Indiana University Athletics
Recruiting Seeks to Adapt and Excel
2/14/2023 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Ever-increasing recruiting complexity has Tom Allen in pro-active mode. Indiana's head football coach has no choice in this transfer-portal, Name-Image-Likeness world.
There are plenty of good players -- high school and college transfers -- who fit Allen's Love Each Other style and who can help deliver difference-making victories.
The Hoosiers' quest -- find and develop them. That means adding creativity to the recruiting mix.
"We have to be tremendous evaluators and great developers," Allen says.
IU is implementing scouting divisions for high school and college players. With 1,200 college players entering the transfer portal on the Dec. 5 opening day (just two weeks from the first Signing Day), with coaches on the road recruiting high school players, IU needed a better way to handle it all.
Enter Steven Ruzic, who has been hired as assistant athletic director for recruiting. His job is to bring in new ideas and leadership, and to restructure the recruiting department so that the Hoosiers can "adapt to the new landscape that we're in," Allen says.
"We've got to keep getting better. We've done some good things. We've had some good recruiting classes, but we've got to continue to grow. We've got to find a more creative way. We've got to maximize the transfer portal in the best and most efficient way.
"I don't want it to be to where we rely on that, but there are good players out there that you can take advantage of."
Ruzic has an extensive recruiting background from his time at Auburn, North Carolina, Minnesota, Ole Miss, and UT Chattanooga.
He helped Auburn sign the country's No. 18 class. At North Carolina, he helped land the No. 9 class. He also helped Minnesota assemble a pair of top-40 classes, with similar results at Ole Miss and UT Chattanooga.
At IU, Ruzic will manage what has become a full-time job of evaluating players in the transfer portal as well as high school recruiting. Previously Allen and his assistant coaches divided up the transfer evaluations.
Allen says Ruzic's experience at multiple programs from different conferences gives him an evaluation edge.
"While we're getting ready for opponents each week (during the season), he's looking for players around the country that fit with us, that he has connections in the areas we've had recruiting success, and has those relationships already built. That's important."Â
Allen also is impressed with Ruzic's communication skills and ability to work well with others. That will, "help us with that one mission of finding the best players that fit us."
Ruzic is well versed in social media and marketing creativity. He understands maximizing technology and graphics. Allen wants to take that to another level.
As far as college transfers, Allen wants good players with high-level college experience, which doesn't necessarily mean Power 5 Conference backgrounds.
Defensive lineman Andre Carter, a Western Michigan transfer with a track record of sacking quarterbacks, is a good example.
"There are many young men who have had opportunities to be successful and now they're coming to Indiana to help us build our program," Allen says.
IU's 15-player transfer class is rated No. 8 nationally by 247Sports and the best in the Big Ten, and includes players from Clemson, Texas, Tennessee, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M. It's led by Tennessee quarterback Tayven Jackson.
Allen insists high school recruiting will not be de-emphasized, that it will remain, "A staple for who we are and what we do as a developmental program."
Still, when it comes to transfers, coaches have to quickly evaluate them, decide who to target, build relationships, and convince them to visit and sign.
There's also the NIL component where players can make money, sometimes a lot of money. That becomes a major part of the recruiting pitch.
"There are new complexities that make it more challenging," Allen says. "Bringing in a guy like Steve with his experience in this area helps us grow in that part of our recruiting. It's very important."
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There are plenty of good players -- high school and college transfers -- who fit Allen's Love Each Other style and who can help deliver difference-making victories.
The Hoosiers' quest -- find and develop them. That means adding creativity to the recruiting mix.
"We have to be tremendous evaluators and great developers," Allen says.
IU is implementing scouting divisions for high school and college players. With 1,200 college players entering the transfer portal on the Dec. 5 opening day (just two weeks from the first Signing Day), with coaches on the road recruiting high school players, IU needed a better way to handle it all.
Enter Steven Ruzic, who has been hired as assistant athletic director for recruiting. His job is to bring in new ideas and leadership, and to restructure the recruiting department so that the Hoosiers can "adapt to the new landscape that we're in," Allen says.
"We've got to keep getting better. We've done some good things. We've had some good recruiting classes, but we've got to continue to grow. We've got to find a more creative way. We've got to maximize the transfer portal in the best and most efficient way.
"I don't want it to be to where we rely on that, but there are good players out there that you can take advantage of."
Ruzic has an extensive recruiting background from his time at Auburn, North Carolina, Minnesota, Ole Miss, and UT Chattanooga.
He helped Auburn sign the country's No. 18 class. At North Carolina, he helped land the No. 9 class. He also helped Minnesota assemble a pair of top-40 classes, with similar results at Ole Miss and UT Chattanooga.
At IU, Ruzic will manage what has become a full-time job of evaluating players in the transfer portal as well as high school recruiting. Previously Allen and his assistant coaches divided up the transfer evaluations.
Allen says Ruzic's experience at multiple programs from different conferences gives him an evaluation edge.
"While we're getting ready for opponents each week (during the season), he's looking for players around the country that fit with us, that he has connections in the areas we've had recruiting success, and has those relationships already built. That's important."Â
Allen also is impressed with Ruzic's communication skills and ability to work well with others. That will, "help us with that one mission of finding the best players that fit us."
Ruzic is well versed in social media and marketing creativity. He understands maximizing technology and graphics. Allen wants to take that to another level.
As far as college transfers, Allen wants good players with high-level college experience, which doesn't necessarily mean Power 5 Conference backgrounds.
Defensive lineman Andre Carter, a Western Michigan transfer with a track record of sacking quarterbacks, is a good example.
"There are many young men who have had opportunities to be successful and now they're coming to Indiana to help us build our program," Allen says.
IU's 15-player transfer class is rated No. 8 nationally by 247Sports and the best in the Big Ten, and includes players from Clemson, Texas, Tennessee, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M. It's led by Tennessee quarterback Tayven Jackson.
Allen insists high school recruiting will not be de-emphasized, that it will remain, "A staple for who we are and what we do as a developmental program."
Still, when it comes to transfers, coaches have to quickly evaluate them, decide who to target, build relationships, and convince them to visit and sign.
There's also the NIL component where players can make money, sometimes a lot of money. That becomes a major part of the recruiting pitch.
"There are new complexities that make it more challenging," Allen says. "Bringing in a guy like Steve with his experience in this area helps us grow in that part of our recruiting. It's very important."
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