Indiana University Athletics
Spring Sessions: Transfers - 1/27/23
1/27/2023 1:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A trio of Indiana football newcomers spoke to the media on Friday (Jan. 27) inside Memorial Stadium, with defensive linemen Philip Blidi and Andre Cater, along with quarterback Tayven Jackson each taking time to answer questions.
Spring Sessions
Jaylin Lucas (1/14)
Tom Allen (1/22)
Bob Bostad (1/22)
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences, while video of the full media session can be in the links above this story or at IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Philip Blidi | Sr. | Defensive Line
On why he felt Indiana was a good fit for him...
PB: The defense that Indiana runs is the defense that best fits me and that can utilize my skill set. What is important outside of that is the coaches and how they really care about their players, how they really value relationships, too. Of course, you want to be somewhere that really cares about the players and really care about you outside of football. They are going to take care of you while you are here and outside [of football] when you have problems. They are coaches that are really there for you. ... From that aspect all of the coaches here really fit that, so that was really big for me.
On navigating the transition to a new place...
PB: That is something that I really thought about before getting into the portal. It is really hard not knowing - the unknown - and that anything can really happen. Going through the recruiting process again, I know a lot of the things I am looking for, so I could cut through all of the noise and smoke and stuff, to get to the point of what I want. Me [going] through this process the second time, I think that really helped this time around.
On how he feels he fits in the defensive scheme...
PB: Coach [Chad] Wilt's defense is the type of defense that really allows you to make plays. It puts you at different spots that really allow me to show my versatility. That is something I think can really utilize me as a versatile defensive tackle. It is really an attacking defense, and when you have an attacking defense there are going to be a lot of guys making TFLs, making sacks, interceptions, and really causing turnovers. That is something that really excites me about this defense, and that is something that is really going to be a big thing for me coming up this season, and for the defense, in general. If one guy is doing well, everybody is doing good. We feed off of each other, we set picks for each other to make plays, and I think that is exactly the defense we have going here.
Andre Carter | R-Sr.+ | Defensive Line
On what made Indiana a good fit for him...
AC: Honestly, what made this the place for me was just the trajectory that I could feel with the culture shift. When I came here on my visit, I could see that the guys in the locker room, and the staff, wants to get better and wants to compete for a Big Ten championship. That is the exact thing that I want to do myself. I want to compete at the highest level and compete for a Big Ten championship. With Coach Allen and this group of guys, I truly believe we can get it done.
On where the coaches talked about using you on defense...
AC: I will be playing defensive end and rushing the edge. They want to try to keep me on the edge as much as possible, as much as they can, but we will use myself as a high-level pass rusher. I feel like I am an every down player - first down, second down and third down. Coach Allen and Coach Randolph really want to see me rush the edge, so they most definitely want to keep me in the edge position or situation outside.
On how he has tried to take a leadership position in the locker room...
AC: I tried to start taking a leadership role or captains role as soon as I stepped on campus. Even on my official visit, I was trying to get to know guys and see where we were at in the defensive line room. The first day of workouts, I am leading the lines, breaking it down, running to the drills, being first and showing them how do it as an example. Just being a leader by example with my hard work. I am very excited about the group of guys, the group of men, that we have. All of them want to grow and want to be better and compete for a Big Ten championship. That is going to make it a lot easier to help everybody, not just the young guys or the older guys, but helping everyone be a leader and help them grow their leadership roles for their future career.
Tayven Jackson | R-Fr. | Quarterback
On where he feels he grew most during his first season in college...
TJ: I think, first of all, board work and film work, reading defenses and knowing what [coverage] defenses are in. Tennessee has shown me that not just on the field work is the definition of playing quarterback. Most quarterbacks in the league and quarterbacks at Tennessee right now, their board work and knowledge of the game is unreal. The coaches there really helped me out in my career already, just being a freshman, in that aspect. I think I can bring that [into our quarterback room at Indiana].
I think I learned how to be a better man and how to take care of business. I learned that this game in college is a business, and you have to bring it every single day, no matter what it is. You have to take it serious. It is a job. Bringing those two things here is going to help me a lot. Those are probably the biggest two [things I learned].
On why he chose Indiana...
TJ: Me and Coach Allen's relationship has been five-plus years, but we have had a relationship forever. Going in the portal and seeing the options, Indiana stuck out the most. That is because of Coach Allen's energy, the love that he has for the players, what he brings every single day - a loving culture.
I have been here for a week in the locker room, on the field doing field work, and everybody loves each other. Everybody looks out for each other, and everybody wants everyone to succeed. There is no jealousy ... the culture is fantastic. That is what I thought it was going to be coming in, and it's exactly what I thought. That was a huge part in making the decision to come here.
Obviously, it is home. It is 35 minutes away and my family doesn't have to drive a long way to see me. It just felt like the right choice. It was home and I kind of wanted to come back home.
On the reaction of his brother, Trayce Jackson-Davis, when he made his decision...
TJ: Well, first of all, he has been playing very good since I've committed here, so maybe I am a lucky charm. No, I am just kidding.
We've had conversations. Obviously, he is really old, he's like 23, so he won't be here for a long time, so he will be gone, and I am just starting here trying to build my own legacy. We've had conversations about what is the right fit and where he sees me playing the best I can play. He thought this was a great fit, my dad thought it was a great fit and my mom thought it was a great fit, so we just kind of made that decision.
Trayce loves this program, the people here and the program has done so much for him. It wasn't a hard decision for him to let me know his thoughts on this school. I kind of just listened to him and listened to my family. Most of all, I just wanted to make this decision on my own, too. Just taking in things from other people, but really just making the decision on my own.
