August 19, 2025 • 35 mins
Indiana football's season opener is less than two weeks away. Peegs.com's Matt Weaver and Jared Kelly break down everything they've seen from the Hoosiers during fall camp, individual standouts and what's to come.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome and everybody. It is Tuesday, August nineteenth. Indiana is
less than two weeks away from game day to season
open on August thirtieth against Old Dominion to kick off
the twenty twenty five season. Matt Weaver piace dot Com.
Jerry Kelly here to break everything down. We're in week
three of fall camp here, Matt. We've seen a lot
over the last three weeks. It should be knowned there
(00:25):
are some things we can't talk about in relation to
the depth chart, injuries of that kind of stuff, which
I'm sure you guys have seen over on the site.
But we will do our best to sort of give
you guys what we have seen throughout fall camp. Guys
that have stood out to us, you know, guys that
we think could emerge more than we thought earlier before
his fall camp. Matt, let's start with yesterday. We're here
from Kurt Signetti the third time I believe during fall camp,
(00:47):
to just give us an update on some different things.
He talked about Fernanda Mendoza. He talked about the progress
Indiana has been making. Obviously not satisfied with you know
where they are to this point, but you know this
is they're moving along, it sounds like. And then e
j Williams two Churtzinetti talked about he's had a pretty
good fall camp.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
After the first few practices.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Where do you want to start here, Matt, There's a
couple of different things. I know you wrote about a
couple of things this morning as well.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, excuse me, I put a notebook up and kind
of covered some things.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
I mean, not not everything he talked about, but just
kind of you know, things he kind of touched on.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
But you know that you know he's he.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
Was pretty tight. I mean, people asking about e j
or I'm sorry about Franam and Dooza, and you know
he's he's a coach. He's not going to talk about
exactly what he can do, but everybody's seen it. I mean,
we know, you know what he knows is going to do.
You know what a lot what he did at CALS
is what he's going to be doing in Indiana. I'm
sure there's some things that that you know, don't expand
on his game, but.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
You know, ej Ones, I'm really excited to see him personally.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
I know you've talked about him, We've talked about him
on here, but I know you've done stuff on him,
and Signetti, who's not usually a guy who throws out
a lot of praise, has been very high on him,
you know.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
So it's just an interesting.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Story because, like I said, you know, he jumped into
the portal, so it was pretty much, you know, he
was welcome back. And you know, receivers a position where
I'm not saying it's easy to get guys in the.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Porter, but it's one of the easier positions, I think
to reload from the portal because there's just so many
of them out there. And they took him back, So
it tells you that what they think of him as
a as a kid and as a player. And he's
got big time ability.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
I mean, we've seen it, you know a couple of
years ago when he was able to stay healthy for
a decent part.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Of the season.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
You made some big catches, a big catch at Illinois
at two point conversion late in the game to send
that into overtime. They end up losing, but he's he's
the guy that I think physically might be the most
talent receiver on the roster, and I'm really interested to see,
you know what kind of and it's a deep receiver room.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
But I think he's a guy that's really going to
impress this year. So you know, Aiden Fisher was that
he was asked about him. Yeah, I kind of put it.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
He's a guy that I mean, I don't know that
you could find a player who's more all in than
Aidan Fisher for what a program's trying to do than
he is with it.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
You know, I'm sure it's like that at j and
you we want to see him Indiana. And then I
thought his leadership reply was kind of interesting.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
About you can actually have too many chiefs and you
need you know, you need just a few voices or
few leaders and more guys who kind of, you know,
follow what they do.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
So then there's so many kind of things.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
The pump Runner returner, he wouldn't name, he wouldn't say
who was being back there returner and said they're down
to he said two or three guys maybe, so it'll
be interesting.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
I'm really curious. We have not seen I don't know,
I have not seen any special teams.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
No, so I have no idea who's even getting reps
back there.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
But I'm really interested if.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Lebron Bond is one of them, because I that's a
guy I know you're really high on him. You talked
about him, and he's a guy that I know's he's
a freshman. But if you can trust him to catch
the ball, I think he probably gives you the most
upside as far as a returner. But the biggest thing is,
like he said, you've got to keep possession of the
ball when it's punted to you.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, the powerturner spot. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Like you said, we haven't seen any of special teams,
Jean Valcamp, But if I had to guess, I mean,
like you said, I think Bond is probably in that
top three group. You'd think Jonathan Brady has some experience
as well from call.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
In Mexico State, Makai Jackson.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
And then I think a dark horse guy who could
maybe work his way up there, Omar Cooper.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
He's returned some kicks in his career.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
I don't know if AU wants to put him sort
of in that you know, dangerous spot there, you know,
because he really easy to get hurt on returns like that.
