Allen Says Multiple Quarterbacks Will Be Ready for Rutgers, Running Back Injuries and Other Notes From Thursday

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana quarterback room is becoming a very tricky thing to handle for the Hoosiers. “We will have multiple quarterbacks ready to play on Saturday.” Indiana head coach Tom Allen said on Thursday ahead of his team’s noon matchup with the Rutger Scarlet Knights. IU has been down to just one scholarship quarterback, Donaven McCulley, after season-opening starter Michael Penix Jr. was hurt against Penn State and backup Jack Tuttle knocked out against Ohio State.

The Hoosiers sit at 2-7 (0-6), but Allen had encouraging news on Tuttle and Penix. “They're both further along. I would say you know, Jack's probably further along than Michael based on just the progression. But bottom line is is that we're going to have multiple guys ready to go on Saturday and then we'll see how it plays itself out.” Allen stated.

True Freshman Donaven McCulley has started the last two games for the Hoosiers and has flashed some potential. He has played in four games so far this season and have said that they no longer plan on redshirting him. Allen stated earlier this week that the goal is to beat Rutgers, so having multiple quarterbacks ready should help that cause. However, McCulley is the future of this program over the next three seasons and needs the game reps to help accelerate his development. He has performed admirably although the results haven’t been there in the win column. Does IU really sit McCulley to play Penix or Tuttle the majority of snaps? That’s the big question and it has far reaching implications.

Stephen Carr Status Update

Stephen Carr left the Michigan game in the first half with an ankle injury and never returned. His status is still up in the air according to Allen who said, “[Carr’s] trying to get his way back still don't know yet. Obviously the other guys that have been playing will be you know given great opportunities to take full advantage of that if Stephen cannot go and then obviously even some of the younger guys David Holloman has been getting lots of reps this week and and Charlie Spegal as well getting more reps those guys have been in the mix more so here just trying to see who we have to be able to get those opportunities and make plays for us.”

Behind Carr have been walk-on running backs Davion Ervin-Poindexter and Chris Childers both have ran the ball hard this season. Another walk-on Charlie Spegal has been getting more reps and could find his way into the rotation along with David Holloman.

Allen Focused on Recruiting Positions of Need

With the last quarter of the season here and bowl eligibility out the window, attention is being turned to the recruiting trail where the Hoosiers will try and build on their 2022 class that is ranked 28th in the country. The Hoosiers will have some holes to fill as they have had some in-season attrition and departures through the Transfer Portal.

“The focus in that area is going to be on the defensive line, potentially, in the secondary [at] safety, wide receiver, and I think you're always trying to mature offensive linemen can can really be a beneficiary who can play multiple positions is big and I just think that the running back position to me is, is kind of an obvious one.” Allen said. “But we're going to have those areas of need and we'll address those and try to find the best very, very best players to fill those whether they're out of high school or through the transfer portal meet it or not.”