Spring Sessions
Jaylin Lucas (1/14)
Tom Allen (1/22)
Bob Bostad (1/22)
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences, while video of the full media session can be in the links above this story or at IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Philip Blidi | Sr. | Defensive Line
On why he felt Indiana was a good fit for him...
PB: The defense that Indiana runs is the defense that best fits me and that can utilize my skill set. What is important outside of that is the coaches and how they really care about their players, how they really value relationships, too. Of course, you want to be somewhere that really cares about the players and really care about you outside of football. They are going to take care of you while you are here and outside [of football] when you have problems. They are coaches that are really there for you. ... From that aspect all of the coaches here really fit that, so that was really big for me.
On navigating the transition to a new place...
PB: That is something that I really thought about before getting into the portal. It is really hard not knowing - the unknown - and that anything can really happen. Going through the recruiting process again, I know a lot of the things I am looking for, so I could cut through all of the noise and smoke and stuff, to get to the point of what I want. Me [going] through this process the second time, I think that really helped this time around.
On how he feels he fits in the defensive scheme...
PB: Coach [Chad] Wilt's defense is the type of defense that really allows you to make plays. It puts you at different spots that really allow me to show my versatility. That is something I think can really utilize me as a versatile defensive tackle. It is really an attacking defense, and when you have an attacking defense there are going to be a lot of guys making TFLs, making sacks, interceptions, and really causing turnovers. That is something that really excites me about this defense, and that is something that is really going to be a big thing for me coming up this season, and for the defense, in general. If one guy is doing well, everybody is doing good. We feed off of each other, we set picks for each other to make plays, and I think that is exactly the defense we have going here.
Andre Carter | R-Sr.+ | Defensive Line
On what made Indiana a good fit for him...
AC: Honestly, what made this the place for me was just the trajectory that I could feel with the culture shift. When I came here on my visit, I could see that the guys in the locker room, and the staff, wants to get better and wants to compete for a Big Ten championship. That is the exact thing that I want to do myself. I want to compete at the highest level and compete for a Big Ten championship. With Coach Allen and this group of guys, I truly believe we can get it done.
On where the coaches talked about using you on defense...
AC: I will be playing defensive end and rushing the edge. They want to try to keep me on the edge as much as possible, as much as they can, but we will use myself as a high-level pass rusher. I feel like I am an every down player - first down, second down and third down. Coach Allen and Coach Randolph really want to see me rush the edge, so they most definitely want to keep me in the edge position or situation outside.
On how he has tried to take a leadership position in the locker room...
AC: I tried to start taking a leadership role or captains role as soon as I stepped on campus. Even on my official visit, I was trying to get to know guys and see where we were at in the defensive line room. The first day of workouts, I am leading the lines, breaking it down, running to the drills, being first and showing them how do it as an example. Just being a leader by example with my hard work. I am very excited about the group of guys, the group of men, that we have. All of them want to grow and want to be better and compete for a Big Ten championship. That is going to make it a lot easier to help everybody, not just the young guys or the older guys, but helping everyone be a leader and help them grow their leadership roles for their future career.
Tayven Jackson | R-Fr. | Quarterback
On where he feels he grew most during his first season in college...
TJ: I think, first of all, board work and film work, reading defenses and knowing what [coverage] defenses are in. Tennessee has shown me that not just on the field work is the definition of playing quarterback. Most quarterbacks in the league and quarterbacks at Tennessee right now, their board work and knowledge of the game is unreal. The coaches there really helped me out in my career already, just being a freshman, in that aspect. I think I can bring that [into our quarterback room at Indiana].
I think I learned how to be a better man and how to take care of business. I learned that this game in college is a business, and you have to bring it every single day, no matter what it is. You have to take it serious. It is a job. Bringing those two things here is going to help me a lot. Those are probably the biggest two [things I learned].
On why he chose Indiana...
TJ: Me and Coach Allen's relationship has been five-plus years, but we have had a relationship forever. Going in the portal and seeing the options, Indiana stuck out the most. That is because of Coach Allen's energy, the love that he has for the players, what he brings every single day - a loving culture.
I have been here for a week in the locker room, on the field doing field work, and everybody loves each other. Everybody looks out for each other, and everybody wants everyone to succeed. There is no jealousy ... the culture is fantastic. That is what I thought it was going to be coming in, and it's exactly what I thought. That was a huge part in making the decision to come here.
Obviously, it is home. It is 35 minutes away and my family doesn't have to drive a long way to see me. It just felt like the right choice. It was home and I kind of wanted to come back home.
On the reaction of his brother, Trayce Jackson-Davis, when he made his decision...
TJ: Well, first of all, he has been playing very good since I've committed here, so maybe I am a lucky charm. No, I am just kidding.
We've had conversations. Obviously, he is really old, he's like 23, so he won't be here for a long time, so he will be gone, and I am just starting here trying to build my own legacy. We've had conversations about what is the right fit and where he sees me playing the best I can play. He thought this was a great fit, my dad thought it was a great fit and my mom thought it was a great fit, so we just kind of made that decision.
Trayce loves this program, the people here and the program has done so much for him. It wasn't a hard decision for him to let me know his thoughts on this school. I kind of just listened to him and listened to my family. Most of all, I just wanted to make this decision on my own, too. Just taking in things from other people, but really just making the decision on my own.
Players Mentioned
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Big Ten Championship (Ohio State)
Wednesday, December 03
FB: Kaelon Black Media Availability (12/2/25)
Tuesday, December 02
FB: Roman Hemby Media Availability (12/2/25)
Tuesday, December 02
FB: Isaiah Jones Media Availability (12/2/25)
Tuesday, December 02