Indiana University Athletics
Spring Ball Chatter: Barner & Williams
4/12/2022 12:47:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana football student-athletes AJ Barner and Jaylin Williams met with the media on Tuesday (April 12) to give an update on spring practice.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference and video of the full media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
AJ Barner | TE | Jr.
On what he learned from Peyton Hendershot over the last two seasons...
AB: Learning from Peyton [Hendershot] was a great opportunity. He is a guy that was a consistent All-Big Ten tight end. Honestly, the big thing for me was just competing with him every day. In winter workouts or in practice, I was always trying to not only learn from him but compete with him. I was trying to push myself to be a great player like he is. Also, off the field, just being a leader. With him not being in the room any more, I feel like I am taking over that leadership role. I feel like he established a culture in the room where everyone knows their role.
On how he has stepped into that leadership role...
AB: I feel like I have always been in that leadership role, in high school and whatnot. Without Peyton here, it is going to be vital to be more vocal. When you are not taking the first team reps, it's more difficult to step in and hold other starters accountable, but without him being here and in that role, it is up to me to point everyone in the right direction, whether it is off the field, in workouts on the field, and using my experience to teach them how to run a route better.
On how his game has evolved in the offseason...
AB: Honestly, I would say I have matured moreso in the run game [blocking] in the offseason. I had to get in the weight room and train my legs to be able to move bodies in there. Footwork, honestly, too. I think anyone can be a good blocker, it is just about if you want to block. I understand that if you want the ball, you have to be able to block first. It is something I take pride in, and I am excited to open holes for Shaun [Shivers], Josh [Henderson], Jaylin [Lucas], David [Holloman] and all the great running backs we have, [Charlie] Spegal. All those guys are stepping up and making a lot of plays and I am happy to open up holes for them.
Jaylin Williams | CB | Sr.+
On his decision to come back for his final season...
JW: I just felt like I wasn't done. It is not in me to just run away from the grind. Coming off the season that we had, that just gave me even more reason to stay. It made me want to stay even more. I am not done here with my time at IU. I just want to show the world what we can do.
On matching up with the new receivers at practice...
JW: I love it. I feel like they make me better and that I am making them better. Overall, it just helps the team. Overall, I am glad that they chose IU, and they chose to come make our team better.
On rebuilding the culture of the program after last season...
JW: It is important that everyone was on the same page and that we all had the confidence within ourselves and within the team that we could go out there and execute the way we can. To me, I feel like the best teams are player led and we just have to instill that. I think that is one thing that is changing this year from last year. In the past, we all held each other accountable. It wasn't on the coaches to do that. It was on the players; it was on us. That is one thing, for me, about becoming more of a leader and not only holding myself accountable, but everybody else too.
On what he has told the new cornerbacks in the room...
JW: Just [teaching] them how to stay focused and how to learn the playbook. Telling them not to overthink and just be confident in yourself and your abilities. You are going to mess up. Nobody's perfect, so just take the opportunity when you mess up as a learning experience and don't just look at it as a mistake. Everybody makes mistakes.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference and video of the full media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
AJ Barner | TE | Jr.
On what he learned from Peyton Hendershot over the last two seasons...
AB: Learning from Peyton [Hendershot] was a great opportunity. He is a guy that was a consistent All-Big Ten tight end. Honestly, the big thing for me was just competing with him every day. In winter workouts or in practice, I was always trying to not only learn from him but compete with him. I was trying to push myself to be a great player like he is. Also, off the field, just being a leader. With him not being in the room any more, I feel like I am taking over that leadership role. I feel like he established a culture in the room where everyone knows their role.
On how he has stepped into that leadership role...
AB: I feel like I have always been in that leadership role, in high school and whatnot. Without Peyton here, it is going to be vital to be more vocal. When you are not taking the first team reps, it's more difficult to step in and hold other starters accountable, but without him being here and in that role, it is up to me to point everyone in the right direction, whether it is off the field, in workouts on the field, and using my experience to teach them how to run a route better.
On how his game has evolved in the offseason...
AB: Honestly, I would say I have matured moreso in the run game [blocking] in the offseason. I had to get in the weight room and train my legs to be able to move bodies in there. Footwork, honestly, too. I think anyone can be a good blocker, it is just about if you want to block. I understand that if you want the ball, you have to be able to block first. It is something I take pride in, and I am excited to open holes for Shaun [Shivers], Josh [Henderson], Jaylin [Lucas], David [Holloman] and all the great running backs we have, [Charlie] Spegal. All those guys are stepping up and making a lot of plays and I am happy to open up holes for them.
Jaylin Williams | CB | Sr.+
On his decision to come back for his final season...
JW: I just felt like I wasn't done. It is not in me to just run away from the grind. Coming off the season that we had, that just gave me even more reason to stay. It made me want to stay even more. I am not done here with my time at IU. I just want to show the world what we can do.
On matching up with the new receivers at practice...
JW: I love it. I feel like they make me better and that I am making them better. Overall, it just helps the team. Overall, I am glad that they chose IU, and they chose to come make our team better.
On rebuilding the culture of the program after last season...
JW: It is important that everyone was on the same page and that we all had the confidence within ourselves and within the team that we could go out there and execute the way we can. To me, I feel like the best teams are player led and we just have to instill that. I think that is one thing that is changing this year from last year. In the past, we all held each other accountable. It wasn't on the coaches to do that. It was on the players; it was on us. That is one thing, for me, about becoming more of a leader and not only holding myself accountable, but everybody else too.
On what he has told the new cornerbacks in the room...
JW: Just [teaching] them how to stay focused and how to learn the playbook. Telling them not to overthink and just be confident in yourself and your abilities. You are going to mess up. Nobody's perfect, so just take the opportunity when you mess up as a learning experience and don't just look at it as a mistake. Everybody makes mistakes.
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