Indiana University Athletics
'Something-To-Prove Guys' – IU Lands Balanced Recruiting Class
12/22/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tom Allen's quest to return Indiana to its winning football ways has reached recruiting signing day.
The head coach wants more depth on the offensive and defensive lines, longer and more athletic players, faster players, players who are physical and tough, players who can generate explosive plays on offense, stop them on defense.
Wednesday's 16-player early-signing-period class -- with five defensive backs, four offensive linemen, two receivers, two defensive linemen, one tight end, one kicker, and one quarterback -- is a big step in that direction.
"We're trying to emphasize length and athleticism," Allen says. "Speed is always going to be a variable we're trying to improve, and getting bigger, longer guys. It's always about fit for me. That will never change.
"This class is full of that. There's a lot of good balance."
It all fits the plan to get IU back to its 2019 and '20 success, when it went 14-6 and reached consecutive January bowl games.
"I want a big, physical team that's able to play the style we know we've got to play," Allen says. "Then also be able to play with tremendous speed.
"The speed part never goes away. I want to have that ability to run on defense, and make plays and recruit that speed on offense and be dynamic."
A dynamic offense is crucial for Allen, who would prefer yards come in big chunks rather than long, methodical drives.
"We have to create more explosive plays on offense, and eliminate those big plays on defense," he says.
Overall Allen says, this class excites him because, "They fit with us, and they're excited about being here. They've got a chip on their shoulders. They're something-to-prove guys."
Allen wants players who do the little things right away, who can overcome adversity and put in the work.
"They have to prove we made the right evaluation, that they were the right guys to help us continue to build our program."
The highest-rated signee is Texas kicker Nicolas Radicic. He's a five-star prospect. ESPN rates him as the nation's No. 4 kicker, while 247Sports lists him at No. 3.
"He's one of the best kickers in the country," Allen says. "He has that leg talent. He has to prove it here."
Allen has to replenish the quarterback room with Dexter Williams II coming off a season-ending knee injury, and veterans Connor Bazelak and Jack Tuttle transferring,
IU signed three-star prospect Broc Lowry out of Ohio. ESPN rates him as Ohio's top quarterback and the nation's No. 25 pocket passer. He led his high school team to a state championship in the fall.
"He's a tough, hard-nosed competitor," Allen says. "He's a winner. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He runs. He throws. He plays defense. Makes tackles.
"That's what caught my eye. I joked with him when we first started recruiting him that I loved his defensive film. He was coming down smoking folks. He loves to hit. He has that tough mentality."
Lowry, Williams, and Brendan Sorsby give IU three scholarship quarterbacks. Allen wants to add one more, likely through the transfer portal.
"An older one would be ideal," Allen says. "We're working through that process every day. It's never-ending. The goal is to have the guy in place for the second semester.
"Dexter had a very successful surgery. He's in the rehab process. He's working really hard to get back to full health."
Tyrik McDaniel is the No. 1 rated junior college safety and the No. 17 overall juco prospect by 247Sports. ESPN has him as the No. 4 safety. He also played for one season at Old Dominion. In high school, he helped Dutch Fork win four-straight South Carolina Class 5A state titles.
"There's something about his mindset," Allen says. "He brings a physicality to the safety position. He's big, can really run, and is a physical guy. He has a tremendous drive and passion to play in the Big Ten and prove who he is as a player and as a man."
Defensive back Jamier Johnson was once a four-star high school prospect in Texas. He played two seasons with the University of Texas, starting in one game and appearing in 17.
"I loved his length, his ability to play vision coverage, as well as some man," Allen says. "He has had experience in the Big 12, and that was big for us.
"We're trying to comb the country to find guys who give us a combination of length and speed and flexibility to do what we need to do in the back end, which is play multiple coverages."
Offensive lineman Austin Barrett is a three-star football prospect out of Illinois as well as rated one of the nation's top heavyweight wrestlers.
Allen, a former standout high school and college wrestler, is impressed.
"He's a big, long athlete who plays offensive tackle," Allen says. "I love that he's a wrestler. I love his toughness and attitude. He has a tremendously high ceiling."
Defensive back Amare Ferrell is rated as a four-star prospect out of Florida.
Tight end Sam West earned top-30 tight end recognition by ESPN and On3 even though he played quarterback his final two seasons at Greensburg Community High School in Indiana. He had nearly 3,500 total yards for his high school career, and totaled 39 touchdowns – 18 passing, 17 rushing, and four receiving. He also played on the defensive line.
Offensive lineman William Larkins is rated as the nation's No. 8 center by ESPN. His Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School won Class 3A state titles his final two seasons.
Defensive lineman Ta'Derius Collins brings the length and athleticism Allen wants. The 6-4 Collins played basketball as well as football.
"I love multi-sport guys," Allen says. "He is an edge guy you're looking for, a guy that can rush the passer.
Then there's Western Michigan transfer Andre Carter. The 6-4, 265-pounder earned All-Mid-American Conference honors last year.
"He's not just a big man, he's mature," Allen says. "He's done so many great things."
Ultimately, Allen says, he wants to play "complementary football" where the offense and defense help each other – the defense by forcing three-and-outs and getting takeaways, the offense by scoring points with a combination of explosive plays and well-executed drives.
"I don't think we did a good job of that last season, and it hurt us," Allen says. "We have to do that. It's being better fundamentally, and getting guys who are big and physical who can help us block and tackle better."
Allen says this is the first of three recruiting phases. The second one will focus on the transfer portal and kicks into high gear in early January. The final phase is recruiting more high school players.
