Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Aim for 'Special' 2022 Season
8/1/2022 3:00:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – This is why Tom Allen coaches.
To work with players such as Cam Jones, Taiwan Mullen, and AJ Barner.
To impact lives in ways far beyond what happens on Saturday afternoons.
Oh, yes. To show that the misery of 2021 will lead to a season of redemption and victories.
Lots of victories.
"We've got a great opportunity to be able to build upon the traditions we have in our program," Allen says via Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis. "To have a chance to take the field in 2022 after a tough 2021 and have a group of young men come together and do something special."
"Special" begins with Tuesday's fall camp practice opener. There's much to consider, and Allen considers all of it.
"The opportunity to impact the lives of the individuals in our community and our players is what draws me to do what I do."
A pause.
"I love this team."
There's plenty to love.
Consider receiver D.J. Matthews Jr. made the preseason Paul Hornung Award watch list. It's given to the nation's most versatile player.
Matthews played four games last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He caught 13 passes for 165 yards, returned four punts for 83 yards (including a touchdown), and ran twice for 28 yards and a TD.
Consider quarterback Jack Tuttle made the Wuerffel Trophy watch list. The award honors college football athletes who serve others while thriving on the football field.
And consider Jones, Mullen, and Barner, who accompanied Allen to Indianapolis amid the Big Ten gathering.
"(Jones) is a young man who brings a lot of great qualities to our team," Allen says, "and allows us to be the kind of program I want us to be on the field, off the field, and in the classroom.
"I think about Tiawan Mullen, first team All-American (cornerback), first team all-conference. He came to Indiana with a vision and a mission to help us change our program.
"AJ Barner has been in the (IU tight end) shadows of Peyton Hendershot, All-Big Ten tight end the last couple of years. This is his opportunity to show who he is on the field. I love his leadership.
"All three of those young men are All-Big Ten academically, in the classroom. They're excellent human beings off the field, involved in community service and doing all they can do to help make our program really special."
In the end, of course, this is about winning. IU went 8-5 in 2019 and 6-2 in 2020, and seemed on the cusp of greatness.
Last year showed greatness is never guaranteed. It's always -- always -- about what happens next.
"When I think about the evaluation process we went through as a program," Allen says, "and I think about the standard that we set in 2019 by breaking through and I think about the historic season we had in 2020, but I also understand that sometimes things don't go the way you want them to go.
"When you experience that, you get a chance to find out who you are and what foundation that you have."
It begins Friday, Sept. 2, against Illinois.
*****
Forget quarterback rotations. Allen is a one-starting quarterback guy (think Michael Penix Jr. and Peyton Ramsey), and that's not changing with Tuttle and Connor Bazelak leading the competition.
Bazelak, who gained recent social media acclaim by draining 10-straight three-point shots via video confirmation, threw for 5,084 yards and 23 touchdowns in 24 games at Missouri.
Tuttle has thrown for 819 yards and four touchdowns in 14 career games.
Both will have the first couple of weeks of fall camp to make their starting case.
"We will go through this process of evaluating our guys," Allen says. "I will say by design we came out of spring football and felt like there wasn't a clear guy to name, so we didn't do that. But I love the competition piece to the process and to be able to have to prove it every day all summer long now into fall camp.
"Obviously, we'll have a starter named before the opener, but the bottom line is that, once that person is named, he'll be the starter. Not expecting a dual situation."
Still, given the rash of quarterback injuries that hit the program last season, Allen takes no chances.
"We learned up close and personal that things happen, injuries happen, and you'd better have more than one guy that's going to be able to be your starting quarterback. I feel like we have that with several individuals."
That includes Dexter Williams II and Grant Gremel (who started last season's Purdue game).
New offensive coordinator Walt Bell's new offense doesn't alter Allen's expectation for the position.
"Any time you make those changes," he says, "there's the learning curve. Basically, everybody started on the same point.
