By: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)
There are plenty of things to be amazed by when you consider how the entire landscape of Indiana University football has changed since Curt Cignetti stepped on campus just over two years ago, but something that has always stood out to me in this culture shift is the way Cignetti has been able to get complete buy in from his players, no matter their role.
Perhaps no man personifies that more than Isaiah “Bones” Jones, redshirt junior linebacker.
Bones was a 2022 Tom Allen recruit from London, Ohio, who had appeared in just four games when the coaching change was made. Other than an Academic All-Big Ten selection and three solo tackles, he had not accomplished much outside of the practice field on an individual basis, and the team had sputtered to the point it was time to move on from their head coach.
Things were looking bleak, but he decided to stick things out for the new man on campus and see if his luck could change. Last season, he began to see more time on special teams and a bit of time at linebacker, but still had only two career starts to his name.
“I have my own aspirations and goals, but we were winning a lot of games last year and I had a crucial role on special teams and then going in when my number was called and just being able to play to the best of my ability,” said Jones. “Obviously each player has their own goals, but for me it’s what’s best for the team. As long as we’re winning games, I’m going to be happy.”
If you ask his position coaches, they always knew he was capable of being more than just a piece on a team that wins games. It was earning the trust of his head coach, ironically, the man he was staying completely bought into, that was the hurdle he needed to clear.
“I always knew he was capable of what you guys are seeing,” said defensive coordinator Bryant Haines. “There was never a doubt in my mind. I think he needed to earn the trust of the head football coach and earn confidence of the other guys that are on the field with him through his play at both sam backer and will backer. I think he definitely stepped into that role, like, ‘guys I can get this done at a high level.’ He’s shown that.”
Once he had earned Cignetti’s trust, well, the rest was history. Jones is now the Hoosiers fourth leading tackler this year (66) and he is second on the team in sacks (7). He is a key cog in Haines’ swarming defense.
“Knowing he (Haines) has confidence in me and pretty much the whole defense, kind of lets us play free and lets us play fast,” Jones added. “Just for me on that kind of side of things, he puts me in a lot of positions that are advantageous and then he talks about just winning one-on-ones and I feel like I’ve been able to do that this year and it’s kind of what made it successful.”
Bones’ success has not only taken this year’s entire defense up a notch, but it makes for a bright future ahead as well, as Aiden Fisher is a senior this season.
“One day, number four is not going to be out there for the Hoosiers playing mike linebacker and the next guy in that line is Bones Jones. I think he is up to that challenge,” said Haines.
But first, the Hoosiers will begin their quest in the College Football Playoff towards a national title.
A sentence that I’m sure three-years-ago Bones Jones could not fathom.
Follow along with all Hoosier Huddle coverage as we approach the Hoosiers kickoff in the Rose Bowl on New Years Day against Alabama!