But I think he might be able to have a chance.
But obviously we don't know what they're looking at there.
I did want to get back to the receiver room
because I think it's a very interesting spot.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
You know, we've seen a lot of the receivers throughout
Fall Camp. You know, a lot of guys have have
worked in at different spots all over at receiver you know,
we talked of Roman Henvy, I think it was either
last week or two weeks ago, and he said the
Lebron Bond. First person he named when we asked him
about the receivers was Lebron Bond, you know. And we've
seen him get a chance to work, especially in Spring Camp,
(04:48):
work with you know, the the top offensive units. You know,
by all accounts, here's the Canety has talked, you know,
really glowingly about him. At this point, I would be
more shocked if he did red shirt and if he didn't,
just based on what we've seen and heard.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Yeah, I totally agree with you.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I think it would be far more surprising if he
doesn't play than if he does. And I think, you know,
last year, Charlie Becker played I think almost every game,
think maybe one game the first game of the year,
but it was pretty much it was like.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Ninety nine percent special teams.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
I don't know, I mean, I'm just kind of throwing
that number out there, but he only got a handful
of UH snaps and some in some blowout games. I
think Lebron Bond is actually more in the rotation receiver
than Charlie Becker was. That Now I'm not I'm not
saying he's gonna get thirty snaps a game, but I
think he's a guy that that you know will be
out there more, especially early on.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
I mean, you expect the first three games to go,
you know, the kind of the the U, the UH,
the way it.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
Should go, and that's you're up a lot UH in
the third quarter, late in that game, second half, and
so you can play some guys. But I think even
as you get into the Big ten season, I think
he's a guy that will be will give them some
some snaps UH in in in cruse times.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
And so you know, like I said, I know that
you've been hi.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
I'm really high on He's He's got something that while
there's a lot of good receivers on this team, he's
got that extra gear that maybe that's the one thing
you could say about this receiver Cord that there may
be lacking just a little bit.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
And he's not the biggest guy but man, can he
really scoot.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
I mean, he can run big time, and he's so
smooth and can you talk about this in one of
your practice trends. He's so smooth catching the ball just
I mean, he's just he looks he looks like a receiver,
looks like a guy that was born to play wide receiver.
And he's got all the physical ability even though he
may not be the biggest guy.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
But he's got a chance, I think, to really be
a contributor this year.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Yeah, yeah, I would be.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I would be surprised me he's not if we don't
see m a bunch of the field, you know, in
some capacity, we'll see. But yeah, they're gonna try to
get him the ball, I would imagine at some point.
All right, I do want to hop around here a
little bit. Maybe not touch on every position, but we will.
I didn't want to touch on the offensive line because
that's obviously been one of the big developments of this
fall camp, that everyone's looking at the first thing that
(06:59):
jumps off to me, out to me, And it did
during the spring, but even more so now. I think
Pat Coogan has been a tremendous addition. You know, just
watching him in practice watching him even just lead you know,
warm up stretches. He is in the center of it all.
You can hear his voice from you know, the opposite
side of the stadium. That's a guy that you want
on your team. He's been really impressive to me, Matt
(07:19):
and then also Drew Evans. Uh, you know, every I
think pretty sure every practice we've been able to be at,
he's been in there in the mix. You know, he
looks good coming off that Achilles injury. You know, So
having those two there and especially seeing Drevens back on
the field and as good as he has looked, it
makes me feel even more optimistic with this blocking unit
up front.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Yeah, I agree, And I mean, listen, I think we
all we both thought the world of Mike K.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Dick.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
He was he was a tremendous player for this program
for a number of years. But he was there was limitations.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
He wasn't the biggest guy, he wasn't the most athletic guy,
didn't have you know what you would consider, you know,
a great great length And I mean, you know, I
think Coogan's a bona fide and NFL type guy. And
if he goes out there and stays healthy and plays well.