"There are some common things you're looking for. Last year was a great reminder of the value of protecting the football (IU quarterbacks threw 15 interceptions). It's such a huge part of our game. We all understand the value of the turnover ratio and how that's such a big part of winning games. That quarterback touches it every snap, so protecting that football is a huge priority."
After that, Allen says, "It's about having a great mastery of the offense and where to distribute the football to the right players per the scheme that we're having and per the call. I want to find a guy that's able to do both of those at a high level."
Leadership is another key.
"You've got to win that locker room," Allen says. "That's what it comes down to.
"Even though nobody really huddles anymore, when you talk about the idea of stepping in the huddle, no matter how much time is on the clock, if that guy is in that huddle, we know we've got a chance to win with him as our leader. That's what I want our team to feel from that guy."
*****
Losing All-America linebacker Micah McFadden to graduation and then the NFL (he's battling for a position with the New York Giants) is offset by the return of Jones and Aaron Casey, and the addition of transfer linebackers Jared Casey from Kentucky and Bradley Jennings Jr. of Miami.
The 6-3, 222-pound Jones, a team captain last season, has 154 total tackles with six sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in his career.
Aaron Casey has 45 career tackles.
The result – Allen is optimistic linebacker will be a defensive strength.
"Micah was special. It was obvious on the field. He was a tremendous young man off the field. Love him and his family. Excited for his new opportunity with the Giants.
"That is a void that Cam Jones has responded to in a huge way, (including) the leadership piece in that linebacker room. I'm a former linebacker and coach the position. I played the position. You're only as good as your linebackers and your defense.
"Cam is going to be a big part of it. He's an All-Big Ten linebacker that's going to be voted as a three-time captain this fall. That's really special. Doesn't happen very often.
"I think Aaron Casey, another young man that's going to step up and do great things for us this season because of his work ethic and his passion for our program and for himself to be able to be his very, very best."
Allen says Jennings (68 career tackles) and Jared Casey give IU "Two Big Ten-caliber players that have already played the position at other schools. That excites me because that position is big for us."
Better linebacker play is crucial to IU's success," Allen says.
"That's a room to me that's critical for our team to be able to play at a high level defensively. I always evaluate our linebackers by two key things. You've got to be a leader, and you've got to produce. It's about leadership and production. That's what that position demands, and that's what I expect those guys to do."
*****
Donaven McCulley's move from quarterback to wide receiver comes with this consideration -- he'll still get a chance to run the offense.
Dual-threat guys put too much stress on defenses to ignore, and McCulley provides plenty of run-pass threat at 6-5 and 210 pounds. Allen and Bell plan to take full advantage.
"We'll still have packages for him in that opportunity because of his skill set," Allen says. "It's all about getting your best players on the field."
McCulley was recruited out of Indianapolis as a quarterback, and got his baptism of fire as a true freshmen last season when veterans Tuttle and Penix were injured.
Add an inconsistent offensive line and depleted running back and receiver corps, and McCulley struggled. He finished with 135 rushing yards, and completed 35-of-82 passes for 475 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
With Tuttle and Bazelak around, moving to receiver seemed the fastest way to significant playing time.
"He's responded well," Allen says. "He came to me. He wanted to do this. We had a great talk together about that. He's a highly competitive young man and one of the best athletes on our team. He wants to be on the field. He wants to be playing. He wants to be involved in special teams and have those opportunities."
McCulley's receiving inexperience will benefit from veteran receivers coach Adam Henry, whose 25-year coaching background includes 12 NFL seasons.
"He's got a big, athletic frame," Allen says, "but there's obviously a learning curve to be able to grow. Coach Henry is taking him under his wing."
Allen is well aware of how Henry, who has coached NFL Pro Bowlers Odell Beckham Jr., Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Anquan Boldin, Jarvis Landry, and Zach Miller, can accelerate learning curves.
"His NFL experience is tremendous. We coached against each other. I was at Ole Miss. He was at LSU in those three years. We battled against each other there. Just a ton of respect for what he brings.
