2017 Spring Practice Preview: Safeties
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Jonathan Crawford headlines a talented group of safeties. Image: Cam Koenig HoosierHuddle.com
Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)
Hoosier Huddle is getting ready for the first spring practices of the Tom Allen era by previewing each position. Our focus today is on a position group that dramatically improved in their first year in a new scheme and is returning virtually every contributing player from a season ago: the safeties.
The Departed
At this time, there are no players from IU’s 2016 group of safeties that is expected to be absent from the 2017 roster. IU had no seniors in this group and no one has publicly announced any intention to leave the program with eligibility remaining. The returning developing talent, combined with the addition of a couple of very impressive newcomers, makes this as good a group of safeties we’ve seen in a long time in Bloomington.
The Sure-Fire Starters
In my opinion, Indiana has a pair of no-doubt starters that you can write into any projections in pen.
Jonathan Crawford – (6’2”/198/JR)– Crawford is one of the best safeties in the Big Ten and I firmly believe he has a legitimate chance at making the All-Big Ten 1st Team in 2017. He was fourth on the team in tackles in 2016 with 71 and he added three interceptions, seven passes broken up and one forced fumble. He was a constant presence on a defense that greatly improved. All of this came after his breakout freshman season when he was second on the team in tackles and had four interceptions. As long as he stays healthy, Jonathan Crawford will start as one of the safeties.
Marcelino Ball – (6’0”/210/SO)– Marcelino Ball was added to IU’s 2016 recruiting class as a late commit and his youth (he was only 16 at the time) led many, myself included, to assume he would be redshirted for his true freshman season. However, Ball was ready physically and IU’s new defensive scheme featured a “Husky” position that was perfect for him to play. He came on quickly in fall camp and established himself very early as IU’s most physically gifted at the position. Ball got lost occasionally in coverage but he was a true joy to watch as a physical safety/linebacker hybrid that pursued the ball and tackled incredibly well. He finished the season third on the team in tackles (75). Ball is a very young sophomore and I think his future is incredibly bright. There’s lots of options for the Hoosiers at Husky (more on that in a bit) but I think it is safe to assume Marcelino Ball is the leading man.
The Battle
Indiana has a pair of returning seniors who have each played a lot of football that will battle for the starting safety position next to Jonathan Crawford. It’s a nice problem to have! Both of these players will play plenty in 2017 but only one can start.
Tony Fields - (5’11”/203/SR)– The senior from Tallahassee is an underappreciated member of this program, in my opinion. He’s been a contributor for three straight seasons and he had a nice breakout season in 2016 with 70 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes broken up. I don’t think many realize he started every game in 2016 and he had eight tackles in a game on four different occasions. He’s the odds-on favorite to win the starting job once again. I’m not writing this in pen just yet though because a healthy Chase Dutra could have something to say about things.
Chase Dutra – (6’1”/200/RS-SR)– It feels like the redshirt senior from Brownsburg has been in Bloomington for a lot longer than he has (and that’s a compliment). He’s played a lot of football for the Hoosiers and he’ll be a valuable contributor during his senior campaign. 2016 was a bit of an odd season for Dutra as he battled a couple of nagging injuries and played in ten games. He was right behind Fields in tackles, totaling 46 with one fumble forced, one fumble recovered and one blocked punt. He was outstanding against Michigan State (a game he was the captain for) and he had a solid game against Utah. Dutra is a little bigger than Fields but he’s not quite as athletic or as stellar in coverage. I would expect to see him be a valuable contributor on special teams and a member of the safety rotation but it’s possible he has a great spring and pushes ahead of Fields.
Returning Depth – Safety and Husky
Zeke Walker – (6’2”/215/RS-JR)– The South Carolina native only had ten tackles during his redshirt sophomore season but I thought he looked quite good during his limited action. He is physically imposing and has the length and frame to make an ideal Husky. He’s going to backup Marcelino Ball and I think he’ll battle Bryant Fitzgerald for snaps, in addition to the special teams duty I’m assuming he’ll have.
Ben Bach – (6’1”/197/RS-SR)– Bach saw his playing time decrease during the 2016 season thanks to the emergence of freshman corner A’Shon Riggins. He ended up starting the first four games at corner and appearing in 11 games total. Bach, a former walk-on, was given a scholarship during preseason camp and he totaled five tackles on the season. He’s a versatile player because of his size and it’s very possible he sees spot duty as a valuable depth piece at both cornerback and Husky.
Kiante Walton – (6’2”/215/RS-JR)– Walton is a big safety that figures to be behind Crawford, Fields and Dutra. He might also find himself behind Juwan Burgess and it’s important he carves out a role for himself during spring practice. Walton appeared in all 13 games, mostly on special teams, and made two tackles last season. That was a step back from his 2015 season when he started the first two games. However, he suffered a season-ending injury (he medically redshirted) and his playing time hasn’t been the same since.
Jayme Thompson – (6’2”/195/RS-SR)– After transferring from Iowa Western Community College as a standout JUCO prospect, Thompson was expected to play significant snaps in IU’s secondary. However, a turf toe injury and the unexpected emergence of guys like Tony Fields and Marcelino Ball limited Thompson to only one appearance during the entirety of the 2016 season. He redshirted the 2013 season at Ohio State and excelled at junior college so it wouldn’t be shocking to see him emerge with a strong spring but with the returning players in front of him and the addition of Burgess and Fitzgerald, it’s tough to envision a large role for Thompson.
Jameel Cook – (6’1”/203/RS-SO)– The redshirt sophomore from Texas has had both of his seasons in Bloomington cut short by injury. After appearing in eight games as a true freshman in 2015, including one start, Cook’s season was cut short. He left his mark on the season though as his 96-yard interception return against Florida International sealed the win. He was expected to be a part of the rotation at both safety and corner in 2016 but he was injured during the opening contest and received a medical redshirt. Cook has ability and his versatility, similar to Ben Bach in that regard, could make him a valuable depth piece but his first goal this spring is to prove he’s healthy.
Arriving Soon
Juwan Burgess and Bryant Fitzgerald are well-regarded incoming freshman that both have an opportunity to play in 2017. Fitzgerald is a hard-hitting dynamo from Avon that is expected to battle for playing time on special teams and at Husky. Burgess was a surprise commitment as he flipped from a pledge to USC thanks to his connection with Tom Allen and his son Thomas (Burgess and Allen both played at Plant High School). Burgess is a phenomenal athlete that will likely get a look at kick return and punt return. He is a ball-hawking safety that appears to be the heir apparent to Jonathan Crawford at safety. While I don’t expect him to see a ton of playing time on defense in 2017 (Crawford is a guy you just don’t take off the field), he was a huge addition to this program. Neither player will be present for spring practice.
Things We Will Be Watching For
Taking the Next Step
IU’s defense took a big leap forward in 2016 and the play of the safeties and the new Husky position was a big part of it. Jonathan Crawford, Marcelino Ball and Tony Fields all had terrific seasons and guys like Chase Dutra and Zeke Walker and Ben Bach provide quality depth. They are all back and IU has added two talented newcomers. The expectation is now that this group will be able to take another step forward and spring practice will be the first time we see whether or not they are ready.
How Does the Depth Play Out?
I think the top four guys (Crawford, Fields, Ball and Dutra) are all pretty safe with their spot in the rotation. This spring period is very important for players like Walker, Walton, Bach, Cook and Thompson because they’ll need to establish themselves as reliable options before the arrival of Burgess and Fitzpatrick. Failing to impress in the spring will likely lead to less work in fall camp and less playing time during the 2017 season.