I think he's going to be a guy, especially at
his size being able to play center. I mean he
I mean, he looks like a tackle when you see
him walk out, he looks like an offensive tackle. He's
(08:11):
a big, long guy. And you're right, he's been in
a big addition to getting the Revans back. I don't
think that's the whole reason why they struggled at the
end of the season on the old line, but I
do think it contributed. I mean, I think the talent,
the increase of talent was a big deal. Obviously to
playing against Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame when they didn't
have him, but it was a big deal. He's you know,
I remember today you talk about him last year. He's
(08:32):
a tough guy. And whenever a coach talks about guy
being a tough guy, that's what they want.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
I mean, that's what they love. And you know, he
and you know what a great story I'll walk on
at Wisconsin.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
You know, now he left after one year, so we
don't know what it would have turned out comes in
the end, and obviously this he is to me, he's
exactly what Wisconsin's done for years with both said, as
the old line coach, they take these guys that nobody
really wanted, they walk on and he turns them into uh,
you know, like almost all conference type players or guys
who start for you know, thirty forty games or whatever
(09:04):
it may be.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
So you know those, you know, I was, I don't
know about you. I was quite honestly shocked that Drew
Evans was ready to go day one.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I thought at some pointing right, but I thought I
would have been surprised if he missed the first two
or three games. But I mean he was that That
so makes me wonder. I don't know a lot of
it medically. Was it not a full tear. Maybe it
was just a partial tear.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
I'm not a doctor. But regardless, Uh, it's awesome for Indiana.
They've got six linemen have played major college football P four.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Football, and then you got some young guys who have
some talent. So I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
I think this whole line as good as it was
last year, I think it's gonna even be better this year.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Yeah, and you know we heard from Carter Smith, I
believe two weeks ago as well. You know, things are
looking up for him. I think he's gonna have a
huge season, all all conference type season, could go to
the NFL depending on how this year goes. So this
offensive line is really coming together. I think we're both
pretty high on how it's how it's shaping out here.
I did want to hit on tight end real quick
mat before we go to to defense, because you know,
(10:01):
Riley know Olkowski, he's a guy that you know, I
wasn't really too sure was to make of him when
he came in this past winner. You know, we knew
he was a great blocker at Wisconsin, but the more
we've seen him on the field during fall camp and
you know, just hearing from him last week talk to
the media, he's a really impressive guy. You can tell
he's played a ton of football. You know, he's he's
about the right things, and then you see him on
(10:22):
the field and it's like, this is a guy that
can do a lot more than just block. And you know,
I think most people thought he's gonna come in and be,
you know, sort of a sixth offensive line.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
I think he's gonna be a lot more than that.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
You know, he you know, I think think to the
spring game, he got the start during the spring game
with the first team, and then during the fall. You know,
he's got an he's gotten a you know, a good
deal of opportunities as well. So I think people are
kind of understelling how much Indiana might feature him offensively.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Yeah, I agree. I think we've and I've been guilty
of it.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
I've I've kind of been fixated on Holden States because
prototypically he looks the part. And then you have Rylan Newolkowski,
who's what maybe six to one maybe si, I mean
six to two probably at best, and he's not what
really the prototypical tight end, but he looks good out
there catching the ball. Obviously we know what he can
do blocking. He's a physical guy. I thought his I
(11:10):
thought his uh, you know, Q and A with the media.
I think it was last Wednesday. I think it was
last week was one of the better ones. I mean,
it's a guy you can tell. I mean, obviously he's
a hard worker, he loves what he's doing. But you know,
he made a joke I've been in college for like
seventeen years or whatever, and he talked about play what
he got offered to play either running back or tight
end with the new staff last year, he's like, you know,
we had or two years ago we had Braylen Allen,
(11:32):
we had these other guys.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
He's I'm never gonna be as good as it.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
I just it was kind of, you know, kind of
refreshing to see a guy and not take himself too seriously,
you know, understand his role and just go do it
like he's that's the kind of guy you win with.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
He's a consummate team player.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
I don't think he cares if he catches ten balls
or zero balls in a game.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
He just wants to go out there do his job.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
When you know, I you know, watching football, I loved
him talking about, Hey, well I like blocking because it's
just me and the other guy Mono, we Mono, and
who's tougher, Who's who.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Can who can dish out the biggest hits? So another
Wisconsonant guy.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
I mean, let's be honest, Wisconsin is one with a
ton of guys like this for years and years and years.
