Revamped Running Back Room Being Led by Black

Image: Indiana University Athletics

Written by: TJ Inman

Head coach Curt Cignetti has overhauled the coaching staff and the roster. IU will have a new starting quarterback, a couple of new starting offensive linemen, a new crop of wide receivers, a new starting tight end and a new offensive coordinator. Fans that have been forced to sit through the past few years watching Indiana try to score will be hoping what they see in 2024 is unrecognizably improved and one of the pieces aiming to make that dream a reality is running back Kaelon Black.

The stocky running back will be a junior this coming season and he spoke to the media on Thursday about how the Hoosiers are preparing for the 2024 campaign under Curt Cignetti and his staff. Black made it very clear, the coaches know how to win and the players need to follow in order to rid themselves of the “old Indiana ways” of the past.

“With the help of our coaching staff, bringing in winning traditions and winning ways and trying to filter out last season and bring in a new Indiana,” Black said. “I feel like the players have definitely came a long way as well, making sure everyone is on the same page and everyone is staying humble and acting like we’ve been here before.”

One of the more important parts of this offseason is integrating so many new players from different places into the culture that Curt Cignetti and his staff are trying to build. For example, the IU running back room currently consists of players that spent the 2023 season at four different colleges: Indiana (Trent Howland, David Holloman), James Madison (Black and TySon Lawton), North Carolina (Elijah Green) and Justice Ellison (Wake Forest). The story is similar at several other position groups and getting all of the new faces to coalesce as one team is a tall task that requires leaders. While vocal leadership does not come naturally to him, Kaelon Black was called into action early by Curt Cignetti and he has grown into the role.

“Definitely having to be more vocal than I’ve been. When you are in a new place, you need to make sure that people feel you and know where you are coming from. I’ve had problems with that in the past but it’s (being vocal) has definitely come more natural with experience,” Black told the media. 

Of course, leadership and culture will only go so far. Those things must be in place but talent and production are key ingredients to making 2024 a winning season as well. Kaelon Black looks the part of a player ready to move up a level and show what he can do in the Big Ten. Last season, he led the Dukes with 142 carries for an average of 4.49 yards per carry. He only scored one touchdown, often ceding goal line touches to running back mate Ty Son Lawton or quarterback Jordan McCloud. Despite that, Black never grumbled and still followed the staff to Bloomington as an early transfer target and he spoke glowingly about the winning mentality from coaches that have a proven track record. That shows maturity and unselfishness, qualities his peers can certainly respect.

Many of IU’s transfers have arrived in Bloomington after being highly successful at the Group of Five level. Programs like Troy, James Madison, Ohio University and Old Dominion were former schools for current Hoosiers. Multiple of those players have spoken about a desire to prove that they belong at the Big Ten level. Kaelon Black is no exception and he did not shy away from a question about his thoughts on that subject when asked.

“For me personally, that is something that has always been in the back of my head. I’ve never said anything vocally and I’m thankful I’ve been able to play on the Division One level for so long and I give my thanks to God for that. I know my other teammates from places like Troy and ODU definitely have the same mindset. I feel like Coach Cig brought in the right guys.”

The Indiana Hoosiers continue to utilize spring practice as a way to gear up for the summer training sessions and the 2024 season. While the conference he will be playing at has changed and there will be more eye balls on him when he takes the field, Kaelon Black’s mindset remains the same: “I just make the most of my opportunity when I get it.”