Tom Allen Media Monday Notes and Quotes Penn State Week

Image: Zach Greene, Hoosier Huddle

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Indiana head coach Tom Allen took to the podium on Monday after the Hoosiers 31-14 loss to Rutgers and ahead to their trip to Happy Valley to face No. 10 Penn State.

NOTES:

Injuries:

The following players were all ruled OUT prior to Saturday’s game. An updated availability report will be out Saturday at 1:30 pm.

• CB Jamier Johnson 

• LB Kaiden Turner 

• OL Max Longman

Players of the Week:

Scout Team: Jeff Utzinger, Ta’Derius Collins, Eli Jochem and Mitchel Evans

TOM ALLEN QUOTES:

Opening Statement:

“Defensive scouts of the week, Jeff Utzinger and Ta'Derius Collins. Offensive scout of the week is Eli Jochem, and special teams scout of the week was Mitch Evans. Appreciate those guys and all that they do.

Just good news with our guys yesterday. Obviously just talking through their mindset, where we are, and obviously we've got to be able to continue to come together and fight, and just appreciate the guys and the way they've responded.

But obviously got to have a great week of preparation. It's very critical without a doubt, playing a very good football team on the road that has a lot of talent at all positions, all three phases, and a tough environment to play in. Great opportunity for our program to continue to grow and develop as a team. A lot of football ahead of us, so excited about the opportunity this week to come back and keep working.”

On The Evaluating Brendan Sorsby

“I thought he played tough. I thought he played gritty. I thought he competed. Just continue to grow and develop. I think he's got to continue to speed up some of his reads, but that's part of the process of growing and developing as a player.

I thought he did some really good things in terms of helping us move the football. Obviously got to continue to grow and develop as a decision maker in both throwing and running, but the throw game, as well, we've got to do a better job of making some of those contested catches. I think that will be a huge plus for him.

But also just kind of speeding up those reads. I think he'll get the ball out a little quicker as he continues to grow and develop.

Felt like after watching the film and meeting as a staff, feel good about moving forward with him.”

On Dealing with a Banged up Secondary

“Noah will be out for an extended period of time. He's been such a great player for us, great leader for us. Phillip, hopefully we'll get him back.

But other guys got to step up. We've got Louis will be back. He was obviously with the targeting call, so he'll be back for the first quarter next week, so that will be a plus for sure, and then Jordan Grier will be having to step up as well as Bryson Bonds will now have an opportunity to be able to play.

I feel like we have some depth at that spot, but obviously losing a guy like Noah for an extended period of time is tough, a tough blow without question, but he's going to continue to be a great leader for us and continue to get himself back as soon as possible.”

On the Progress Made within the Program

“we've made a huge emphasis on the nutritional part of our program, and that's an investment piece that we have to do, and there's no question, just ways to continue to develop our guys' bodies and continue to allow them to physically grow and mature while they're here and gaining good weight and just continue to get them as big and as fast and as strong as you can possibly be.

I think our strength staff works their tails off with these guys and does a lot of work with them even mentally and getting our guys back each week and helping us in that regard. Coach Wellman does a phenomenal job.

But you're always working hard to find ways to get better and improve in to me just everything we do to be able to help our guys because those are the things as a developmental program we have to do really well. Guys get here, they come here, their bodies can be grown and developed, and that's what you want to do when you have older guys that are playing for you. That's really the goal at the end of the day, and that's how you win in this conference.

I just think that's something that we're always looking at every possible way we can do to improve that area and keep investing in that part of our program.”

On Trent Howland and Amare Ferrell’s Performances Against Rutgers

“First off, with Amare, as a true freshman, he's a guy that even when you asked the older players once we started practicing, since he's been here, it's been, like, hey, this guy has got something different about him. He's a physical player. He kind of understands the game. He's a kid that's played a lot of football being from Florida where you have spring football, so he kind of brought that edge and confidence to him, so he had a chance to play an extended period of time on Saturday, which he was ready when called upon, and he's going to have to continue to grow in that role.

Really excited for his future. He's a guy that we made a decision even several weeks ago that we were not going to redshirt him because he was too valuable to us and playing on defense, as well, special teams. So really excited for his future.

Then Trent so me is a guy that's just really challenged about using his size and running with that kind of authority. Even though he's a big guy, he's always viewed himself a little bit more of a finesse type runner. That is not who you need to be. He's got great ball skills. He's a really good athlete. You should see him on the basketball court. He's an impressive athlete.

Just thought he had a chance to really be a good player, and he came here, had the knee injury right out of high school, actually heard that he was a really good basketball player in high school and he hurt that playing basketball, so he came here that way, so he's just kind of taking some time. But big, physical guy that just needs to take that ball and get downhill, and he's doing that now. You can see the benefits of that for him and for us, so excited for him and his development and the way he's responded.”