And you know, Trey Wedding was great last year for IU.
We talked about Drew Evans and I think Riley Noilkowski's
gonna be obviously in a different role, but the same
kind of impact. I think he's gonna be really do
really well. I mean not just blocking, but I think
he's a guy. I mean I could see him being
a guy you slip out down. You know, he cats
(12:25):
some touchdown passes, get some passes on third and short
when you need a first down.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
But yeah, I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
I think he's going to be a much bigger part
of the passing game than we kind of all figured
because of you know, just we I think we kind
of kind of pre judge him. I know I did
because of his size. I thought, well, this is what
Hill's role would be. But I think I'm gonna be
wrong on that.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Yeah, and and him and Holden State, so who you mentioned.
I think they're the perfect compliment to each other, just
based on their different skill sets, you know, Signetti said,
I think it was a week ago that you know
Stace is still coming along as a as a blocker,
but obviously you know it's a supernatural guy as a
pass catcher, soft hands. So I think they're gonna compliment
each other really well. Which Indiana last year was at
(13:04):
Horton didn't really have a second guy to compliment Horton,
So so I could I could definitely see some situation
like that where Indian to try to use both of
them in different scenarios. They're uh the thing to Matt
with not Noa Kylse. Going back to him, he mentioned
last week that, you know, when he was visiting IU
and going through the transfer process, you know, he talked
(13:25):
a lot with Trey Wedding from last season about his
you know, experience at IU.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
I mean, I thought that was.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Just interesting, you know that that you know, two Wisconsin
guys obviously they have their relationship with Bob Bose Dad.
You know, those two guys kind of kind of linked
up and you know, talked it through. And this is
where because I imagine a guy like Noel Kilsey could
have found a spot a couple of different P four
schools just based.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
On his blocking ability.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
So I thought that was really interesting, and you know,
hopefully that for Indiana, you know, that Wisconsin pipeline sort
of thinking can keep taking shape over the next couple
of years.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Yeah, and you know, I I have to go back. Look,
I'm wondering I think they could have been in the
same recreding class.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Yeah, because I think Noel Kowski isn't I think this
is his sixth year and Wedding last year that was
his fifth year. If I'm not mistake, I could have
that wrong. But anyways, they were basically close. If they
weren't in the same class, they were one class apart.
So obviously they and playing moving.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
The tight end.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
He's going to be doing in a lot of the
same drills and working a lot with a guy like
Trey Wedding on the old line. So but yeah, it's
you know, listen, Wisconsin has been a great program for
a long time, and there's a reason why they don't
always get the best.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
They always get the best players not running back.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
They always got studs and they got but a lot
of the linemen were guys that were developed by both
stad who weren't really, you know, that highly touted. So
you know that they've got a winning mentality, and you know,
I think Noel Kowski he fits exactly what cursing that
he's looking for and real quick on that, I think
Bomba is a great trifecta for them to make. You know,
he he doesn't care about catching passes. He's you know,
(14:48):
he's obviously a program guy with his family connection to
the t IU and to the football program and He's a.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Big dude who gives you blocking.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
I mean, he can catch a pass year in there,
but his role is going to be doing the dirty work,
and I think I think he's perfectly okay with that.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Yeah, yeah, you know, the more I've seen that, I
think more and more highly of them and what they
could be capable of going into this season. All right, man,
unless you wanted to touch anything on anything else offensively,
I didn't want to move to the defense here a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
The defensive line.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Now this is you know, there were questions going into
fall camp, and now that we're sort of halfway through,
over halfway through, I think we've gotten a lot more
answers than we had, you know, most notably Kellen Why.
