Three interceptions in two games have put Indiana Hoosiers Amare Ferrell in the spotlight. But when asked about his recent production Tuesday, he was quick to give the credit to his coach.
For Ferrell, those takeaways start with preparation and end with a simple responsibility: making the play when the opportunity comes.
“I really just want to give all the praise to Coach Haines for putting me in that position to make those plays,” Ferrell said. “He always talks about whenever that play come to you, you got to be the one that make the play. Nobody else can make that play for you.”
That approach has helped Ferrell turn his preparation into production. He said reading the quarterback’s eyes is part of the process, but so is recognizing formations and remembering the tips his coach emphasized throughout the week.
Once the ball is snapped, it comes down to trusting those reads and playing fast.
The same trust carries through Indiana’s secondary. Ferrell said the defensive backs spend much of their time together away from football, building relationships that make communication on the field feel natural.
“We real close. I mean, we do everything together off the field,” Ferrell said. “Just being on the field, I mean, it’s real easy because I know what they’re thinking. They know what I’m thinking.”
The group has also developed its own identity through the “drenched” identity, which Ferrell said he originally came up with last year. The meaning is straightforward. Instead of saying a receiver is covered, the defensive backs say everything is “drenched”.
What began within the room has caught on with fans, with purple emojis becoming part of the conversation on social media.
Behind that personality is a group Ferrell wants to lead through his actions. As a four-year player who has watched Indiana’s program change, he understands the importance of setting an example for younger teammates and transfers.
“Not just being somebody that’s just a talker,” Ferrell said. “Just being somebody that live it every single day.”
That connection has strengthened through difficult moments, too. Ferrell pointed to the comeback against Nebraska as an experience that helped prepare Indiana to find another way to win at Michigan.
Now, with Minnesota next, his focus is on correcting mistakes rather than getting caught up in the atmosphere surrounding the weekend.
The interceptions have drawn attention, but Ferrell’s description of Indiana’s defense went beyond any individual’s numbers.
“We going to fly around,” Ferrell said. “We’re going to hit you for 60 minutes and we not going to let up at all.”
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