Black Primed for Big Ten Opportunity
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Kaelon Black has his shot, his chance to show what he can do against elite college football competition, his opportunity to prove to himself, his teammates, his coaches, opponents and, yes, NFL scouts, that he can make an impact on the biggest of stages.
It will come this Indiana season, his fifth as a college player after four previous years at James Madison. This 5-foot-10, 210-pound transfer running back seeks to showcase his versatility and willingness to help the Hoosiers win against a Big Ten boosted by the arrivals of UCLA, USC, Washington, and Oregon.
“Playing at this level is something that has always been at the back of my mind,” he says. “I’m thankful I’ve been able to play Division I for so long.”
Black is a do-it-all running back. In 27 games at James Madison, he totaled 1,869 all-purpose yards -- 1,305 rushing, 486 receiving, and 78 on kickoff returns.
His 44 catches reflect offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan’s stretch-defenses-till-they-break preference.
“My receiving skills have grown a lot, especially being with Coach Shanahan and the way football has evolved,” Black says. “You have to be able to catch the ball out of the backfield.”
Black thrived at basketball and track in addition to football at Virginia’s Salem High School. In his final three football seasons, he totaled 4,373 rushing yards and 55 touchdowns.
That earned him his James Madison opportunity under head coach Curt Cignetti. Now that Black is in the Big Ten, along with Cignetti and much of his Dukes coaching staff, the No. 1 priority is winning.
“Our coaching staff brings in a winning tradition and winning ways,” Black says. “This is a new Indiana.”
New, for Black, includes a bigger leadership burden. His familiarity with Cignetti’s coaching style enables him to help speed up the adjustment for his teammates.
“I’ve had to be more vocal,” he says. “It’s something I have to do being on this level and being on a new team.
“Leading by example isn’t a bad thing when you’re at a new place, but you have to make sure people feel you and know where you’re coming from. Being more vocal is part of that. I also have to make sure I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing off the field.”
IU has five running backs on its roster, four college transfers in their first Hoosier seasons. Black and Ty Son Lawton are from James Madison. Justice Ellison came from Wake Forest. Elijah Green played at North Carolina. Daniel Weems, a former Center Grove High School standout, came from Indiana Wesleyan prior to the 2023 season.
Most, if not all, will see action next season given their previous production, their Hoosier potential and Cignetti’s history of fully utilizing his roster -- only one running back had more than 200 touches during the coach’s five James Madison seasons.
“They also have that hunger and want to be here,” Black says.
Ellison rushed for 1,909 yards and 15 TDs at Wake Forest. Lawton has rushed for 2,660 yards and 26 touchdowns in college. Green rushed for 664 yards and eight touchdowns at North Carolina. Weems totaled 441 rushing yards and five touchdowns in one college season after rushing for more than 4,000 yards with 39 touchdowns at Center Grove that included consecutive Class 6A state titles.
Blending them all together is running backs coach John Miller, who helped James Madison win an FCS national title in 2016 as an all-conference punt returner. After his playing days, he spent two years at Texas as an offensive quality control coach before returning to James Madison in 2020 as a running backs coach under Cignetti.
“He’s a great guy and a great mentor,” Black says. “He’s helped me grow as a player and as a man.
“As far as the group, he relates to us. He makes sure everyone grows at the same time. He’s someone you look up to.”
Black says he’s fine with sharing the running back load.
“I have to make the most of my opportunities when I get them,” he says. “I’m thankful for being here at this level with the chance to carry the ball in these big-time games and big-time situations. I thank my coaches for letting me make plays.”
The running back chemistry is good and growing, Black adds.
“We play video games, go out to eat, watch movies. We all came from different backgrounds, but we’re meshing. We’re working together outside of our training time. We’re making sure we’re building that camaraderie and togetherness so when we get on the field it’s like clockwork and we’re all on the same page. We all want the same thing. We want to win.”
IU seems poised to make a big offensive jump from last season, when it ranked last in the Big Ten in scoring at 22.2 points per game. The spring game flashed signs of impressive offensive potential.
“I love the fact we’re so balanced,” Black says. “We get the ball everywhere -- to the receivers, running backs, quarterbacks, tight ends. It makes for a more complete offense.”
Significant improvement is expected at wide receiver and offensive line along with promising quarterback play from Kurtis Rourke, Tayven Jackson, and Tyler Cherry.
“As the spring went along, we became stronger in our skillset and the playbook,” Black says. “It’s making sure everyone is there mentally. You can be talented, but if you don’t know the mental part, you won’t be at your best.
“Knowing what the receivers have, what the O-line has and what we have at running back; knowing the pass protection and using the right technique, getting into the details down on every play and drive. Make sure we stay level-headed when things get hard will allow us to grow.”
As far as Rourke, who appears to have the starting edge, Black says, “Kurtis is a great team player. He’s doing what he’s supposed to do. I’m sure Coach Cig knows that, and the team does, as well.”
Cignetti’s win-now approach -- he has never had a losing record while going 119-35 in 13 seasons as a head coach after previous assistant coaching stops that include Alabama, NC State, and Pittsburgh -- has boosted the optimism inside the program.
“It starts with the head man,” Black says. “He coached at Alabama, so he knows the winning way. He was my coach when I played at JMU and knows a lot about bringing a team together and making sure everyone is on the same page.
“The coaches have done a great job of making sure everyone is growing together, staying humble, and staying on the same page. We play fast, physical, and relentless each day we’re out there.”