I was watching the Big Ten Network when they did
their tailgate thing at Indiana for fall camp. Brian Haynes
what was on the show, and he talked about Kellen
Why was a guy that was really standing out for them,
(15:39):
and up until that point we had heard a whole
ton of Kellen White's name, and then Chris Acnetti obviously.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Mentioned him as well. He's been kind of a surprise.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
For me because I didn't I didn't know sort of
what his role was going to be moving from that
linebacker spot to up to the line of scrimmage. But
it seems like he's gonna be in line for a
big role this year.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Yeah, and real quick for I start, anybody who's who
listens us here checked out check out Jared's d lin
prev that he put up this morning.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
It's uh, I think it was this morning. Yeah, this afternoon.
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
It's really good either way put it up. He does
a great job breaking it down. But yeah, you know,
Wyatt to mean was always intriguing because he was a
bit he was he's built like an edge guy, but
he was playing linebacker and I didn't follow Maryland close enough.
They know exactly what they were doing defensively. But he's intriguing.
I think he's a guy that could play both spots.
So maybe I don't know what he has gonna do.
(16:27):
But maybe there's situations where you kick Kamara inside. Maybe
it's like a third and long. It's you some teams
called the NASCAR package where you have all pass rushers
out on the line, and maybe he's the guy that
goes to that that side over there and you put
more or you know, somebody at the strong side.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Dam but he's he he sounds like he's at a
great camp. He's another impressive guy. These guys who have been.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
Out of school for four years, I mean, they really
stand out their maturity.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
They're kind of perspective on things.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
You know, these guys him and Nolakowski's other guys that
we get, we get to talk to. They're just it's
a little bit different in a good way. One guy
we haven't heard a.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Lot about it.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
I'm not saying this is a negative is Steven Daily,
But I mean I think Willy expect him to be
in the mix on that end position with Wyatt, you know,
and then and then I know we'll get to it more.
But I'm really intriguing, really interesting to see how those
inside guys look. I mean, we know Tyreek Tucker, what
you got there, Landino.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
We don't know what.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
We don't know exactly what he'll look like inside, but
I think he I mean, we saw what he did
last year on the edge. He played well for him.
And then you know, I know you you're high on
jose A Wheeler. I mean, I don't want to say
he's CJ. West, because that's unfair to him. But I
think he's got that kind of ability. I think you've
kind of mentioned that too. I think the ceilings there
for him, and he's even he's a little bit bigger,
(17:42):
he's got a little bit more length than athleticism than C. J.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
West.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
Now, West had a tremendous motor, so we'll have to
see how that plays out.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
But I think this I.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
There's there's some unknowns on the D line, but I
think there's also a lot of potential and a lot
of reason to be optimistic about him.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
One of the things the motor part with with Wheeler
and West that you just mentioned, that's one of the
things that stood out to me and I wrote about
this too.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Uh, he had the most snaps played of a.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
New defensive tackle in conference to USA last year. Yeah, So,
I mean he's a worker. He's basically on the field
the entire time.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
And his numbers were his numbers were ridiculous for a
D tackle.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Yeah, seventy five, Yeah crazy. So if he can come
even close to what CJ. West gave the Indiana last year,
which fifth round NFL talent, obviously, is has nothing to
sneeze at. If Wheeler can be even close to that.
You know, I feel really good about Indiana's you know
up the middle there in the trenches now the nose
(18:37):
tackle spot mouth with Tyrek Tucker Dominique Radcliffe. Haven't heard
a ton about them this year. You know, I really
like Tyrek Tucker last year. He graded out as the
ninth best Big Ten defensive tackle last year, which you know,
unlimited snaps is is you know, really high praise for him.
You know, Radcliffe's guy coming from Texas State, which obviously
(18:57):
is is a much lower.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Level than Indiana in the ten.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
But uh, those two guys, you know, did their veterans,
they've done it before, they played a lot of snaps.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
I feel good about those two in the middle.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
I you know, I'm still kind of waiting for one
of them to take over that sort of alpha role
that that James Carpenter was in last year. But uh,
that might be a spot where you kind of have
to wait through the first three knock on games to
see to see one of them really emerge.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
Yeah, I mean it was pretty obviously the leader of
that room was last year with James Carpenter.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
So and there may be somebody we don't know about.
