Indiana football coach Tom Allen joined local media on a Zoom call on Monday.
Indianapolis Star
BLOOMINGTON – There are some things Indiana’s Marcelino Ball can’t give his replacement at the husky position, Bryant Fitzgerald.
At 6-foot, 220 pounds, there are 10 fewer pounds on Fitzgerald’s frame. An athlete who can run a 4.4-second 40-yard dash but also benches over 400 pounds, Ball can’t just give those power to his counterpart like the Monstars stole basketball skill from NBAers.
But the fifth-year senior, so ideally built for the Hoosiers’ hybrid safety-linebacker spot, has gifted Fitzgerald one tangible thing since his season-ending ACL injury in fall camp.
His time.
“He was the most encouraging guy I have ever seen after an injury,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s been helping me every day. He is trying to teach me his techniques, his knowledge of the game, to help me better my game.”
Fitzgerald, who initially moved from safety to husky in the spring, admits he still has a lot to learn. Playing the bulk of his high school and college careers at traditional safety, Fitzgerald hasn’t blitzed much. So the 6-foot, 209-pound redshirt junior from Indianapolis has consulted with the Hoosiers’ defensive line coaches, looking to add pass-rush techniques to his arsenal.
There are also run fits and coverage responsibilities Fitzgerald is urgently trying to perfect as the Hoosiers close in on their opener with No. 9 Penn State. Luckily, Ball is still there to assist.
► MORE: After bouncing Bryant Fitzgerald around at safety, IU is ready to rely on him at husky
“He’s staying in the playbook,” Fitzgerald said, “and him helping me out with my film and preparation has really been key.”
Fitzgerald is readying himself. At the same time, IU defensive coordinator Kane Wommack admitted it’s a “body blow” to not have the versatile frame and skillset of Ball on the field.
Wommack is game-planning around Ball’s absence, looking at a more NFL-like, “package-oriented” approach to the husky position. IU could field different players when the Hoosiers are trying to add more in terms of the pass rush or in coverage.
Of course, Wommack isn’t saying who those players are just yet.
“It just changes the bodies on the field in those given situations,” Wommack said. “We re excited about a couple of guys that can do those things in certain packages. I don’t want to give those things away right now.”
Swann adjusting
Fitzgerald is one player continuing to make progress with his transition from one position to another. But another Indy native is also starting to shallow his learning curve in IU’s scheme.
Jovan Swann, the Center Grove alum and Stanford grad transfer, was a little slow out of the gate this fall. That was expected as he transitioned from playing in a base three-man front at Stanford to IU’s four-man alignment.
According to Wommack, the 6-2, 280-pounder seemed to make a turn for the better this past week in practice.
“The way we take on blocks and the way we recognize blocks, he is starting to understand that on a much higher level,” Wommack said. “He’s a smart guy, so his learning curve from last week to this week was pretty significant, in a positive manner.”
Swann just adds to the depth the Hoosiers have on the defensive line. At defensive tackle, Jerome Johnson, DeMarcus Elliott, Sio Nofoagatoto’a, C.J. Person, and Swann are likely to see significant time. The question is if someone like freshman Damarjhe Lewis can push for snaps early. Wommack said he feels like the Hoosiers are five-deep at both the tackle and end spots.
Swann started nine games for Stanford in 2019 and was second on the team with 5.5 sacks.
“Excited about what he’s going to do for us,” Wommack said, “and I think if he continues on this trajectory, we’ll be very happy with the outcome and his production.”
IU tight end Peyton Hendershot met with media for the first time since his February arrest.
Indianapolis Star
TE depth
The theme of five-deep also transitions over to the offensive side, where new IU tight ends coach Kevin Wright was boasting about the depth in his room Friday.
A reliance on greater numbers was somewhat out of necessity, as the Hoosiers dealt with injury issues in the summer. In particular, redshirt junior Peyton Hendershot had conversations with the coaching staff about opting out if the season started on-time, because he was still recovering from offseason surgeries.
► MORE: Peyton Hendershot ‘remorseful,’ says ‘huge mistake’ led to February arrest
The delay helped there, but Wright said grad transfer tight end Kham Taylor has also been dealing with some injury issues.
“We know it’s going to be a long season. Not pushing some things, and just trying to get him to a point where he’s ready to come in and contribute, because he’s a big body,” Wright said of the 6-4, 265-pounder from South Alabama. “When he lines up out there, it almost looks like, at times, he’s an extra offensive tackle. .. I know what he brings to the table. It’s a matter of getting everyone healthy and rolling through to get to game week.
“It’s going to be a nine-week season and everyone has to contribute in some way, shape, or form.”
There are a myriad of options in the room. While Taylor profiles more as an additional blocker, redshirt freshman Gary Cooper is a 6-2, 235-pound option who is deployable as a pass-catcher. Freshman AJ Barner has frequently been mentioned early as a possible contributor, as well, standing 6-6, 230.
Junior Matt Bjorson has just 12 catches in his IU career, but Wright expressed faith that the Hoosiers’ “blue-collar” tight end could be a more well-rounded option in 2020.
“He’s right there, in my mind, with Peyton, to have the ability to go in,” Wright said. “Where he’ll lag sometimes in physical size, he’s going to make up for it with heart. He’s a guy who finishes to the whistle. I think Matt is a guy who can plug and play.”
Former Avon running back Sampson James put his name in the NCAA transfer portal before reaffirming his commitment to IU football.
Indianapolis Star
Knocking on doors
Wommack previously noted the impression freshman safety Bryson Bonds has made with his “professional” attitude.
This week, Wommack offered another anecdote to explain why the 6-1, 200-pounder from Crowley, Texas, has been so impressive.
“When they were staying in the hotel in the summer time, he’d go down the hallway and knock on people’s doors to make sure the freshmen were up for a 6 a.m. run,” Wommack said. “Stuff like that is impressive. And it shows up on the field.”
Last year, it was another secondary player, Tiawan Mullen, who proved to be a leader for his class, calling it the “New Wave.” Bonds seems to be captaining the next wave.
Simply put, the Hoosier coaching staff loves what Bonds has added on and off the field in his short time with the program. He will very much be in the mix to play early, especially with senior Raheem Layne sidelined following a surgery.
