Waiting Game -- Patient Cam Jones Still Attacking
11/2/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Control what you can control. Cam Jones lives that now. A foot injury has sidelined him, but not broken him.
"I have to find ways to lead guys without being on the field," Indiana's senior linebacker says.
He has spent the last three games in spectator mode, a quasi-coach leading mostly by word.
At 6-3 and 228 pounds, Jones still has a physical presence. He's at every practice, workout and position meeting. He's in the locker room before and after games, on the sidelines during games trying to will IU to victory.
That he can't play, he says, is misery.
"I've been playing football so long."
Cliché says you only truly appreciate something when you lose it. If so, Jones' appreciation soars.
"I understand patience is the key," he says. "It's been killing me, but I know something good will come."
Jones prepares as if he'll play Saturday against No. 16 Penn State (6-2), although he remains in week-to-week status.
"I have to keep it going," he says. "Keep attacking. Keep that mindset, so I know when I get in the game, when I'm able to play, I will make the best of the opportunity."
Until now, Jones has mostly avoided injury, certainly anything like this. He's never missed so many games and practices before.
"It's been tough," he says. "Being around the guys every day has helped."
The foot injury limits Jones' cardio options, but doesn't eliminate them. He works with the strength coaching staff to keep his strength and stamina at competitive levels.
"Working with Coach (Aaron) Wellman," Jones says, "there are things I am able to do. Get a workout every day no matter what that looks like. If I can get a second one in, I will. We've been able to figure a couple of things out."
Coaches keep Jones fully engaged. That includes giving him the script for every practice so he knows exactly what's going on.
"He's been phenomenal," defensive coordinator Chad Wilt says. "He sits in every meeting taking notes as if he's preparing to play.
"We give him a practice script and he follows right along. That's the mental approach you have to have. See the bigger picture and how things fit together. This is what the coaches are working toward."
Before the injury, Jones was playing at an All-America level. In five games, he had 55 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Those tackles rank second on the team to the Hoosier who replaced him, Aaron Casey, who has 64 tackles in eight games.
Jones keeps most of the injury details to himself. It happened in the second quarter against Nebraska. He instantly knew it was a problem, but finished the game because, "My mindset is I've always been taught to finish if I can. I was glad to finish with the guys."
Gladness couldn't obscure the pain.
"It was kind of crazy," Jones says, "but I was able to play through it."
We saw this high pain tolerance in the season opener against Illinois. An early injury left Jones writhing in agony, but after a brief trip to the locker room, he returned and helped lead the Hoosiers to a comeback victory
IU (3-5) could use another special Jones moment on Saturday.
One way or another, he'll be there.
"You have to find ways you can lead," he says. "You find different ways to connect with the guys, extra conversations, and extra film study. It helps them take their game to the next level. It's also helped improve my game."
With or without him, the Hoosiers face a formidable challenge on Saturday only a mentally focused team can handle.
Head coach Tom Allen insists he has such a team. He and his staff have used videos and information to get that point across.
"I know our minds are very, very powerful," Allen says. "I know seasons can get hard and frustrating when you play the schedule we play. You've got to find a way to win those close games and we haven't recently.
"It is frustrating. You find out who you can really count on, who you can depend on. Guys just keep fighting. We got a whole bunch of those guys on this team. You rely on that leadership.
"This is the fourth quarter of the season, our final four regular-season games. Our guys have got to respond to that. I expect them to."
"I have to find ways to lead guys without being on the field," Indiana's senior linebacker says.
He has spent the last three games in spectator mode, a quasi-coach leading mostly by word.
At 6-3 and 228 pounds, Jones still has a physical presence. He's at every practice, workout and position meeting. He's in the locker room before and after games, on the sidelines during games trying to will IU to victory.
That he can't play, he says, is misery.
"I've been playing football so long."
Cliché says you only truly appreciate something when you lose it. If so, Jones' appreciation soars.
"I understand patience is the key," he says. "It's been killing me, but I know something good will come."
Jones prepares as if he'll play Saturday against No. 16 Penn State (6-2), although he remains in week-to-week status.
"I have to keep it going," he says. "Keep attacking. Keep that mindset, so I know when I get in the game, when I'm able to play, I will make the best of the opportunity."
Until now, Jones has mostly avoided injury, certainly anything like this. He's never missed so many games and practices before.
"It's been tough," he says. "Being around the guys every day has helped."
The foot injury limits Jones' cardio options, but doesn't eliminate them. He works with the strength coaching staff to keep his strength and stamina at competitive levels.
"Working with Coach (Aaron) Wellman," Jones says, "there are things I am able to do. Get a workout every day no matter what that looks like. If I can get a second one in, I will. We've been able to figure a couple of things out."
Coaches keep Jones fully engaged. That includes giving him the script for every practice so he knows exactly what's going on.
"He's been phenomenal," defensive coordinator Chad Wilt says. "He sits in every meeting taking notes as if he's preparing to play.
"We give him a practice script and he follows right along. That's the mental approach you have to have. See the bigger picture and how things fit together. This is what the coaches are working toward."
Before the injury, Jones was playing at an All-America level. In five games, he had 55 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Those tackles rank second on the team to the Hoosier who replaced him, Aaron Casey, who has 64 tackles in eight games.
Jones keeps most of the injury details to himself. It happened in the second quarter against Nebraska. He instantly knew it was a problem, but finished the game because, "My mindset is I've always been taught to finish if I can. I was glad to finish with the guys."
Gladness couldn't obscure the pain.
"It was kind of crazy," Jones says, "but I was able to play through it."
We saw this high pain tolerance in the season opener against Illinois. An early injury left Jones writhing in agony, but after a brief trip to the locker room, he returned and helped lead the Hoosiers to a comeback victory
IU (3-5) could use another special Jones moment on Saturday.
One way or another, he'll be there.
"You have to find ways you can lead," he says. "You find different ways to connect with the guys, extra conversations, and extra film study. It helps them take their game to the next level. It's also helped improve my game."
With or without him, the Hoosiers face a formidable challenge on Saturday only a mentally focused team can handle.
Head coach Tom Allen insists he has such a team. He and his staff have used videos and information to get that point across.
"I know our minds are very, very powerful," Allen says. "I know seasons can get hard and frustrating when you play the schedule we play. You've got to find a way to win those close games and we haven't recently.
"It is frustrating. You find out who you can really count on, who you can depend on. Guys just keep fighting. We got a whole bunch of those guys on this team. You rely on that leadership.
"This is the fourth quarter of the season, our final four regular-season games. Our guys have got to respond to that. I expect them to."
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
FB: Aiden Fisher - at Iowa Postgame Press Conference (09/27/25)
Saturday, September 27
FB: Fernando Mendoza & Elijah Sarratt - at Iowa Postgame Press Conference (09/27/25)
Saturday, September 27
FB: Pat Coogan - at Iowa Postgame Press Conference (09/27/25)
Saturday, September 27
FB: Week 5 (at Iowa) - Curt Cignetti Post Game Press Conference
Saturday, September 27