Countdown to 2020 IUFB Kickoff: 77 Days (Caleb Jones)

Written by Evan McShane (@very_reasonable)

Happy Juneteenth college football fans. We are 77 days away from Indiana’s scheduled kickoff to the 2020 season and today we feature the biggest Hoosier of them all in tackle Caleb Jones.

Name – Caleb Jones 

Position – Right Tackle 

Year/Hometown – Redshirt Junior from Indianapolis, Indiana 

Height – 6’8”

Weight – 362lbs 

Caleb Jones proved last season that his on-field performance could live up to the potential of his physical presence. Jones started in all 13 games on the offensive line and earned an honorable mention for All-Big Ten as voted on by the coaches. The young lineman’s performance at right tackle played an integral role in what turned out to be one of the highest scoring offenses in school history.

Heading into 2020, Jones is a bona fide veteran with over 20 college games under his belt, but he still has untapped potential. Athlon Sports pegged Jones, along with Matthew Bedford, as a potential breakout player: “Tackle Matthew Bedford has the athleticism to emerge as a star, and mammoth bookend Caleb Jones could join him with improved footwork.” Jones’ development will be something for fans to watch. While the Hoosiers would be happy with 13 solid games at right tackle, Jones might have something bigger in mind. Could he become one of the next great IU O-linemen?

Now an upperclassman, the redshirt junior is set to assume a leadership role. O-line coach Darren Hiller has praised Jones’ gregariousness. “Caleb has a great personality and will talk,” Hiller said during an interview about leadership on the offensive line. "We know who the leaders are from a work prospective. Now it's who is going to be that vocal guy. There are some questions in that regard." Jones very well could fill that vocal role.

As it always does in the Big Ten, the success of the offense in 2020 will depend heavily on the offensive line. The Hoosiers will be counting on Jones to lock down the right tackle position and keep left-handed QB Mike Penix’s blind spot clean.