Quoted: at Iowa
9/1/2021 6:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – With Iowa on deck this week, the Indiana football program spoke to the media. Below are quotes from coordinators Nick Sheridan and Charlton Warren, along with student-athletes Ty Fryfogle, Micah McFadden, Tiawan Mullen, and Michael Penix Jr.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences, while video of the full media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Nick Sheridan | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
On Michael Penix Jr….
NS: From a physical standpoint, you see the same Michael Penix that we've seen here. He still has a really strong arm, still moves very well, very instinctual player. Mike's had a great camp and we're excited for him.
On D.J. Matthews Jr. and Camron Buckley…
NS: Both of those guys are doing a great job. They are certainly talented players from a skillset standpoint, but both of those guys are good kids. They have good character; they care about their teammates. They've gotten along great with the guys in their [position] rooms, our whole unit and our whole team. We're going to need both of them to play at a high level.
Charlton Warren | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
On the defensive line…
CW: They've taken personal accountability to win their box, come off the ball and strike, work their technique and fundamentals, and the mindset that you're going to have to play some big boy ball [all season]. I think our guys understand the challenge on Saturday of coming out and striking fast.
On Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum…
CW: I think he's a tremendous football player with tons of experience. I think that he has played so many snaps that he is the anchor of that offensive line. I think he's one of their great players that we are going to have to contend with. I think when you have a guy that's that experienced, played that many games, and that talented, that's something you have to will yourself to overcome on defense.
Ty Fryfogle | WR | Sr.+
On if his approach changed entering his final season…
TF: I didn't need all that. At the end of the day, it's just football. It's a physical sport and injuries just happen. I feel like you have to go all out no matter what. No matter what your position. As far as receivers, we take hits, so I just want to go all out.
On what he has added to his practice routine…
TF: I try to work on a little bit of everything: my speed, getting better at routes, getting out of breaks, learning defenses. I am just trying to be a complete football player and not have any flaws in my game. I'm working everyday towards that goal.
Micah McFadden | LB | Sr.
On what Jaren Handy and Ryder Anderson bring to the defense…
MM: They bring a lot of size and strength to that defensive line. And also, just leadership and experience. It's good to see they're coming around to learning the defense and can really be key in this year's process for us.
On the program's focus on fundamentals…
MM: We put that on our back and our coaches say 'the Hoosiers don't beat the Hoosiers'. I think it just comes down to us being in the right positions and making the plays when they come.
Tiawan Mullen | DB | Jr.
On what Marcelino McCrary-Ball has brought to the defense after his injury last season…
TM: The edge, the hunger in him, the physical toughness he brings within himself. He's a great leader. We're glad to have him back. He's going to be a great help to the team.
On how the defense's chemistry has come along during fall camp…
TM: We have great chemistry with each other, guys have two or three years with each other. We have each other's backs out there. We're going to play freely because we're comfortable. We have a lot returning starters back and some great guys added to the defense. We are really excited, very confident in the defense and what Coach Warren is going to call.
Michael Penix Jr. | QB | Jr.-R
On his comfortability entering the first game of the season…
MP: I trust that everything is okay. The trainers have been doing a great job of getting me back on the field. As far as all of the injuries, I'm not really worried about that. I just want to go play football.
On Ty Fryfogle's progression over the offseason…
MP: Ty is a very detailed guy. He's always asking if he could do things any better. He works on coming out of his breaks a lot, making sure we are on time. If he feels something is off, he's a guy that is going to come up to me and try to see my feedback on what happened. He's a guy that wants to be great. He's somebody that works extremely hard every day on and off the field, in the weight room and in film study, as well. He's going to be a great part of this offense like he was last year and definitely going to make big plays for us this season.
On preparation for the Iowa defense…
MP: We're just going to take it play by play and take what they give us and make sure that we go out and execute. As long as we go out and execute, I feel like we'll be good. We respect their secondary, but I feel like I have a lot of weapons on the field to get the ball to. It's going to be a great game.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences, while video of the full media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Nick Sheridan | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
On Michael Penix Jr….