With the college transfers, Allen says, the focus is on filling key spots and positions of need on offense and defense.
The head coach wants more depth on the offensive and defensive lines, longer and more athletic players, faster players, players who are physical and tough, players who can generate explosive plays on offense, stop them on defense.
Wednesday's 16-player early-signing-period class -- with five defensive backs, four offensive linemen, two receivers, two defensive linemen, one tight end, one kicker, and one quarterback -- is a big step in that direction.
"We're trying to emphasize length and athleticism," Allen says. "Speed is always going to be a variable we're trying to improve, and getting bigger, longer guys. It's always about fit for me. That will never change.
"This class is full of that. There's a lot of good balance."
It all fits the plan to get IU back to its 2019 and '20 success, when it went 14-6 and reached consecutive January bowl games.
"I want a big, physical team that's able to play the style we know we've got to play," Allen says. "Then also be able to play with tremendous speed.
"The speed part never goes away. I want to have that ability to run on defense, and make plays and recruit that speed on offense and be dynamic."
A dynamic offense is crucial for Allen, who would prefer yards come in big chunks rather than long, methodical drives.
"We have to create more explosive plays on offense, and eliminate those big plays on defense," he says.
Overall Allen says, this class excites him because, "They fit with us, and they're excited about being here. They've got a chip on their shoulders. They're something-to-prove guys."
Allen wants players who do the little things right away, who can overcome adversity and put in the work.
"They have to prove we made the right evaluation, that they were the right guys to help us continue to build our program."
The highest-rated signee is Texas kicker Nicolas Radicic. He's a five-star prospect. ESPN rates him as the nation's No. 4 kicker, while 247Sports lists him at No. 3.
"He's one of the best kickers in the country," Allen says. "He has that leg talent. He has to prove it here."
Allen has to replenish the quarterback room with Dexter Williams II coming off a season-ending knee injury, and veterans Connor Bazelak and Jack Tuttle transferring,
IU signed three-star prospect Broc Lowry out of Ohio. ESPN rates him as Ohio's top quarterback and the nation's No. 25 pocket passer. He led his high school team to a state championship in the fall.
"He's a tough, hard-nosed competitor," Allen says. "He's a winner. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He runs. He throws. He plays defense. Makes tackles.
"That's what caught my eye. I joked with him when we first started recruiting him that I loved his defensive film. He was coming down smoking folks. He loves to hit. He has that tough mentality."
Lowry, Williams, and Brendan Sorsby give IU three scholarship quarterbacks. Allen wants to add one more, likely through the transfer portal.
"An older one would be ideal," Allen says. "We're working through that process every day. It's never-ending. The goal is to have the guy in place for the second semester.
"Dexter had a very successful surgery. He's in the rehab process. He's working really hard to get back to full health."
Tyrik McDaniel is the No. 1 rated junior college safety and the No. 17 overall juco prospect by 247Sports. ESPN has him as the No. 4 safety. He also played for one season at Old Dominion. In high school, he helped Dutch Fork win four-straight South Carolina Class 5A state titles.
"There's something about his mindset," Allen says. "He brings a physicality to the safety position. He's big, can really run, and is a physical guy. He has a tremendous drive and passion to play in the Big Ten and prove who he is as a player and as a man."
Defensive back Jamier Johnson was once a four-star high school prospect in Texas. He played two seasons with the University of Texas, starting in one game and appearing in 17.
"I loved his length, his ability to play vision coverage, as well as some man," Allen says. "He has had experience in the Big 12, and that was big for us.
"We're trying to comb the country to find guys who give us a combination of length and speed and flexibility to do what we need to do in the back end, which is play multiple coverages."
Offensive lineman Austin Barrett is a three-star football prospect out of Illinois as well as rated one of the nation's top heavyweight wrestlers.
Allen, a former standout high school and college wrestler, is impressed.
"He's a big, long athlete who plays offensive tackle," Allen says. "I love that he's a wrestler. I love his toughness and attitude. He has a tremendously high ceiling."
Defensive back Amare Ferrell is rated as a four-star prospect out of Florida.
Tight end Sam West earned top-30 tight end recognition by ESPN and On3 even though he played quarterback his final two seasons at Greensburg Community High School in Indiana. He had nearly 3,500 total yards for his high school career, and totaled 39 touchdowns – 18 passing, 17 rushing, and four receiving. He also played on the defensive line.
Offensive lineman William Larkins is rated as the nation's No. 8 center by ESPN. His Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School won Class 3A state titles his final two seasons.
Defensive lineman Ta'Derius Collins brings the length and athleticism Allen wants. The 6-4 Collins played basketball as well as football.
"I love multi-sport guys," Allen says. "He is an edge guy you're looking for, a guy that can rush the passer.
Then there's Western Michigan transfer Andre Carter. The 6-4, 265-pounder earned All-Mid-American Conference honors last year.
"He's not just a big man, he's mature," Allen says. "He's done so many great things."
Ultimately, Allen says, he wants to play "complementary football" where the offense and defense help each other – the defense by forcing three-and-outs and getting takeaways, the offense by scoring points with a combination of explosive plays and well-executed drives.
"I don't think we did a good job of that last season, and it hurt us," Allen says. "We have to do that. It's being better fundamentally, and getting guys who are big and physical who can help us block and tackle better."
Allen says this is the first of three recruiting phases. The second one will focus on the transfer portal and kicks into high gear in early January. The final phase is recruiting more high school players.
With the college transfers, Allen says, the focus is on filling key spots and positions of need on offense and defense.
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