A Once Young Linebacking Corps is Grown Up and Ready to Rock for IU

Micah McFadden Image: Indiana University Athletics

Written by Sammy Jacobs

The core of the Indiana linebacking group all came to Bloomington together as part of the Hoosiers 2018 signing class. Those young backers are now veterans and ready to have a major impact on defense.

“We all came in together” Cam Jones told the media this week, “me, Micah McFadden, James Miller, Aaron Casey and Thomas Allen, we all came in together as young linebackers. But now, we are the leaders of the pack. Coach Allen and Coach Wommack put the pressure on us as linebackers. They told us what needed to get done, so we stepped our game up a little bit.”

Jones, McFadden, Miller and Allen were all impact players for the Hoosiers in 2019, while Aaron Casey figures to have a bigger role in 2020.

The Hoosiers lose Reakwon Jones from last year’s lineup, Cam Jones will get the nod in 2020. Jones made 35 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He also returned an interception for a touchdown. Aaron Casey is listed as the backup.

McFadden, who led the Hoosiers in tackles in 2019, has made it the group’s mission to lead the way.

“Last year, the majority of us in that room were younger guys on the team and were learning how to take a bigger role in the defense, leading on the field and making plays.” McFadden said.

“Settling into that role took a little bit of time last year. This year, now that we are honed in on exactly what is going on with the defense, it is much easier to get everyone lined up, to communicate loudly out there and to be confident in what we are doing. Overall, as a full group, we are getting more guys into that role and being able to communicate loudly and be a leader on the field. I would say it does not really matter at this point. We have five dudes that can really play out there and can all play together. It looks good in that room and we are really getting prepared” he added.

The linebacking group could also get some early help from freshman Ty Wise who enrolled early as part of the 2020 recruiting class.

“I believe that he is a smart football player. He has caught on quickly. I know that he has been here for a while, but he is one of the freshmen that has caught on quickly. I know that he is going to have a successful career here. He is a smart football player and he knows where the ball is going to be, when it is going to get there and what his responsibility is. He still has to keep growing and coming along” Jones said of Wise.

The Indiana defense has shown growing pains the last couple of years. Now that young defense is mature and will be led by a veteran group of linebackers. The Hoosiers get tested right away as the Penn State Nittany Lions visit Bloomington to open the 2020 season.