It’s homecoming week for the IU football program.
The Hoosiers will look for their first homecoming game victory since 2010 as the Iowa Hawkeyes visit Bloomington for a noon kickoff Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Ahead of the game, IU coaches and players met with media members Monday in the Henke Hall of Champions inside Memorial Stadium to recap last weekend’s 49-26 road loss at No. 3 Ohio State.
From the expansion of IU’s downfield passing game to some recruiting news made by the Hoosiers on Sunday, here’s what was discussed and learned on Monday.
Cam Jones has developed into a reliable defensive presence for the Hoosiers
A three-star outside linebacker recruit from Cordova, Tennessee, Jones has settled in at the husky position for IU. Sophomore Marcelino Ball is the current starter at husky for the Hoosiers, but Jones has become a reliable backup.
After missing out on IU’s win at Rutgers due to an injury suffered when making an interception against Michigan State, Jones returned to IU’s rotation against the Buckeyes.
Jones posted a fumble recovery and a quarterback hit against No. 3 Ohio State.
“I feel like my comfort level has grown,” Jones said. “It’s been real good, and I feel like I’m adjusting to the defense well.”
Jones singled out some of IU’s experienced defensive players, like junior linebacker Reakwon Jones, senior safety Jonathan Crawford and Ball, as players who have given him advice this season.
“The husky position on defense is a role on defense where you’ve got to be a great leader, on and off the field,” Jones said. “Just knowing the plays and knowing where to get everybody lined up at, you just have to take control at that position.”
After watching film of Jones following his recruitment, Allen said he thought Jones would be “the perfect husky” for IU because of “his athleticism, his length and his size.” Jones committed to the Hoosiers as a wide receiver initially, before decommitting and then recommitting as a defensive player.
Allen said Jones played wide receiver on his high school team, as well as defensive end, but also moved around to linebacker and played the wildcat quarterback position.
“I believe he’s going to be a really special player,” Allen said. “I think he’s got a great future ahead of him, and really pleased with his progress. He’s everything we hoped he would be.”
Running back Sampson James flips commitment from Ohio State to IU
Allen can’t officially comment on recruiting matters with regard to his program, but he hinted at the joy brought to him by the news of running back Sampson James’ verbal commitment to the Hoosiers.
Rated as a four-star running back recruit by 247Sports in the Class of 2019 from Avon High School in Avon, Indiana, James had committed to Ohio State in March. But, after being in Columbus, Ohio, for Saturday’s game between IU and Ohio State, James decommitted from Ohio State and verbally committed to IU on Sunday afternoon.
Listed a 6-foot-1-inch, 211-pound running back, James was recruited to IU by running backs coach Mike Hart.
Allen said that if anyone had been near Memorial Stadium on Sunday they would have “heard me screaming for quite a bit.”
James is ranked as the eighth-best running back prospect nationally by 247Sports. He is the highest-ranked prospect to give a verbal commitment to IU in the history of 247Sports recruiting rankings.
“I want to be able to know that a guy could come here and reach all of his dreams,” Allen said. “So that’s the message we’re sending. But that has to be backed up by how you perform and how you show progress.”
IU’s passing offense looks to continue its expanded, downfield style
Sophomore quarterback Peyton Ramsey took on a new role during IU’s loss at Ohio State.
He attempted a career-high 49 passes in the game, and most of them were long passes downfield to big play wide receivers like junior Nick Westbrook and senior J-Shun Harris II.
Ramsey finished the game with 322 passing yards and three touchdowns. He completed passes to nine different receivers, and it was the first time all season Ramsey threw for more than 300 yards in a game.
“There were times where they were just daring us to throw it to Nick on the outside,” Ramsey said. “That’s something that we’ve seen and now there’s confidence in us doing it, and it’s something that does have to continue, especially against good defenses.”
While IU’s passing game took a more vertical approach, Ramsey’s accuracy suffered.
He completed just 26 of those 49 pass attempts for a completion percentage of 53.1 percent. It was his lowest completion percentage since IU’s homecoming loss last season against Michigan.
Ramsey said he enjoys being able to throw the ball further downfield as part of IU’s offense, especially when IU’s larger wide receivers like junior Donavan Hale and Westbrook are matched up against smaller cornerbacks.
“Execution is the biggest thing,” Ramsey said. “Throughout the first six games, there have been times where I think we’ve kind of stalled on offense. It’s kind of been a product of shooting ourselves in the foot more than anything.”
