Photo by @the4huskies
Daddy Hoosier | October 13, 2020
The Indiana defense under Tom Allen and Kane Wommack is a 4-2-5, which means there are four down linemen, two linebackers and five defensive backs. Said another way the Hoosiers’ base look is essentially a Nickle package with two corners, two safeties and a hybrid Defensive Back / Linebacker player known as a Husky.
Secondaries are frequently exploited in college football but a defensive backfield that can make plays and keep offenses in front of them can make good team great. This 2020 Defensive Back group may just have what it takes to do just that.
Indiana returns a great deal of experience to its defensive backfield including 215 games, 48 starts, 375 tackles (294 solo, 16.5 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks), 2 hurries, 48 pass breakups, 10 interceptions, 8 fumbles forced, 8 fumbles recovered and a touchdown. And that’s without including Senior Husky Marcelino Ball who, to quote Clark Kellogg, is a stat-stuffer-supreme all by himself(1).
The probable DB starters for the Hoosiers in 2020 are as follows, though a surprise is always a possibility:
Husky – Bryant Fitzgerald (#31), Jr
Left Cornerback – Tiawan Mullen (#3), So
Strong Safety – Devon Matthews (#1), Jr
Free Safety – Jamar Johnson (#22), So
Right Cornerback – Reese Taylor (#2), Jr
Bryant Fitzgerald (Avon, IN) has played at Safety and Husky in his career at Indiana but following Ball’s unexpected absence Fitzgerald will be the man at Husky for the Hoosiers. Zach Osterman of the Indy Star reports that Husky is where Coach Tom Allen always envisioned Fitzgerald to begin with so don’t be surprised if ‘Fitz’ really comes into his own this year in a crucial role.
Tiawan Mullen (Fort Lauderdale, FL) was easily the newcomer who made the biggest splash for the Hoosiers in 2019. He was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by both the coaches and the media, first-team Freshman All-American by The Athletic and 247Sports, and second team All-Freshman by Pro Football Focus (PFF). He led the Big Ten and finished 11th in the country with 13 pass breakups. He’s already one of the best corners in the Big Ten should only going to get better – a scary thought for opposing offenses. Having a corner who can consistently cover one on one without help really opens up a lot of opportunities for a Defensive Coordinator.
Devon Matthews (Jacksonville, FL) has played in 23 career games including 6 starts. His 59 career tackles and 37 career solos both rank third among returning Hoosiers.
Jamar Johnson (Sarasota, FL) played in all 13 games last year including a start at Husky. Johnson will likely be primarily a Safety this season but he could also be worked in as Husky in certain packages. In 2019 he had 3 sacks and a hurry, showing that he be effective as a blitzer.
Reese Taylor (Indianapolis, IN) became the starter late in the year in 2019, but once he quickly owned that role. All 20 of his tackles were solo and in a short amount of time he had 3 pass breakups and an interception. He started his freshman campaign as a corner before being converted to receiver. As a WR he gathered 28 catches for 174 yards before being moved back to corner in 2019. He was Indiana Mr. Football in 2017 as a Quarterback for Ben Davis. The Giants were a perfect 14-0, State Champions and finished the year ranked no. 5 nationally.
Depth
At the Husky position look for Jamar Johnson to get some snaps. D.K. Bonhomme is listed at Stinger but according to The Daily Hoosier he is also being looked at to add depth at Husky.
Junior Jaylin Williams (#23) and Freshman Josh Sanguinetti (#19) will compete to add depth at Corner. Williams has played in 25 career games and has 41 tackles and a sack on his Hoosier resume.
Junior Jawan Burgess (#5) is one of the more experienced returning Hoosiers with 25 games and 7 starts under his belt. He has 54 career tackles (35 solo, 4 TFLs) 2 fumbles forced and 3 fumbles recovered.
Senior Raheem Layne is the most experienced Hoosier DB with 37 games and 13 career starts but his status is uncertain as a foot injury will force him to miss at least part of the season. Layne has played in 37 games including 13 starts and has 82 career tackles. If he can make it back it would be a big boost for IU.
According to the Coaching Staff True Freshman Bryson Bonds (#24) is already impressing with his maturity, focus and work ethic and may see plenty snaps for the 2020 Hoosiers. By all accounts he is a savvy student of the game and is learning to play at the college level very quickly.
Sophomore Noah Pierre (#21) is a natural Safety and has made 6 tackles in 11 career appearances.
