Defense Ready For More at No. 4 Penn State
9/30/2021 4:00:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Tiawan Mullen knows Indiana has more to give.
He has more to give.
Saturday night would be a great time to give it.
IU (2-2) plays at No. 4 Penn State (4-0), which has thrived via the pass behind quarterback Sean Clifford and big-play receiver Jahan Dotson. That suggests an intriguing matchup looms given Mullen, an All-America cornerback is playing to his acclaim.
"We've been playing good overall," Mullen says, "but we can do way better. We can improve and focus on the details, communicate, fix the things that need to be fixed, adjust a few things, stay focused, stay true to who we are."
If the Hoosiers do that, he adds, "We'll be ready."
Mullen certainly was ready last Saturday at Western Kentucky, breaking up three passes and forcing the Hilltoppers to look elsewhere for completions.
"It's preparation," he says. "You know, attention to details, dialed in. When the play came my way, I made it.
"Just playing football, playing confident, playing for my team. My team forced me to make big plays and when the game gets tough, is on the line or any part of the game. That's what I go out there to do for the team, just try to do my best every play."
Mullen's performance made a big impression on defensive coordinator Charlton Warren.
"I make a big deal about challenging routes and defending the grass," Warren says. "In this game, a lot of guys can make plays down the field. He made a bunch of plays on balls from 0 to 16 (yards). If you want to be an elite player at that position, you have to make plays between 0 to 16 yards, coming back toward the ball. He did that about four times in that game, coming out of his break and challenging the ball at the jump point, driving forward, and making the play on the ball without grabbing, holding, or getting (pass interference).
"When you go through a game where a team is throwing the ball what seemed like every down and you get zero defensive holdings, zero (pass interferences), that means your secondary is playing with a certain level of technique and I thought Tiawan played with exceptional technique, great break, and vision. He jumped some routes and challenged some balls down field.
"It was his best game. Not that he hasn't done really good stuff for us, so far, but he really attacked receivers and had a really good on-ball percentage when it came to defending routes."
The 5-10 Mullen will have to return to attack mode against the 5-11 Dotson, whose 4.33 second 40-yard dash time rates among the best in Penn State history. He has 27 catches for 362 yards and four touchdowns.
"It's going to be a special game," Mullen says. "(Penn State) is going to have a nice crowd, so we're ready. We're prepared. We have (big) crowds here at IU, sold-out games. We're ready for the atmosphere. We're ready for the loud noise."
IU was ready for Western Kentucky's home crowd noise in its 33-31 victory last Saturday. A big reason was the play of kicker Charles Campbell, who was 4-for-4 on field goals. Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan was happen for Campbell, but unhappy some of those field goals weren't touchdowns.
They will have to be against Penn State.
"We have had opportunities in the first four ballgames to score more points than we have," Sheridan says. "We have to capitalize on those opportunities. You don't want to be kicking as many field goals as we did."
The Hoosiers will have to capitalize without receiver D.J. Matthews Jr., out for the season with a torn ACL. Jacolby Hewitt and Miles Marshall are the leading candidates to replace him.
Veteran receiver Ty Fryfogle is confident they'll be up to the task.
"I'm really excited for both of those guys. They had great games (at Western Kentucky) and I feel like they'll step up. Those guys will compete; they're gonna work their hardest in practice. I'm excited for the opportunity for those guys."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Tiawan Mullen knows Indiana has more to give.
He has more to give.
Saturday night would be a great time to give it.
IU (2-2) plays at No. 4 Penn State (4-0), which has thrived via the pass behind quarterback Sean Clifford and big-play receiver Jahan Dotson. That suggests an intriguing matchup looms given Mullen, an All-America cornerback is playing to his acclaim.
"We've been playing good overall," Mullen says, "but we can do way better. We can improve and focus on the details, communicate, fix the things that need to be fixed, adjust a few things, stay focused, stay true to who we are."
If the Hoosiers do that, he adds, "We'll be ready."
Mullen certainly was ready last Saturday at Western Kentucky, breaking up three passes and forcing the Hilltoppers to look elsewhere for completions.
"It's preparation," he says. "You know, attention to details, dialed in. When the play came my way, I made it.
"Just playing football, playing confident, playing for my team. My team forced me to make big plays and when the game gets tough, is on the line or any part of the game. That's what I go out there to do for the team, just try to do my best every play."
Mullen's performance made a big impression on defensive coordinator Charlton Warren.
"I make a big deal about challenging routes and defending the grass," Warren says. "In this game, a lot of guys can make plays down the field. He made a bunch of plays on balls from 0 to 16 (yards). If you want to be an elite player at that position, you have to make plays between 0 to 16 yards, coming back toward the ball. He did that about four times in that game, coming out of his break and challenging the ball at the jump point, driving forward, and making the play on the ball without grabbing, holding, or getting (pass interference).
"When you go through a game where a team is throwing the ball what seemed like every down and you get zero defensive holdings, zero (pass interferences), that means your secondary is playing with a certain level of technique and I thought Tiawan played with exceptional technique, great break, and vision. He jumped some routes and challenged some balls down field.
"It was his best game. Not that he hasn't done really good stuff for us, so far, but he really attacked receivers and had a really good on-ball percentage when it came to defending routes."
The 5-10 Mullen will have to return to attack mode against the 5-11 Dotson, whose 4.33 second 40-yard dash time rates among the best in Penn State history. He has 27 catches for 362 yards and four touchdowns.
"It's going to be a special game," Mullen says. "(Penn State) is going to have a nice crowd, so we're ready. We're prepared. We have (big) crowds here at IU, sold-out games. We're ready for the atmosphere. We're ready for the loud noise."
IU was ready for Western Kentucky's home crowd noise in its 33-31 victory last Saturday. A big reason was the play of kicker Charles Campbell, who was 4-for-4 on field goals. Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan was happen for Campbell, but unhappy some of those field goals weren't touchdowns.
They will have to be against Penn State.
"We have had opportunities in the first four ballgames to score more points than we have," Sheridan says. "We have to capitalize on those opportunities. You don't want to be kicking as many field goals as we did."
The Hoosiers will have to capitalize without receiver D.J. Matthews Jr., out for the season with a torn ACL. Jacolby Hewitt and Miles Marshall are the leading candidates to replace him.
Veteran receiver Ty Fryfogle is confident they'll be up to the task.
"I'm really excited for both of those guys. They had great games (at Western Kentucky) and I feel like they'll step up. Those guys will compete; they're gonna work their hardest in practice. I'm excited for the opportunity for those guys."
Players Mentioned
K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR/RS
/ Football
DB
/ FootballFB: 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