Progress Made -- IU Wraps Up Spring Football
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - It was a time for playmakers, for competitors, for those who understood, under a cloudless blue sky at Memorial Stadium, that Indiana football is building for a special 2023 season.
Four-plus months away from the September season opener against Ohio State, the Hoosiers delivered a Saturday spring football finale rich in potential.
“We had a very good spring,” head coach Tom Allen said. “I’m excited about the work we got in, the individual things, technique, things we’ve got to get better.
“We made progress. I really wanted to develop our toughness as a team. That was a huge priority.”
Brendan Sorsby and Tayven Jackson continued a starting quarterback battle that will last until fall camp. Allen said a starter won’t be named until then.
“We’ll talk to them and tell them exactly where they are if we would play a game tomorrow,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of work ahead of them. The summer is huge. Fall camp is massive.
“We’ve got two talented quarterbacks. They can both throw it and run it. A big part of what we want to do is take advantage of their skill sets. We want to maximize our running game and throwing game.
“The bottom line is, who is able to do that at the highest level, protect the ball, and move the team down the field.”
Offensively on Saturday, receivers made their marks, from Donaven McCulley’s diving one-hand sideline catch to Andison Coby tough catches in traffic to E.J. Williams showing difference-making potential to Camden Jordan soaring high for a touchdown catch to Eli Jochem breaking free for a long touchdown catch and run.
Running back David Holloman mixed some big runs with receiving plays en route to winning most improved spring offensive player accolades along with Williams and tight end Aaron Steinfeldt.
Running back Jaylin Lucas displayed his typical elusiveness while winning most outstanding spring offensive player.
Saturday displayed a simplistic offensive game plan that didn’t reveal what the offense will really look like this fall. Still, it showed IU’s emphasis on ramping up the run that will include heavy doses of returning veterans Lucas and Josh Henderson, plus Christian Turner, a Wake Forest transfer who was hurt for some of the spring.
“We want to maximize that running back room,” Allen said. “Jaylin has a unique skill set we’ll have at our disposal. He’ll be a critical part. I’m encouraged by what we can do with our guys.
“We have talented receivers on the outside. We have good slot receivers. You saw some of it (Saturday), what the receivers can do.
“We know what Jaylin can do. Josh is a special back. Christian didn’t get to practice much, we wanted to keep him healthy, but he’s a very talented player. I like that room a lot.
“We have to run the ball. We have to run effectively for our defense, for our offense, for late in the game, for our team. It’s a huge emphasis.”
On defense, linebacker Lanell Carr and defensive lineman Andre Carter blew up several plays. Safety Phillip Dunham broke up a pass in the end zone. Cornerback Jamier Johnson intercepted a pass in the end zone.
Most outstanding defensive player recognition went to Carter and husky Noah Pierre. Most improved defensive player honors went to safety Louis Moore.
“Andre Carter has been the MVP of the defense with Noah Pierre,” Allen said. “Andre is that way every day. He’s 270 pounds. He’s the biggest and most physical one we’ve had since I’ve been here. He’s very disruptive. We’ve got to get him in elite shape. He’s not there yet.
“I’m excited about him. He’s a great kid. He’s bought into everything we’re all about here. You can see what he can do. He’s a good player. He will have a chance to prove he belongs in the Big Ten.”
Improved offensive line play was a huge spring priority under new offensive line coach Bob Bostad. Allen is optimistic about what the line will do with veterans such as Matthew Bedford, Mike Katic, Zach Carpenter, Kahlil Benson, and Joshua Sales Jr., plus Massachusetts transfer Max Longman, and redshirt freshmen Bray Lynch and Carter Smith.
“I love what I see,” Allen says. “The cumulative effect of all the work, the reps, the physicality, over and over.
“I think Benson made the most growth. Zach was having a great spring until he got a leg injury.
“Max Longman will have a chance to help us. Mike Katic adapted to a new coach and elevated his game. I challenged Josh Sales to step up. I believe he can. We expect Carter Smith to compete to start. We need our young guys to keep developing.”
Don’t under-estimate the impact of Bostad, who has decades of offensive line coaching experience at the college and NFL levels.
“I love Coach Bostad’s approach,” Allen said. “He’s a no-nonsense guy. He doesn’t smile a lot. That’s okay. He doesn’t crack many jokes.
“He’s all ball, all business. Our guys understand that. Our guys appreciate his approach. I think we’ll be a lot better because of it.”
Allen ended Saturday’s event by mentioning the Ohio State opener. It’s the second time the Hoosiers will start a season against the Buckeyes under Allen. In the 2017 game, IU led in the third quarter before fading.
“We didn’t finish,” Allen said.
This summer and fall are designed to ensure that won’t happen again.
“It will all be fourth-quarter driven,” Allen said. “It’s all about how will we finish from a physical perspective. We want to dominate our opponent in those situations. Win those third downs, win those critical downs."