Notes and Quotes: Tom Allen (2018 Early Signing Period)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers signed 23 prospects in what was a very productive, and on paper, hugely successful, National Signing Day. IU signed five prospects from Florida, four from Illinois and Tennessee, three from Indiana, two from Georgia and five from individual states. In total, they brought in 12 defensive players, eight offensive players, two athletes and a kicker. Tom Allen spoke to the assembled media about the newest Hoosiers and we’ve selected the most interesting or insightful quotes. For the full transcript, visit iuhoosiers.com.

-Allen on the program effort it takes to bring a class together: “Really excited about the group of young men that we’ve assembled today. I say we, it takes a tremendous amount of effort on a lot of peoples’ parts, nine on the field coaches that go out and recruit, but also tremendous support staff in recruiting and all of our staff on campus that do a great job when student-athletes come to visit with their families, whether it’s an unofficial visit, official visit…it just takes a lot of people to be able to produce a class like this that we really are excited about and feel very, very encouraged by the way we’ve addressed some strong needs that we had in our program.”

-Allen on finishing up the class in the spring: “I really feel like, even though this class is not finished yet, being the two signing day period we have for the first time, we’ll address a few more needs defensively with the rest of our class, but the majority of them we’re signing with us today.”

·      Defensive end Randy Charlton committed to the Hoosiers after a dramatic day that featured a commitment to Florida International that saw Charlton clearly distraught and then a late night flip to IU. His mother really wanted him to stay close to home but Charlton had his heart set on Bloomington and eventually pulled the trigger on the decision he wanted to make all along. He’ll be a spring addition to this class. I would also expect the Hoosiers to potentially add another safety. The staff could turn to a high school senior that has yet to sign or they could explore the grad transfer market for an immediate impact player. The latter option would be ideal as IU currently doesn’t have much experience at the position.

-Allen on the defensive front: “We had a really strong amount of talent that we are graduating on defense. So we had to really address that side of the football. Up front, really excited about the young men that we added. James Head, Shamar Jones, Gavin McCabe and Madison Norris on the defensive line. Norris being an instate athlete from Hamilton Southeastern High School, an elite track athlete. I predict he will possibly win the state 100-meter high hurdles this year and probably would have last year but got a late injury in the tournament and wasn’t able to do that. Really, really fast, long athlete that has a great family. James Head from the state of Florida is a guy we really spent a lot of time investing into and allowed him to come up here and realize his dream.”

-Allen on the addition of three linebackers: “So excited to add Aaron Casey, Cam Jones and Micah McFadden to our team. Guys with athleticism, a couple of guys there – actually, all three of them from the South and guys that we really believe in.”

-IU added quite a few guys in the secondary and it appears they have significantly boosted their depth and solidified the future of the position group: “At safety, Jordan Jusevitch, a young man that was a finalist for Mr. Football. He was our first verbal commit a year ago at this time. Had him in camp and loved him and just a really good football player. Plays all different kind of positions on his high school football team, led them to the state championship game. Devon (Matthews), AKA Monster. He goes by Monster, which is his nickname. Mom even calls him that, which is sometimes unusual for a nickname. A great football player there that I think has a tremendous ceiling. Devon Matthews is his name. Noah Pierre as well from the state of Florida, guys that athletically give us a pop and a burst that we’re looking for back there. Cornerbacks Elijah Rodgers and Jaylin Williams are quality, quality young men. Jaylin is a tremendously gifted player with high-class speed, can play both sides of the ball, but he’s going to play corner. Same with Elijah.”

-Indiana added a pair of guys that we assumed would be playing offense but the Hoosiers are listing both Reese Taylor and Stevie Scott as “athletes”. Taylor will be a part of the offense but his primary position is going to be cornerback while Scott is going to land at either running back or linebacker. I personally feel he’ll end up on offense because the Hoosiers need a back like him and the recent past has proven you can never have enough depth at that position. Here’s what Allen had to say: “We all know who Reese Taylor is in this part of the country, Mr. Football, led the Ben Davis Giants to an undefeated season and state championship, nationally ranked program. I feel like he is just an elite athlete. Really see that he will be a young man that has a lot of versatility, quarterback skills, receiver skills, DB skills, return skills, all those kinds of things. Extremely quick and fast. As we’ve said, the character piece is what I care a lot about, and he’s a really, really fine young man with strong grades. Stevie Scott, big young man, 6’2”, 235 pounds, can play running back, plays linebacker, and we’ll be fighting for him on both sides of the ball. We’re glad he’s on our team. Gives tremendous special teams value as well.”

-The Hoosiers didn’t add as many players on offense as most of their talent and depth returns on that side of the ball and there wasn’t quite as much space or need there. However, IU added some critical pieces: “O-line wise, we had a young O-line issue. Didn’t have any seniors, but we were able to add a couple to that group. We didn’t have a lot of numbers. So, we went ahead and added Nick Marozas and Aidan Rafferty. Nick from Illinois, Aidan from the D.C. area. So long athletes that are going to develop, really, really tough guys that I think are going to be really good players for us as they come in our program and work extremely hard.”

-Tight end was a big need for the Hoosiers and they addressed it with two signees: “Matt Bjorson and T.J. Ivy. We had to address losing a couple there to graduation. So excited about their toughness and athleticism. Matt is very versatile. T.J. is a long athlete that I think is really going to develop into a fine player.”

-IU returns Morgan Ellison and Cole Gest but the addition of Ronnie Walker will be a huge boost for the backfield: “Really strong need for us in terms of the burst and speed we’re looking for. Ronnie Walker, very excited about him, going to be a midyear guy, as well as Jacolby Hewitt, Mike Penix and James Head. All four of those guys will be midyear enrollees, which is huge for them to be able to get here and start with us in early January. Ronnie led his team to a state championship a couple of weeks ago, and really, I think, a tremendously talented player, strong, fast, great balance, great vision, and really used to our running system.”

-While IU is expected to lose Simmie Cobbs, every other receiver (barring transfers) returns. Still, the Hoosiers were able to add a pair of signees in Jacolby Hewitt and Miles Marshall: “Jacolby is tremendously fast, also has good size to him, thick, and Miles has got length, 6’4” receiver, caught a ton of balls there in a very, very good league coming out of Atlanta.”

-Finally, the Hoosiers were able to secure the services of a quarterback from Florida in Mike Penix. “Tremendously excited about him. 6’2”, 6’3” range, 200 pounds. Love his length and athleticism. He’s listed as a pro style quarterback on paper but that’s not what he is. He’s a dual-guy. Really, really gifted athlete. Really good basketball player. He’s going to come here and compete, and he’ll be a midyear guy. Excited about his leadership and character. Really stuck out to me in this process. Our staff knew him before because of prior relationships and other places we’ve been. So, really excited about him and what he brings to our crew.”

Hoosier Huddle will have continuing coverage of IU’s National Signing Day.