Isaiah Jones Family ‘All in on’ the Hoosiers in Their Matchup Against No. 4 Ohio State

No. 5 Indiana vs. No. 4 Ohio State has been a matchup that Hoosier fans have been looking forward to for a long time. Indiana is 6-0 after a tight, come from behind, victory over Nebraska, and is now looking ahead at their matchup against the Buckeyes at noon on Saturday.

The matchup against Ohio State means a bit more to senior linebacker Isaiah Jones, who was raised in Ohio, and who’s father played at Ohio State. D.J. Jones was a tight end for Ohio State in the 90’s. During his time there, he won a Big Ten title, and a Rose Bowl.

Isaiah Jones grew up in Ohio, immersed in the football culture there, but now in his time with Indiana, he has won the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl. Indiana took down Ohio State last year, to win the Big Ten Championship. The IU defense was the star of the game, holding the Buckeyes to just 10 points.

This year, Isaiah Jones has taken a step up in leadership role for the Hoosiers. He is now the mike linebacker, and is calling the shots for IU defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ defense. With the biggest matchup of the season approaching, the Jones family has taken their sides.

“My dad is like my biggest supporter,” Jones said. “So, he’s all IU. He’s all in on my success and he had his time there and obviously growing up in Ohio, but no, he’s all in. He’s all in on me. He’s interested in our game plan. He wants nothing but the best for the Hoosiers”.

Obviously the Ohio roots never leave you, and is still a big part of D.J. Jones’ life, and his son Isaiah’s, but now it is all Cream and Crimson for the Jones family.

Indiana is going to need every fan they can get, as their defense tries to limit and contain star receiver Jeremiah Smith. Smith has 916 yards and 11 touchdowns through six weeks of the season. He averages 19.1 yards per reception.

“When you can stop the run and kind of try to take the legs out from underneath them,” Jones said. They got to start playing left-handed. They got to start doing things that are uncharacteristic for them. And I think that’s kind of where we try to focus is we’re not going to let you beat us with your best people. We’re not going to let you beat us with the guy that’s been torching the rest of the country”.

The guy who has been dominating the rest of the country of course is Smith. Indiana knows that Ohio State will try to play through him, so the plan is to take him out. Don’t let the Buckeye’s best player torch you all night. The only problem is that it is easier said than done.

This is why IU needs all of Hoosier nation, including the Jones family to bring it on Saturday afternoon. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti recently called for a great crowd to show up.

“I’m glad we’re playing at home. We really need our crowd to be loud and very involved. We got to give them reasons to be,” Cignetti said.

For Isaiah Jones, the crowd member he needs the most is the support from his father, the former Buckeye, but now forever a Hoosier.