Hoosier Huddle Notebook: Allen and Hoosiers Wrapping Up Spring Practice

Written By Zachary Greene (@zachegreene)

Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen spoke to the media Thursday morning. His last presser of spring camp. He has been really impressed with what he has seen so far during camp. There is a humbleness to the program and different demeanor than last year. That said, here are players that Allen highlighted. These players should be the impact players this upcoming season.

Players to Keep an Eye On 

Connor Bazelak transferred to the program after attending the University of Missouri the past couple of seasons. There he started in 20 games with a completion percentage of 66.4% and 23 touchdowns

“With Connor [Bazelak], as well, same thing, being here new, and work ethic, and all the things that he brings to our team. And even just being able to be more comfortable with his teammates and being able to be with a new group of guys. Since most of these guys are part of our leadership council and give them a chance to show them, and grow them as leaders, and what that looks like and the expectations for that position. I think those to me are key things, to be able to throw the ball accurately and to throw it with decisiveness.”

It appears that Bazelak might be the starter if the season were to start tomorrow but Allen did have positive words for quarterbacks Donaven McCulley and Jack Tuttle.

“Looking at Jack [Tuttle], and the way he's been able to grow in his confidence and ability to make the throws he needs to make. I think the big thing is decision-making, in terms of just the speed of that. To me, I've seen that increase in accuracy and throwing with confidence.” Said Allen about Jack Tuttle

Speaking on McCulley he had this to say, “ You think about Donaven [McCulley] and his growth and development and being able to maximize his skill set to be able to help this team in every way possible.” 

At the receiver and tailback, there have been some transfers and freshmen that have caught the coach's attention. These players include Cam Camper, Jaylin Lucas, and Emery Simmons. 

Camper comes to the program as a transfer from one of the top JUCOs in the State of Texas Trinity Valley Community College. There he caught 22 passes for over 300 yards and a touchdown as a freshman. In his sophomore year he caught 28 passes for over 500 yards and three touchdowns.

Lucas comes in as a true freshman where he had a dominant career at Edna Karr High School. He was the No.12 ranked all-purpose back in his class.

Simmons is one of the transfers who came from the Tar Heels program. He’s a senior whose experience. During his tenure at UNC, he caught 30 receptions for three touchdowns.

“I think Jaylin Lucas, to me, is one that every scrimmage we've had, he continues to flash more and more. I think that's become very obvious. I think Shaun Shivers is another one that continues to show who he is. I think of our receivers, Cam Camper is another one that just every time we take the field, it just seems like he just gets better and better. Emery Simmons is another one, those are all new guys, obviously, that we have here.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Allen is happy with what he see’s from his unit. There is a lot of experience led by Monster Devon Mattews, Taiwan Mullen and Jaylin Williams. All of whom have been in the program for multiple years.

We all know Monster [Devon Matthews] is a special player, Tiawan [Mullen] is a special, special player, [Jaylin Williams], so, those guys have obviously established themselves. Their leadership has been really strong. Even Deland McCullough II. He is another guy that he's battled some things injury wise but he's now getting healthier, and we're seeing flashes of who I believe he can be. Those guys are all going to be special teams guys for us that we're going to need.

Allen is also high on highly recruited Freshman cornerback James Mond III who has shown flashes of special talent during camp.

“There's a lot of names I've thrown out there and I've already mentioned James Monds III is a guy that's getting a lot of chances to play. I'm encouraged by those guys, and by their growth, and by their ability to come in this spring and get a lot of good reps and get better. So, I really do feel like that it is a lot of competition for that open spot that we have. To be able to see who it's going to be, it's going to have to probably go all the way into fall camp and then we'll see who those guys are. We want to play a lot of guys on this defense and keep us fresh and keep our guys where they can play at a high level for 60 minutes.”

Switches to another side of the ball, the Offensive Line the Unit will look for a bounce-back year. Tom Allen expects Khalil Benson to fill one of the voids at the line this season. Benson was highly recruited out of Eddie Stevenson High School coming to the program as the No.17 ranked prospect in the state of Mississippi.

“I would say Khalil Benson is a guy that's gotten lots of reps. He has continued to grow and he obviously had a major setback when he got here and was injured right away. But he's a guy that we expect to step up and thought this has been a really important spring for him to take that next step, as well. I think that's been a big thing.”

Joshua Sales Jr. is another Offensive Lineman who could make an impact this season. Another true Freshman Sales Jr. attended Brownsburg High School in Indiana earning 2020 all-conference and all-state honors. He was the No.11 ranked prospect in Indiana according to Rivals.

“Even the guys in that young group. Joshua Sales Jr. is another one that continues to grow and develop and get a lot of quality reps and I like the way he's progressing. That needs to continue. So, I just feel like that our guys there are really, really critical to what we're trying to do and how we're developing our football team. The obvious guys, Michael Katic, I still think he's gotten better this spring. Just seeing a high-level of intensity, toughness, and fight that we're trying to get out of that whole group.”

As spring camp comes to an end, Tom Allen is confident that the team will rebound from last year's 2-10. He knows that this is made or break year for his program. The season is less than 150 days away. The Hoosiers will open their season up under the light September 2 against Illinois. Stay up to date @HoosierHuddle