"His whole coaching style and philosophy, just the way he handles our players. I think Donaven's responded very, very well to him. I'm excited to see him have this new opportunity and be able to help our team be more explosive on offense and win games."
******
For the fourth time in Allen's six-year head coaching run, the Hoosiers will open their season with a Big Ten opponent. This time, it's Illinois.
They are 1-2 previously, losing to Ohio State and Iowa, and beating Penn State.
Allen says IU is "blessed" to have the opportunity.
"I feel like it's become a new tradition for us to be able to start the season with a Big Ten opponent. I think it's become a great, great thing for the Indiana Hoosiers."
*****
Injuries have ended the careers of David Ellis and Deland McCullough II.
Ellis played at running back, receiver, and kick returner. As a freshman, he caught 16 passes for 173 yards, ran for 53 yards and a touchdown, and returned 28 kickoffs for 579 yards. As a sophomore, he ran for 61 yards and caught 11 passes for 137 yards. An injury limited him to three games last season.
"There have been some longstanding challenges for both of those young men with injuries and to get to that point," Allen says.
"I'm disappointed for both of them. I met with them many times and communicated with their families through that process.
"That's just a tough decision you have to come to, but it's a medical decision that we as a coaching staff are not a part of. It's always about the health and welfare of our guys and thinking about their long-term health and not have long-term issues.
"I respect those guys. Proud of them. Appreciate them. They'll stay with us in a different capacity until they graduate."
*****
Last season's 2-10 record didn't impress Big Ten media, which picked IU to finish last in the East division.
The Hoosiers' response -- prove them wrong.
Allen calls it a motivator, saying last year IU was picked to finish near the division top.
"It didn't work out that way," he said.
"I get it. We earned (last-place status). That's part of the process you go through. Our team understands that we've got a chip on our shoulder and something to prove."
Preseason predictions are meaningless for a team driven to duplicate 2020's 6-2 success.
"It's about September 2nd," Allen says. "That's our focus. That's all we're worried about. We talk about earmuffs and blinders in our program. That's part of it."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – This is why Tom Allen coaches.
To work with players such as Cam Jones, Taiwan Mullen, and AJ Barner.
To impact lives in ways far beyond what happens on Saturday afternoons.
Oh, yes. To show that the misery of 2021 will lead to a season of redemption and victories.
Lots of victories.
"We've got a great opportunity to be able to build upon the traditions we have in our program," Allen says via Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis. "To have a chance to take the field in 2022 after a tough 2021 and have a group of young men come together and do something special."
"Special" begins with Tuesday's fall camp practice opener. There's much to consider, and Allen considers all of it.
"The opportunity to impact the lives of the individuals in our community and our players is what draws me to do what I do."
A pause.
"I love this team."
There's plenty to love.
Consider receiver D.J. Matthews Jr. made the preseason Paul Hornung Award watch list. It's given to the nation's most versatile player.
Matthews played four games last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He caught 13 passes for 165 yards, returned four punts for 83 yards (including a touchdown), and ran twice for 28 yards and a TD.
Consider quarterback Jack Tuttle made the Wuerffel Trophy watch list. The award honors college football athletes who serve others while thriving on the football field.
And consider Jones, Mullen, and Barner, who accompanied Allen to Indianapolis amid the Big Ten gathering.
"(Jones) is a young man who brings a lot of great qualities to our team," Allen says, "and allows us to be the kind of program I want us to be on the field, off the field, and in the classroom.
"I think about Tiawan Mullen, first team All-American (cornerback), first team all-conference. He came to Indiana with a vision and a mission to help us change our program.
"AJ Barner has been in the (IU tight end) shadows of Peyton Hendershot, All-Big Ten tight end the last couple of years. This is his opportunity to show who he is on the field. I love his leadership.
"All three of those young men are All-Big Ten academically, in the classroom. They're excellent human beings off the field, involved in community service and doing all they can do to help make our program really special."
In the end, of course, this is about winning. IU went 8-5 in 2019 and 6-2 in 2020, and seemed on the cusp of greatness.
