I was going to attack that day all out. I was going to attack every day the way you need to, but especially when I started running you have to take advantage of those. It was kind of a roller coaster of a rehab to get everything back healthy and get the muscles around your hip healthy again. It was a very long process to get through, but it makes you stronger at the end.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences from Thursday, August 26. Video of the full media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Deland McCullough | Associate Head Coach/Running Backs
On Stephen Carr…
DM: The biggest thing was assimilating to the way we work and blending into the culture here at IU. I knew it would be a cultural fit when the opportunity came to get him. Having him and immersing him into the playbook, but more importantly with the culture and getting to know the guys, that was the number one thing. I knew his skill set would be high level. He had to continue to learn our offense and see if he could fit into it. I think the last couple of scrimmages and practices have put him in the position to potentially have that lead role and continue to evaluate that as we prepare for Iowa.
On if anything that surprised him about Carr…
DM: It's a continuation of what we did at [Southern Cal]. He was taking pictures and sending stuff back to some of the other guys that I've coached there, saying that this is what it was like. We are back at it. It was good to reconnect and continue his maturation process to get him to where he wants to go and more importantly to get him blended into what we are doing so we can all go to the mountain top together.
On his approach to the running back spot…
DM: I think my history is pretty well noted. Here at IU and USC and in the NFL, I'm going to play several guys. There is going to be a lead horse guy that is the main feature guy, but I believe you get diminishing returns when you burn a guy out. Whoever is the lead guy, he will get the bulk of the action, but I think people will be surprised how much the second guy and other guys supplement the main person.
Tim Baldwin Jr.| So. | RB
On what he worked on in the offseason…
TB: I wanted to hit the holes faster and overall have a balanced attack in how I play: not being one- or two-dimensional but being whatever the team needs me to be. I have been growing and learning from every practice.
On how fall camp has gone…
TB: There has been a lot of competition, but it has been healthy which is awesome. You do not want to have a negative atmosphere in any [position] room, so it is always good to have that competition. It has brought out the best in all of us. One thing I have learned from camp is getting a different feel for the game whereas last year I was fresh and new. Now, I feel where the linebackers are and am learning to go this way and that way. I am cleaning up and fine-tuning things.
On what he has learned from running backs coach Deland McCullough…
TB: In comparison to what I learned last year versus this year, I feel like there are two ways of going about the same thing. One thing I would say is different is that there are more details about where we are looking pre-snap. Outside of that, we have learned how to do our job correctly and do it to the best of our ability.
Stephen Carr | Gr.+ | RB
Opening Statement
On relocating from California to Indiana…
SC: It was a very tough decision to leave one of my dream schools. I left so much family and so many friends behind. I also left of a lot of opportunity that Los Angeles has to offer. I think this I what I needed to take a further step in my life. It is good that I am out here on my own because this is the first time that I have lived alone, and I have learned a lot about myself. In terms of football, it gave me the chance to [refocus] and I am tuned in now. Everything is going how it needs to go.
On the comparison of the competition level at IU compared to USC…
SC: I love all the talent that is here. It is crazy seeing both sides: the PAC-12 and now the Big Ten. I know not a lot of people transfer between the two [programs], so it is unique that I am. I love being in this position because it gives another perspective on college football. These guys here are bigger and that helps me put some more tools in my toolbox if I want to get to the next level. The talent at Indiana is amazing and I think we are going to win a lot of games this season. We are eying that Big Ten championship, so we must stay focused and keep preparing like we have been.
On his relationship with associate head coach Deland McCullough factoring in to the transfer…
SC: It was a no brainer. I think it was just God's timing. By the time I entered the portal, I found out he was coaching here. Having a good relationship with Coach McCullough has meant a lot. He has taught me more about the game than I've learned from any other coach. I did learn a lot from my coaches as USC, Coach [Mike] Jinks and Coach [Tim] Drevno. They were amazing coaches who taught me a lot, but it has been amazing reuniting with Coach McCullough because we have a lot of history. He is still holding me to that high standard like he did when we first met.
Thomas Allen | Sr.-R | LB
On his decision to return for his final season…
TA: I think at the end of the day when you have had the injuries that I've had, you have to look at big pictures and be able to see is it worth it? At the end of the day, I wanted to finish the right way. I wanted to be able to help this team win. We have a special group and I think that was one of the biggest reasons I came back. We have a special group as a team, but in the linebacker room we have a special group. I wanted to finish he right way. I am able to get my MBA and I'm able to do some great things off the field as well. When you put it all together, I felt it was the perfect way to come back and finish the right way one more year.
On how he is doing physically…
TA: I feel great. When you have the injury I had you have your ups and downs and camp I don't think it matters if you have zero injuries, the surgeries I've had, I've had some pain through camp and that is part of it. As of right now, I feel really good and I'm excited to have the role that I'm in and be able to help our team win on Saturdays this fall.
On what the rehab process was like…
TA: This was a completely different process than I've ever had. When you dislocate your hip, you start, you don't do anything. I laid in bed for a while, you kind of hang out and let the bone heal. That was kind of a frustrating process at times, pretty bored, you kind of hang out and don't do much. It was just kind of everyday through the winter and spring and summer, it's a grind. You have your ups and downs. When I had a day, I felt really good I was going to attack that day all out. I was going to attack every day the way you need to, but especially when I started running you have to take advantage of those. It was kind of a roller coaster of a rehab to get everything back healthy and get the muscles around your hip healthy again. It was a very long process to get through, but it makes you stronger at the end.
Players Mentioned
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (11/4/25_
Tuesday, November 04
FB: Isaiah Jones Media Availability (11/4/25)
Tuesday, November 04
FB: Week 11 (at Penn State) - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Monday, November 03
FB: Week 10 (at Maryland) - Curt Cignetti Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, November 01