NS: From a physical standpoint, you see the same Michael Penix that we've seen here. He still has a really strong arm, still moves very well, very instinctual player. Mike's had a great camp and we're excited for him.
On D.J. Matthews Jr. and Camron Buckley…
NS: Both of those guys are doing a great job. They are certainly talented players from a skillset standpoint, but both of those guys are good kids. They have good character; they care about their teammates. They've gotten along great with the guys in their [position] rooms, our whole unit and our whole team. We're going to need both of them to play at a high level.
Charlton Warren | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
On the defensive line…
CW: They've taken personal accountability to win their box, come off the ball and strike, work their technique and fundamentals, and the mindset that you're going to have to play some big boy ball [all season]. I think our guys understand the challenge on Saturday of coming out and striking fast.
On Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum…
CW: I think he's a tremendous football player with tons of experience. I think that he has played so many snaps that he is the anchor of that offensive line. I think he's one of their great players that we are going to have to contend with. I think when you have a guy that's that experienced, played that many games, and that talented, that's something you have to will yourself to overcome on defense.
Ty Fryfogle | WR | Sr.+
On if his approach changed entering his final season…
TF: I didn't need all that. At the end of the day, it's just football. It's a physical sport and injuries just happen. I feel like you have to go all out no matter what. No matter what your position. As far as receivers, we take hits, so I just want to go all out.
On what he has added to his practice routine…
TF: I try to work on a little bit of everything: my speed, getting better at routes, getting out of breaks, learning defenses. I am just trying to be a complete football player and not have any flaws in my game. I'm working everyday towards that goal.
Micah McFadden | LB | Sr.
On what Jaren Handy and Ryder Anderson bring to the defense…
MM: They bring a lot of size and strength to that defensive line. And also, just leadership and experience. It's good to see they're coming around to learning the defense and can really be key in this year's process for us.
On the program's focus on fundamentals…
MM: We put that on our back and our coaches say 'the Hoosiers don't beat the Hoosiers'. I think it just comes down to us being in the right positions and making the plays when they come.
Tiawan Mullen | DB | Jr.
On what Marcelino McCrary-Ball has brought to the defense after his injury last season…
TM: The edge, the hunger in him, the physical toughness he brings within himself. He's a great leader. We're glad to have him back. He's going to be a great help to the team.
On how the defense's chemistry has come along during fall camp…
TM: We have great chemistry with each other, guys have two or three years with each other. We have each other's backs out there. We're going to play freely because we're comfortable. We have a lot returning starters back and some great guys added to the defense. We are really excited, very confident in the defense and what Coach Warren is going to call.
Michael Penix Jr. | QB | Jr.-R
On his comfortability entering the first game of the season…
MP: I trust that everything is okay. The trainers have been doing a great job of getting me back on the field. As far as all of the injuries, I'm not really worried about that. I just want to go play football.
On Ty Fryfogle's progression over the offseason…
MP: Ty is a very detailed guy. He's always asking if he could do things any better. He works on coming out of his breaks a lot, making sure we are on time. If he feels something is off, he's a guy that is going to come up to me and try to see my feedback on what happened. He's a guy that wants to be great. He's somebody that works extremely hard every day on and off the field, in the weight room and in film study, as well. He's going to be a great part of this offense like he was last year and definitely going to make big plays for us this season.
On preparation for the Iowa defense…
MP: We're just going to take it play by play and take what they give us and make sure that we go out and execute. As long as we go out and execute, I feel like we'll be good. We respect their secondary, but I feel like I have a lot of weapons on the field to get the ball to. It's going to be a great game.
Players Mentioned
FB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 5 (at Iowa)
Thursday, September 25
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 5 (at Iowa)
Wednesday, September 24
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23
FB: Aiden Fisher Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23