Allen: 2020 'Has the Potential to be the Best Linebacker Group Since I Have Been Here'

Micah McFadden (47) works on tackling in spring practice Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Tom Allen has said it at every stop of his coaching career, “if you want to have a great defense, you better have great linebackers.” The good news for the Hoosiers is that they have the best depth at that position since Allen joined the IU football program in 2016.

The Hoosiers have had some great linebackers in Allen’s tenure with IU, most notably Tegray Scales and Chris Covington. Scales had 126 tackles, including 23.5 tackles for a loss in Allen’s first season as defensive coordinator in 2016 on his way to an All-American selection, but there was very little depth behind him. Scales is now a force for the Dallas Renegades of the XFL. Covington, now with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, replaced Marcus Oliver (96 tackles in 2016) and finished third on the team with 85 tackles. The draw back was there was very little depth behind them.

However, according to Allen, “Now we have three, four, five, even up to six guys that we feel like we could play in there, play on special teams. They are more physical, more confident. So, as a group, I think it has the potential to be the best linebacker group since I have been here."

The 2020 Hoosier linebacker group will be led by Micah McFadden and Cam Jones. McFadden led the Hoosiers in tackles with 61 last season and also intercepted two passes. Jones, now a rising junior, was a game changer when on the field. Jones was banged up during the 2019 season and while he played in 12 of the team’s 13 games, his impact was limited to just 35 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. With a bigger role in 2020, Jones will see those numbers shoot up.

The Hoosiers will also look for bigger roles from rising sophomores D.K. Bonhomme, James Miller and Aaron Casey. The three of them combined for 37 tackles in 2019. Freshman Ty Wise, who enrolled early, and former four-star recruit Cameron Williams help give the Hoosiers unprecedented depth at the position.

Also a part of that linebacker depth is Thomas Allen, the son of head coach Tom Allen. The younger Allen was limited to just eight games after injuries and those continue to keep him out of spring practice as well. Allen has played in 20 games heading into his redshirt junior season. He has been productive as well making 45 tackles in his career including 3.5 tackles for loss.

While Thomas Allen has been sidelined during spring, he has made his presence felt in other ways.

“He is able to do the individual period, the non-contact period. After that, he takes off the shoulder pads and becomes a coach,” Allen said after practice on Tuesday.

“He is out there coaching the guys. He cares so much. He is truly a coach on the field. He understands our defense inside and out, which he should because he has been around it for quite a few years, but he cares. He puts so much into it. He is trying to help all these guys get better. Obviously, he is learning as well. We put him at stinger, so that puts him in a position to learn both positions. He pretty much knows them both, but this gives him more reps at both. Having a mentor in that room helps speed up the learning curve for the young guys” Allen continued.

If the linebackers are the key to the defense taking the next step, IU is sitting in a pretty good position.