Last year showed greatness is never guaranteed. It's always -- always -- about what happens next.
"When I think about the evaluation process we went through as a program," Allen says, "and I think about the standard that we set in 2019 by breaking through and I think about the historic season we had in 2020, but I also understand that sometimes things don't go the way you want them to go.
"When you experience that, you get a chance to find out who you are and what foundation that you have."
It begins Friday, Sept. 2, against Illinois.
*****
Forget quarterback rotations. Allen is a one-starting quarterback guy (think Michael Penix Jr. and Peyton Ramsey), and that's not changing with Tuttle and Connor Bazelak leading the competition.
Bazelak, who gained recent social media acclaim by draining 10-straight three-point shots via video confirmation, threw for 5,084 yards and 23 touchdowns in 24 games at Missouri.
Tuttle has thrown for 819 yards and four touchdowns in 14 career games.
Both will have the first couple of weeks of fall camp to make their starting case.
"We will go through this process of evaluating our guys," Allen says. "I will say by design we came out of spring football and felt like there wasn't a clear guy to name, so we didn't do that. But I love the competition piece to the process and to be able to have to prove it every day all summer long now into fall camp.
"Obviously, we'll have a starter named before the opener, but the bottom line is that, once that person is named, he'll be the starter. Not expecting a dual situation."
Still, given the rash of quarterback injuries that hit the program last season, Allen takes no chances.
"We learned up close and personal that things happen, injuries happen, and you'd better have more than one guy that's going to be able to be your starting quarterback. I feel like we have that with several individuals."
That includes Dexter Williams II and Grant Gremel (who started last season's Purdue game).
New offensive coordinator Walt Bell's new offense doesn't alter Allen's expectation for the position.
"Any time you make those changes," he says, "there's the learning curve. Basically, everybody started on the same point.
"There are some common things you're looking for. Last year was a great reminder of the value of protecting the football (IU quarterbacks threw 15 interceptions). It's such a huge part of our game. We all understand the value of the turnover ratio and how that's such a big part of winning games. That quarterback touches it every snap, so protecting that football is a huge priority."
After that, Allen says, "It's about having a great mastery of the offense and where to distribute the football to the right players per the scheme that we're having and per the call. I want to find a guy that's able to do both of those at a high level."
Leadership is another key.
"You've got to win that locker room," Allen says. "That's what it comes down to.
"Even though nobody really huddles anymore, when you talk about the idea of stepping in the huddle, no matter how much time is on the clock, if that guy is in that huddle, we know we've got a chance to win with him as our leader. That's what I want our team to feel from that guy."
*****
Losing All-America linebacker Micah McFadden to graduation and then the NFL (he's battling for a position with the New York Giants) is offset by the return of Jones and Aaron Casey, and the addition of transfer linebackers Jared Casey from Kentucky and Bradley Jennings Jr. of Miami.
The 6-3, 222-pound Jones, a team captain last season, has 154 total tackles with six sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in his career.
Aaron Casey has 45 career tackles.
The result – Allen is optimistic linebacker will be a defensive strength.
"Micah was special. It was obvious on the field. He was a tremendous young man off the field. Love him and his family. Excited for his new opportunity with the Giants.
"That is a void that Cam Jones has responded to in a huge way, (including) the leadership piece in that linebacker room. I'm a former linebacker and coach the position. I played the position. You're only as good as your linebackers and your defense.
"Cam is going to be a big part of it. He's an All-Big Ten linebacker that's going to be voted as a three-time captain this fall. That's really special. Doesn't happen very often.
"I think Aaron Casey, another young man that's going to step up and do great things for us this season because of his work ethic and his passion for our program and for himself to be able to be his very, very best."
Allen says Jennings (68 career tackles) and Jared Casey give IU "Two Big Ten-caliber players that have already played the position at other schools. That excites me because that position is big for us."
Better linebacker play is crucial to IU's success," Allen says.
