Freshman Cam Jones is the Swiss Army Knife of IU's Defense

Written By Rylie Kyhn

When Coach Allen came to Indiana, he brought a new defensive scheme and engineered one of the top defensive turnarounds in the country in 2016. Indiana is the most improved team nationally in both passing and total defense. The scheme that Coach Allen brought with him included the husky position and this season, Cam Jones stepped up as a true freshman and took on the role of learning that position and has earned himself a lot of field time because of it.

“The Husky position is a role on defense where you have to be a great leader on and off the field. Just knowing the plays and knowing where to get everybody lined up at, you have to take control at that position,” said Jones.

Jones was a three-star prospect coming out of Saint Benedict at Auburndale High School in Tennessee and committed to play for the Hoosiers last October. He played wide receiver and defensive back for coach John Cooley and was named all-state two times, all region three-times, and MVP twice. During his senior season he tallied 82 total tackles, 46 assisted and 36 solo averaging 7.5 per game. Jones made 14.5 tackles for loss and put up huge numbers as a receiver also tallying 624 receiving yards with 34 catches, 16 total touchdowns, seven receiving.

Coming into the Indiana program, it was clear that he is a gifted athlete and a versatile player. Jones has had a huge impact for a freshman already this season, playing in five out of six games missing only the game at Rutgers due to injury. He was forced to leave the Michigan State game with an injury after coming down with an interception and had to sit out the next week as the team traveled to New Jersey.

In the season opener against FIU, he had two tackles, one solo and one assisted. Jones then had two solo tackles in the win over Ball State and a huge game following that in the conference opener against Michigan State. He had three solo tackles, one forced fumble and an interception that he was injured on. After sitting out for an injury, he returned against Ohio State and recovered a fumble on the first drive of the game to give the Hoosiers possession. Jones is still young and learning, but has made his mark already.

“I feel like my comfort level has grown. Having guys like Marcelino around me, Reakwon and JC to help me along with the defense and get things going has been real good. I feel like I'm adjusting to the defense well,” said Jones.

One of the bigger storylines for Indiana football this season has been the talent and speed of the freshman class and how the young defenders have learned quickly and developed a major role on the field and Jones has been a major contributor to this. Seven true freshman have played for the Hoosiers this season and the majority of them on defense but as they continue to learn and work, they are looking less like freshman everyday.

“I think you’re always very cautious to throw those guys into the fire but with the talent they have, and the confidence they portray themselves with, we were ready to throw them in there.

They proved to us, I think that’s the biggest thing I can say especially for the guys in my room, I trust them. I trust the guys in my room, I know how much they care, I know how much they work and so for me, I’m not afraid to put them on the field,” said safeties coach Kasey Teegardin.

Playing behind Marcelino Ball at husky and having him to watch is going to give Jones an advantage because of the experience Ball has and how well he knows and understands this defense. Both are incredibly hard workers and will continue to be a dominant piece of the Indiana defense at that position.