‘Just Want To Win’ -- Asbury’s Hoosier Time Is Now
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Sometimes, if you’re Shawn Asbury II, it’s all about timing, all about making the most of an opportunity, whether it’s his Nebraska momentum killing third-quarter interception that twice generated post-game praise from head coach Curt Cignetti, or with third-time’s-the-charm decision making that finally paired the two on the same team.
The bottom line - Asbury is a Hoosier senior safety for one over-riding reason.
“I just want to win,” he says.
Asbury came to the right place in this rock-the-college-world Hoosier season -- rocking resumes Saturday against Washington (4-3) at Memorial Stadium featuring ESPN’s College GameDay -- and if he took the long way to becoming a Cignetti player with stops at Boston College and Old Dominion before choosing the Hoosiers, no one is complaining.
Does IU’s 7-0 record and No. 13 national ranking validate his decision?
“No, I wouldn't say it validated anything,” Asbury says. “We just want to keep winning. We want to keep going and try to win every game from a defensive perspective.”
Asbury delivers a big perspective in his first IU season. He ranks third on the team with 37 tackles. He has 2.5 tackles for loss, that 78-yard interception return against Nebraska, plus two pass breakups.
This is a follow-up to last year’s breakthrough at Old Dominion, when he totaled 93 tackles, including six for losses, plus an interception, to earn honorable-mention All-Sun Belt honors.
An all-state football selection at North Stafford High School in Virginia, he also lettered three seasons in basketball.
That got Asbury recruiting attention from Cignetti at James Madison, but nothing came of it right away. Asbury spent a season at Boston College and two at Old Dominion before deciding to join the Hoosiers.
What was Cignetti’s transfer portal recruiting message that finally sold him?
“I don't really think he had a message,” Asbury says. “I knew him from high school. I visited (James Madison) and he recruited me in high school and when I entered the portal the first time. It wasn't really much he had to do to kind of get me here.”
Asbury was an anchor in the revamped secondary that throttled Nebraska. While he stayed at safety, Amare Ferrell went from rover to strong safety with Terry Jones Jr. breaking into the starting lineup for the first time as a Hoosier at rover.
Those changes came after defensive breakdowns against a previously struggling Northwestern offense led to bye week evaluations and lineup alterations.
The result -- IU forced five turnovers and held Nebraska to 4.05 yards per play.
“I liked the way that he played out,” Cignetti says.
Adds Asbury: “It definitely helped. We looked at the plays we messed up and looked at different rotations and packages and to find the best fit.”
Jones, also an Old Dominion transfer coming off an honorable-mention All-Sun Belt Conference season, was a strong fit against Nebraska with four quarterback pressures, one sack and four tackles, plus aggressive pass coverage.
Jones totaled 241 tackles while playing in 40 games with 26 starts for Old Dominion, yet he was a Hoosier reserve until the Nebraska opportunity.
He and Asbury quickly regained the chemistry they’d had at Old Dominion, when they were the starting safeties for two seasons that included a bowl game.
“It was easy,” Asbury says. “He’s one of those guys who brings a lot of energy to the group. He can get you hype.
“He plays fast and hard. When you see a guy like that, it's easy to keep going and want to make plays.”
Asbury insists he didn’t know Jones was thinking about coming to Indiana.
“I don't even know how it happened,” Asbury said. “He entered the portal first and I entered after. Somehow we came on the official visit at the same time. It was kind of crazy.”
As for Ferrell, his versatility is a big reason why he’s played a defense-leading 398 snaps and totaled 30 tackles, seven quarterback pressures and two interceptions this season.
“Amare is one of the most versatile guys we’ve got in the backend,” Asbury says. “He can go play corner, free safety, strong safety, and nickel. He can play all over. He definitely took (moving from rover to strong safety) pretty well. I wouldn't say it challenged him. He went out there and played great.”
IU faces a Washington team coming off a bye following its 40-16 loss at Iowa. It has a new coaching staff and a remade roster from last year’s national runner-up squad.
Steve Belichick, the son of NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick, is the defensive coordinator. Brennan Carroll, the son of NFL Super Bowl winning coach Pete Carroll, is the offensive coordinator. Jedd Fisch is the head coach after a successful run at Arizona.
“They are a good team,” Asbury says. “They're a team that likes to focus on big plays and we can't allow that to happen. They’ve got a good running back; a veteran quarterback.”