‘Dominate’ – Wyatt Adds Versatility to Defensive Line
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana attacks offenses. You know that, right? It attacks with blitzes and stunts, with disguise and aggression. It exploits weaknesses that surface, and when you play the Hoosiers, they always do.
This is why Kellan Wyatt came to Indiana after three seasons, 28 starts and 35 games at Maryland. This is why the 6-2, 257-pound senior defensive end looms as a key difference-making complement to All-America defensive lineman Mikail Kamara in what could cause major problems to opponents, starting with the Aug. 30 season opener against Old Dominion.
“I’m real excited about this defense,” Wyatt says. “I was excited to get here the first day in June. Before I got here, I was trying to get the playbook so I would keep up with guys. Having guys here who have that chip on their shoulders, who always go hard, that’s why I came here.”
Wyatt seems poised to fit right in. He’s forced fumbles and recovered them. He’s recorded sacks and tackles for loss. Last season, he had 19 solo tackles, two forced fumbles, and three sacks.
Those numbers could soar in IU’s system, especially given Wyatt’s full-throttle approach.
“It comes from my background,” he says. “It’s how I was brought up. You stay humble and work hard. When you see energy guys on the field you stand out. I want to be one of those players who stand out on the field.”
Mission accomplished. Wyatt plays with energy, passion, and versatility, crucial attributes in a potential powerhouse defense. He can provide invaluable depth, head coach Curt Cignetti says.
“You’ve got to have 11 good players doing their jobs,” he says. “Outside of what (having Wyatt) does for Mikail, you've got to have two bookends when you're in a four-down front. We're very multiple, but Wyatt is a high effort, high-energy, intelligent guy. Like (defensive coordinator Bryant Haines) said, he's very versatile. He could do a lot of different things. He's had a really good camp. He'll be a big addition for us.”
IU’s plans to capitalize on Wyatt’s versatility -- he will mix rushing the passer with dropping back into pass coverage – is just what he wanted when he joined the program.
“I’m playing multiple positions, which is a good thing. It’s being more versatile and finding more ways to not come off the field.”
Wyatt had hoped to enroll at IU for the second semester but wasn’t able to arrive until the summer. That forced him to speed up the learning curve. Players such as Kamara helped.
“It can be tough,” Wyatt says. “When I got here in the summer, having a guy like Kamara, you learn a lot from him. You pick up things, techniques. We play off each other. It will be good for us.”
Kamara’s knack for disrupting offenses and pressuring quarterbacks -- his goal is to record 20 sacks this season -- has left a big impression on Wyatt.
“It’s special having a guy like that,” he says. “He’s one of those high-energy guys who’s always working. If something isn’t working, he has a Plan B. It brings things out from an offensive perspective that as a defense, we can take advantage.”
While playing against the Hoosiers, Wyatt was always impressed by their competitiveness. He witnessed the instant transformation Cignetti achieved with an 11-2 Hoosier debut season that included the program’s first-ever college playoff appearance.
“Every time I played them,” Wyatt says, “it always felt like they had a competitive team, and they always fought hard in everything they did; from offense to defense to special teams.
“I came here to be a part of something special like that. I’m looking forward to keep developing relationships with the guys to be a player who can make an impact for the team.”
When Wyatt entered the transfer portal looking to keep all options open, his impression of the Hoosiers lingered.
“I always kept this team in the back of my mind because I knew how special they were. Especially, how they played last year.
“Going into the portal, I didn't know any of (the coaches). Once I got the chance to meet them and be around them, that was when I really felt like this was the place for me.”
It helped that Maryland running back Roman Hemby had transferred to IU. Hemby and backs such as Kaelon Black and Lee Beebe Jr. provide daily practices tests that will prepare the defensive line for the season, Wyatt says.
“Roman is my guy,” Wyatt says. “He’s progressed really well (in IU’s system).
“All the running backs make us better. Every rep is competition. When you have backs like that, and they all are really good, it makes all of us better.”
The goal isn’t just to win, Wyatt adds, but win the right way, which leads to a final question -- What do the Hoosiers want their identity to be?
“We want to be dominant,” he says.