"That's a room to me that's critical for our team to be able to play at a high level defensively. I always evaluate our linebackers by two key things. You've got to be a leader, and you've got to produce. It's about leadership and production. That's what that position demands, and that's what I expect those guys to do."
*****
Donaven McCulley's move from quarterback to wide receiver comes with this consideration -- he'll still get a chance to run the offense.
Dual-threat guys put too much stress on defenses to ignore, and McCulley provides plenty of run-pass threat at 6-5 and 210 pounds. Allen and Bell plan to take full advantage.
"We'll still have packages for him in that opportunity because of his skill set," Allen says. "It's all about getting your best players on the field."
McCulley was recruited out of Indianapolis as a quarterback, and got his baptism of fire as a true freshmen last season when veterans Tuttle and Penix were injured.
Add an inconsistent offensive line and depleted running back and receiver corps, and McCulley struggled. He finished with 135 rushing yards, and completed 35-of-82 passes for 475 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
With Tuttle and Bazelak around, moving to receiver seemed the fastest way to significant playing time.
"He's responded well," Allen says. "He came to me. He wanted to do this. We had a great talk together about that. He's a highly competitive young man and one of the best athletes on our team. He wants to be on the field. He wants to be playing. He wants to be involved in special teams and have those opportunities."
McCulley's receiving inexperience will benefit from veteran receivers coach Adam Henry, whose 25-year coaching background includes 12 NFL seasons.
"He's got a big, athletic frame," Allen says, "but there's obviously a learning curve to be able to grow. Coach Henry is taking him under his wing."
Allen is well aware of how Henry, who has coached NFL Pro Bowlers Odell Beckham Jr., Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Anquan Boldin, Jarvis Landry, and Zach Miller, can accelerate learning curves.
"His NFL experience is tremendous. We coached against each other. I was at Ole Miss. He was at LSU in those three years. We battled against each other there. Just a ton of respect for what he brings.
"His whole coaching style and philosophy, just the way he handles our players. I think Donaven's responded very, very well to him. I'm excited to see him have this new opportunity and be able to help our team be more explosive on offense and win games."
******
For the fourth time in Allen's six-year head coaching run, the Hoosiers will open their season with a Big Ten opponent. This time, it's Illinois.
They are 1-2 previously, losing to Ohio State and Iowa, and beating Penn State.
Allen says IU is "blessed" to have the opportunity.
"I feel like it's become a new tradition for us to be able to start the season with a Big Ten opponent. I think it's become a great, great thing for the Indiana Hoosiers."
*****
Injuries have ended the careers of David Ellis and Deland McCullough II.
Ellis played at running back, receiver, and kick returner. As a freshman, he caught 16 passes for 173 yards, ran for 53 yards and a touchdown, and returned 28 kickoffs for 579 yards. As a sophomore, he ran for 61 yards and caught 11 passes for 137 yards. An injury limited him to three games last season.
"There have been some longstanding challenges for both of those young men with injuries and to get to that point," Allen says.
"I'm disappointed for both of them. I met with them many times and communicated with their families through that process.
"That's just a tough decision you have to come to, but it's a medical decision that we as a coaching staff are not a part of. It's always about the health and welfare of our guys and thinking about their long-term health and not have long-term issues.
"I respect those guys. Proud of them. Appreciate them. They'll stay with us in a different capacity until they graduate."
*****
Last season's 2-10 record didn't impress Big Ten media, which picked IU to finish last in the East division.
The Hoosiers' response -- prove them wrong.
Allen calls it a motivator, saying last year IU was picked to finish near the division top.
"It didn't work out that way," he said.
"I get it. We earned (last-place status). That's part of the process you go through. Our team understands that we've got a chip on our shoulder and something to prove."
Preseason predictions are meaningless for a team driven to duplicate 2020's 6-2 success.
"It's about September 2nd," Allen says. "That's our focus. That's all we're worried about. We talk about earmuffs and blinders in our program. That's part of it."
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