Notes and Quotes from Tom Allen's Press Conference: Spring Practice No. 2

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Indiana head coach Tom Allen met with the media over Zoom on Tuesday to recap the Hoosiers second practice of the spring session. Here are the notes and quotes from Tuesday’s session.

Notes

• RB Gi’Bran Payne has been granted his release from his letter of intent from Indiana

• Thursday will be the final practice before the team breaks camp for spring break

• Allen expects a wide receiver coach to be in place when the team comes back from break

Quotes

Allen addressed Gi’Bran Payne’s decision to leave the program:

“He had reached out to us and and uh had made that request and we had some extensive conversations about it and something that he wanted to do. And you know I want guys that want to be here. He made his intentions clear with all that and we just talked it through”

Allen gave an update on who is handling the wide receiver coaching duties while he looks for a replacement:

“It has been pretty seamless, kind of shockingly, I think the big reason for that is that Walt [Bell] is really a receivers guy, as well as a quarterbacks guy. He played the position, knows it inside and out, and is extremely gifted in that area, more so than guys I have worked with. He has been meeting with [quarterbacks and receivers] together. It has been a combined [meeting]. Kyle [Schmidt], our graduate assistant at that position was already going to be working with them, so he is with them and kind of their technical coach right now until we get that decision made here.

It hasn't been made yet, but hopefully by the time we come back from spring break that person, whoever that is, will be in place and coaching those guys in practice number four. They will not be here until then, but bottom line is that is how it is being handled. Coach Bell has done an excellent job with that. The quarterbacks and receivers are meeting together and then he does some extra time with the quarterbacks one-on-one to work through that and get those guys ready.

From an organizational perspective, that is how it is being done. Just making the use of our coaching staff and letting these young guys get a chance, which is good for them, too.”

With lots of turnover Allen pointed out who the new leaders on the team are:

“I will kind of mention some new guys because the guys that are supposed to [have been doing that]. A guy that has been here is Jaylin Williams. He is a guy that has continued to elevate his ability to not just do what he is supposed to do the right way - which he did a lot of a year ago and led to him having such a good 2021 season, even though he had to play too many snaps because of the injuries - but he has grown into a verbal leader. That is a big part of this.

I think Devon Matthews continues to grow in those areas. Those are names you are familiar with and not surprised by. I think Cam Jones continues to elevate his leadership and that has been huge.

JH Tevis is one that sticks out to me. Even though he is new, he is very articulate, a very bright young man, and he knows how to play the game. You can tell pretty quickly how much football he has played by how he plays in practice and the technique that he plays with and the effort and understanding of how you practice.

Myles Jackson is another one that has been a pleasant surprise to me to be able to say, 'hey, this guy isn't afraid to speak.' He has earned respect, as i mentioned before, with our leadership council and being placed on there. Both those guys [Tevis and Jackson] have been placed on there. That is pretty impressive. I think the way they both practice is leadership in action, which has been awesome.

Offensively, I think AJ Barner is one. There was a void left in that room when Peyton [Hendershot] graduated and is moving on to the NFL. It has been really great to see him step up as a leader and we need him to. D.J. Matthews Jr. has really changed his whole approach to being a leader on that side of the ball. Obviously, he is now the veteran guy. Didn't play a lot of snaps last year because of his injury but was obviously playing very well when he did get hurt. Just seeing him lead and taking these guys under his wing and the things he's doing with those guys has been a major encouragement to me on that side of the football.

Jack [Tuttle] has continued to elevate his leadership. Connor [Bazelak] is quieter by nature, but as every practice happens and each day that goes by he is more comfortable with that part. There is a special dynamic with that as a guy that comes in new. Matthew Bedford is one that has really elevated his leadership, and needed to, and he is responding to a challenge that we have given him as a staff. We need him to be that guy for us.

I am really encouraged by the growth of some of these key guys that need to step up, with some guys that have moved on or graduated, and fill those voids. We still have a lot of new faces in the running backs room, but there is some talent there that is really encouraging. Shaun Shivers is a guy that I watch a lot and he has something to him, more than just being a gifted athlete and running back. His leadership and the way he effects the guys around him [is great].

Guys like that have been huge. You bring them in new and you see them already being extremely positive and strong in leadership -- because those things are necessary. With all of these new faces, everything we do is critical as we build this team. That is our focus, to build the best football team and finish spring a better team than when we stated, and after today I feel like we are moving in the right direction.