Detail Driven -- Ferrell Returns Ready to Do More
By Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Sunlight blazes upon Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium during a recent Indiana practice. The No. 1 offense battles the No. 1 defense, and if it’s not a full-padded, live-hitting session, that doesn’t mean it lacks intensity.
Saturday’s season opener against North Texas is almost here.
Quarterback Josh Hoover takes the snap, scans the field and fires a pass to an open Charlie Becker. Except, in the last instant, he’s not open. Fourth-year safety Amare Ferrell reads the play, breaks quickly, and bats the ball harmlessly to the ground.
Defensive teammates celebrate. Ferrell shows little emotion. This is why the 6-foot-2, 205 pounder is once again a Hoosier, back for a final season, driven to make plays that he perhaps didn’t make last year, eager for the next chapter as IU goes for a national championship repeat, seeking to join Georgia in 2021 and ’22 as the only major college teams to win consecutive national football titles in the College Playoff era.
Ferrell’s focus, he says, is on “all the smaller details that I really didn’t do last season. I feel like communication, making everybody else better. Flying around; playing fast. Doing those things.”
Ferrell did enough things well enough last season to earn second-team All-Big Ten recognition. He had four interceptions for the second consecutive season, plus had 10 pass deflections and totaled 48 tackles.
Not good enough, Ferrell says, pointing to tackling and communicating. He had one more tackle as a sophomore despite playing three fewer games. Communication issues, especially early last season, resulted in opponent big plays.
“I came back for the small things I didn’t correct last year,” Ferrell says. “Tackling was one of the big things that I didn’t do a great job of last year that I want to make sure I do a great job this year.”
Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines and head coach Curt Cignetti want safeties who prepare consistently, observe quickly, adjust appropriately, and communicate effectively. Be where and when you’re supposed to be and then make plays.
Ferrell played as a true freshman under the previous coaching staff, but he really emerged when Haines and Cignetti arrived. In his first season playing for them, he had four interceptions and 49 tackles.
How much has his preparation evolved since that first season?
“A lot. It’s just maturing and understanding the game more. When that happens, the game slows down. Preparation is a big thing when it comes down to playing great on Saturdays.”
As the veteran leader among a talented group of safeties, Ferell must show the way by word and deed. He embraces the responsibility.
“That is what the coaches expect me to do. Being in this system for three years, it’s important that I help the new guys come in, fit, and be comfortable and learn the defense. They know I’m a guy that is going to help them and make sure they are on top of their stuff.”
Young players such as second-year Byron Baldwin Jr. (10 tackles, one fumble recovery last season) and true freshman Jamar Owens (a three-star prospect out of Georgia) show promise.
Ferrell says Baldwin Jr. “will be a big-time player for us this year.”
“We are still working on some things, like Coach Cig says, day-in and day-out consistency. He’s definitely done a great job of showing us what he can do.
“He’s very energetic. He’s very physical. He’s very fast. We like guys like that at that position. He can run. He can blitz. He can tackle. He does all the things that we need him to.”
Adds cornerback Jamari Sharpe: “(Baldwin Jr.) has improved and matured a lot. He’s been learning and being more consistent. That’s helped him.”
As far as Owens, Ferrell says, “He’s a young guy still trying to catch on to things, but the talent level is there. We have to find ways for him to be consistent every day.
“All those young guys have good futures.”
IU also added Wisconsin transfer safety Preston Zachman, who is set to begin his seventh college season. A five-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he has seven career interceptions in 20 starts. In high school, he played quarterback, receiver, and linebacker.
“Our chemistry is great,” Ferrell says about Zachman. “He brings a lot to the table. I always ask him questions about how he is thinking about the game. He is really smart.
“I'm finding little things to pick up from him to add to my game. And he picks up things from my game. We make each other better.”
An added benefit comes in facing IU’s strong group of receivers, led by Becker, Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh and Tyler Morris, in practice every day.
“It makes us great going against guys like that,” Ferrell says. “Then, especially going against (offensive coordinator Mike) Shanahan. They’re making us better and we’re making them better every day.”