It’s Spittoon Week, and the Indiana Hoosiers enter it at a perfect 6-0 (3-0 B1G) and ranked No. 3 in the nation. It’s a remarkable climb for a program that went just 9-27 from 2021 to 2023. Several players on the current roster lived through those struggles and have witnessed firsthand the program’s transformation.
Indiana’s turnaround under Curt Cignetti and his staff has been nothing short of dramatic — and so has the growth of a few holdovers from the Tom Allen era. One name that embodies that evolution is linebacker Isaiah “Bones” Jones, a former scout team player who’s now an integral piece of one of the top defenses in college football.
During Tuesday’s player Q&A session, Jones reflected on his development and the process that got him here.
“Obviously the physical part is a big part, but for me it was mental,” Jones said. “Talking about the scheme and understanding the defense. Something that I believe has really helped me with my game, like not just knowing what the linebackers do but knowing what the safety rotation is. Just understanding the scheme and then being able to learn from older guys like Cam Jones [and] Aaron Casey, guys like that. To take everything you learn year by year and put it together and here we are.”
Since arriving in Bloomington in 2022, the Ohio native has been surrounded by an impressive lineage of linebackers. He learned under Cam Jones, a veteran who appeared in 47 games from 2018–2022 and now owns a Super Bowl ring from his time with the Kansas City Chiefs (he’s currently with the New York Jets). Isaiah Jones also overlapped with Aaron Casey, a 2023 first-team All-Big Ten selection, who helped set the standard for the position. More recently, he’s benefited from sharing a room with JMU transfer Jailin Walker in 2024 and now in his second season with Aiden Fisher.
Jones’ development mirrors the growth of the program itself. From his early days under Tom Allen to his current role under Cignetti, “Bones” has made exponential progress. When asked to compare himself now to the player he was a few years ago, Jones didn’t hesitate: “I believe a night and day difference. I can play fast and play in the scheme.”
Playing fast has become Jones’ trademark. His production backs it up — 32 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks (a team high), a blocked punt, and a game-sealing interception against then–No. 3 Oregon.
Last season, Jones started only two games but appeared in all 13 for the Hoosiers, finishing with 42 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and half a sack. This year, his numbers have exploded — a testament to his offseason work and the trust he’s earned from the coaching staff. Head coach Curt Cignetti praised Jones’ impact during Monday’s press conference, emphasizing how much he’s developed under the guidance of defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Bryant Haines.
Jones’ growth feels intertwined with the program’s own resurgence. In his first two seasons in Bloomington, Indiana went just 7-17. To now be part of a 6-0, top-five team has made the turnaround deeply personal for him.
“With Fish [Aiden Fisher] and J. Walk [Jailin Walker] last year when we had all the success, those guys came from a program that was known for winning. For me it’s special,” Jones said. “I would joke with those guys like, you don’t know what it was like before this. You don’t know the 3-9, the 4-8 [seasons]. So, for me, and I know for a lot of the guys that stayed over, it was special. For us, it meant a lot. To be able to see what we could turn this place into and the support we get from the boosters and the fans. It just is really special for me.”
For Jones, Indiana’s climb from the Big Ten basement to national prominence isn’t just a story of wins and rankings — it’s personal proof of perseverance. He’s become one of the conference’s most dynamic linebackers, anchoring a unit that features Aiden Fisher and Rolijah Hardy, a trio that might be the best in the Big Ten.
Jones plays with a chip on his shoulder and the confidence of someone who’s seen both sides of the journey. And as Indiana continues its rise, don’t expect “Bones” Jones to slow down — he’s only getting started.