Indiana All-American Tegray Scales is not Resting on His Laurels in 2017
/
Indiana will return its All-American linebacker in Tegray Scales in 2017. Image: IUHoosiers.com
Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Indiana linebacker Tegray Sclaes took home All-America honors after finishing the 2016 season as the nation's 10th leading tackler with 126 stops and leading the nation in tackles for loss with 23.5. Many people would be beating their chest and coast through spring on last season's accomplishments, but Tegray Scales isn't just anybody.
Scales prides himself on his work ethic and linebackers coach William Inge say it's a major reason why Scales had the season he had in 2016. "When you become an All-American, it’s usually because of your work habits and your work ethic." Inge said. "So for him, he has not changed. He has been continuing to elevate hiss game and elevate his level of preparation."
The rising senior linebacker had a similar thought when asked if all the accolades had changed his work ethic. “I really don’t change it too much. I have the same goals, which are be better everyday, get better, and help my team win ballgames. Same goals.”
Scales is returning to Bloomington for his senior year after going through the NFL's evaluation process, but he said coming back was more about unfinished business. “It was just the process that I went through" Scales told Hoosier Huddle. "Just want to help the team, and there was some unfinished business that I felt like needed to be done here. And you know, that’s a decision that my team helped me with.”
The Hoosiers have been knocking on the door against several top teams the last couple of years, which has prompted head coach Tom Allen to adopt 'Breakthrough' as his team's one word for 2017. To Scales 'Breakthrough' means "just taking the next step. Previously, we showed we can compete with these teams, and now it’s like what do we have to do to win these close games. And I think it’s the small things on and off the field.”
Allen has also challenged his team to pick one word for 2017. Scales chose 'Solid, "a word that me and my brother had when we were younger. Basically, nothing can break us in whatever situation you put us in, we’re going to come out solid. That’s the word I’m playing by this year" Scales said.
Scales and the Hoosier defense should be primed for another big year as they enter the second season of running Tom Allen's scheme. Many coaches have said the difference this year is the team is going from knowing the defense to understanding it. For Scales the benefits are far reaching. "It’s more of an understanding of what the people around me are doing. If I know my job but I don’t know what the guys around me are doing, then I really don’t understand the defense. Just doing that can help us take a four yard gain to a two yard gain, just knowing that it’s all about trust. When you understand the defense, you can trust that the guys will be there.”
Scales and the Hoosiers finish spring practice on April 13th with the annual Cream and Crimson game at Memorial Stadium starting at 7pm. IU will open the 2017 regular season at home against the Ohio State Buckeyes.