Graduate Senior Gabe Cohen (#26) was a walk-on transfer from Villanova in 2019. He appeared in 1 game (Northwestern) and red shirted last year. While at Villanova he played in 16 games and collected 50 tackles including 8 for a loss. He also had 4 pass breakups and adds experience and depth at the Safety Position.
Development
Jr – Jeremy Boyd (#38) – Indianapolis, IN
Jr – Samuel Slusher (#43) – Greensburg, IN
So – Joseph Daniels Jr (#20) – Johns Creek, GA
So – Jordan Jusevitch (#30) – Lowell, IN
So – DeKaleb Thomas (#35) – Jeffersonville, IN
Fr – Larry Tracy III (#13) – Indianapolis, IN
Fr – Nicholas Grieser (#36) – New Castle, IN
Fr – Christopher Keys (#7) – Collins, MS
Fr – Lem Watley-Neely (#12) Harper Woods, MI
Fr – Liam Zaccheo (#29) – Jensen Beach, FL
Fr – Connor Hole (#33) – Jamestown, IN
Productivity
Games
37 – Layne
25 – Fitzgerald
25 – Burgess
25 – Williams
23 – Matthews
23 – Johnson
14 – Slusher*
13 – Mullen
11 – Taylor**
11 – Pierre
3 – Jusevitch
2 – Daniels
2 – Boyd
1 – Tracy III
1 – Cohen***
Starts
13 – Layne
9 – Fitzgerald
8 – Mullen
7 – Burgess
6 – Matthews
2 – Taylor
1 – Johnson
1 – Burgess
1 – Williams
Tackles
82 – Layne
58 – Fitzgerald
57 – Matthews
54 – Burgess
41 – Williams
29 – Mullen
27 – Johnson
20 – Taylor
6 – Pierre
1 – Slusher
Solo
71 – Layne
48 – Fitzgerald
39 – Matthews
35 – Burgess
34 – Williams
25 – Mullen
20 – Taylor
20 – Johnson
3 – Pierre
Tackles for a Loss
4.0 – Burgess
3.5 – Mullen
3.0 – Fitzgerald
2.5 – Layne
1.0 – Taylor
1.0 – Matthews
1.0 – Williams
0.5 – Pierre
Sacks
3.0 – Johnson
1.0 – Williams
Hurries
1 – Johnson
1 – Fitzgerald
Pass Breakups
13 – Mullen
7 – Williams
6 – Johnson
6 – Layne
6 – Fitzgerald
4 – Matthews
3 – Taylor
3 – Burgess
Interceptions
3 – Johnson
3 – Fitzgerald
2 – Interception
1 – Taylor
1 – Matthews
Fumbles Forced
2 – Mullen
2 – Fitzgerald
2 – Burgess
1 – Johnson
1 – Layne
Fumbles Recovered
3 – Burgess
2 – Mullen
1 – Matthews
1 – Fitzgerald
1 – Layne
Touchdowns
1 – Johnson
Coaches
Brandon Shelby has been Cornerbacks Coach in Bloomington since 2011. As such he has mentored Tiawan Mullen and Rashard Fant. His pupils can frequently be found at or near the top of the Big Ten in pass breakups while collecting a high volume of tackles.
- Cornerbacks Coach, Louisiana Monroe 2010
- Defensive Backs, Portland State 2009
- Defensive Backs, San Diego 2008
- Graduate Assistant, Arizona 2007
- Defensive Assistant, Oklahoma 2006
- 4 year letterman at DB for Oklahoma, All-Big 12 & All Academic Big 12 honoree
- Played in two BCS National Championship games and three consecutive BCS bowl games
- Has a Bachelor’s and Master’s from Oklahoma
- Cornerbacks Coach, Florida Atlantic 2019
- Co-Defensive Coordinator / Secondary, Ole Miss 2013-2018
- Cornerbacks Coach, Oklahoma State 2008-2012
- Special Teams Coordinator / Cornerbacks Coach, Tulsa 2005-07
- Graduate Assistant at Alabama 2003-04
- Two year starter as DB at Alabama
- Has a Bachelor’s and Master’s from Alabama
Notes
(1) Marcelino Ball career Stats: 41 games, 38 starts, 201 tackles, 142 solo, 15.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, 8 hurries, 16 pass breakups, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble forced, 1 fumble recovery
*primarily special teams
**does not include 12 games as an offensive player
***does not include 16+ games at Villanova
Originally published here:
Defensive Back Preview
Photo by @the4huskies Daddy Hoosier | October 12, 2020 The Indiana defense under Tom Allen and Kane Wommack is a 4-2-5, which means there are four down linemen, two linebackers and five defensive b…
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