Isaiah Jones arrived in Bloomington after a successful high school career in Ohio and he was expected by many to make an early impact for Tom Allen’s Indiana Hoosiers. Things did not go as he likely planned. Jones appeared in two games in both 2022 and 2023 as he sat behind players like Aaron Casey and Jacob Mangum-Farrar on defenses that surrendered nearly 30 points per game. Tom Allen was fired and Isaiah Jones was largely an afterthought when fans discussed who would transfer out and who the new coaching staff would keep around.
Curt Cignetti represented not only a new start for Indiana University football but also a fresh opportunity for redshirt sophomore Isaiah Jones. Jones was behind James Madison transfers Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker but he earned the coaching staff’s trust as the third linebacker and had 42 tackles in 2024.
His role increased in 2025 and he was regularly on the field in three linebacker formations and during stretches when Aiden Fisher was injured. Jones racked up 78 tackles and earned the moniker of “Bones” Jones as the Indiana Hoosiers went 16-0 and won the National Championship. Aiden Fisher is now in the NFL and Isaiah Jones is the new leader of the linebacker corps.
He is starting at MIKE linebacker and holds the critical distinction of being IU’s “green dot” player for the 2026 season. This means, just as Aiden Fisher did for the past two seasons, Isaiah Jones will serve as the coach on the field with a direct communication line with defensive coordinator Bryant Haines between each play. There are changes to his role but Jones is prepared for the challenge.
“The only difference is instead of looking over to the sideline, you just hear Coach Haines in your ear,” Jones told the media after practice on Wednesday morning. “So that kind of speeds up the process for me. I can set the front, set the field and then it kind of takes looking over to the sideline off my plate.”
Filling the major hole left by Aiden Fisher on the field is one thing but the task of filling the leadership void is perhaps a bigger challenge. Fisher was in constant communication with Bryant Haines and had an input on the defense that went beyond what you’d expect from a collegiate linebacker. Isaiah Jones credits Fisher for teaching him how to lead so that he is ready now that it is his turn.
“For me it’s just being, you know, not only a vocal leader but a leader by actions. Pulling young guys into the film room, it’s leading by example. With Aiden not there, now that you’re the guy people look up to, you have to up your standard.”
Bryant Haines is perhaps the top defensive coordinator in college football and the Indiana Hoosiers return 10 of the top 15 tacklers from the 2025 unit that allowed only 11.7 points per game. The only thing higher than the external expectations for this season’s defense could be the internal standard from Curt Cignetti and Bryant Haines.
Isaiah Jones was asked about how the defense has approached fall camp and the upcoming season after winning the national title. His answer sounded an awful lot like Curt Cignetti’s oft-repeated line about “stalking complacency” and would make his head coach proud.
“We don’t really listen to any of that. It’s a new team and this team has to prove everything this year.”
The 2026 Indiana Hoosiers will begin their quest for a National Championship with a home date on September against the North Texas Mean Green.
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