Speaker 4 (19:27):
We just kind of saw it with Carpenter because when
he came in, you know, we got to talk to
him and stuff. And also, I mean I think I think, uh, Wheeler,
you can see him at the three tech. But he
also I know, he's a guy he could bounce back
and forth. He's got the size to play some nose.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
You know.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
I think with his athleticism, you probably put him more
at three tech, but I could see him bounce them
back and forth. But yeah, Tyer mc tucker every week
when I did the PFS story was one of the
top guys. Like he was just I mean, and his
snaps were obviously not as high as you know some
of the time, but it wasn't like he was only
getting like sevens. I mean, he was playing significant amount
of reps for IU and he was producing weekend and
(20:03):
week out.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
So you know, he does Again, it's not a guy
that looks apart.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
I think he's maybe six foot six one, you know,
but he you know, but sometimes those shorter guys, those
guys are are are tougher to block because they get
that great leverage, you know, and that's so important inside.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
But you know, I like it.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
You know, another guy he hasn't done anything in his career,
but you know, can Jim JAMARIW Monette give him something.
We talked a little bit about Landino, you know, but
that to me, it's gonna be you know, Wheeler.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Radcliffe, Tyree, Tucker, Landino.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
And then you know, is there a fifth and sixth
guy who've been kind of emerged to give you a.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Few snaps here and there when you may need it.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
In these first three games, that's the opportunity for somebody
to kind of, in my opinion, to kind of, you know,
to show the coaches, hey, I I deserve to be
in the rotation going forward.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Yeah, and then at the end spot to the one
guy we even talked about Daniel and Duke Way. I've
wrote about him a little bit in my notes and observation.
I'm I'm really really impressed, uh with with the transform
the body transformation of him this offseason. I don't know
if you've gotten a chance to look at like, look
look at him up close, Matt, but he's put on
so much good, good muscle, both lower and upper half.
(21:11):
Which last year, you know, he was obviously super long,
super twitchy, all those things, but he was you know,
for for a true freshman what you would expect.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
He was pretty lean.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
The fact that he's put on so much muscle this
offseason gives me confidence that he'll he'll find a way
to work into that rotation defensively. And if he does,
I mean that you're looking at you know, three four
maybe five d nz you know, at edge rusher guys
that you can put in there, and you know, hopefully
for Indiana's sake, that there's not too much of a
drop off.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Yeah, I agree, and I mean obviously he made it.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
He didn't play hardly at all in defense, but he
blocked two punts last year, and he was basically rushing
almost not right over the center, but kind of right there.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
I mean almost like he was coming off the edge
and just run. I mean he was.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
He would have to use power and explosiveness to get
to the punter, and I mean that really stood out
to me. I mean, he is he is a like
you said, I think Twin achieved. The word you use
is fantastic. That's exactly what he is. And now he's
got the side to go with that athleticism and and.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Who better to learn behind the mccau kamara.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
I mean, like I I I think my I mean,
we haven't said, but my guess is he's he's gonna be,
you know, playing that position behind macarr on the edge.
And like I said, you know who better, who better
to kind of learn the tools of the trade than
a guy like that who was an All American and
is going to be, you know, getting paid to play
football a year from now. So yeah, I like the
(22:31):
d NS and and you know, I mean, I think
it will be tough for these young guys, but you've
got some really promising Abram Burris, you got some. And
Quentin Clark you talked about him. He's a guy, he's
got a lot of twitch to him to know, he's
brand new to the position. There's some other guys in there,
you know, William to pay pay hopefully, I'm saying that right.
They read shirted him last year, you know, so we'll see.
(22:53):
But I think this Dee Lion's got a lot of potential.
I know you're high on it, and and I'm equally
as high too.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Right linebacker, I feel like we haven't you know that
there hasn't been a whole lot talking about linebacker this year.
Aidan Fisher clearly the leader of this team offense, defense,
special team, doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
He's the guy in the middle.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Elijah Hardy, he was dinged up in practice with a
growing thing, but he's been back on the field, so
she should have, you know, ample time to get back
up to speed for the start of the season. We've
seen Isaiah Jones and the Kadie Turner in there as well.
Unless you had anything else on linebacker, Matt, I feel
like we just focused on the secondary here, especially with
the Lewis Moore stuff.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Yeah. Absolutely, I mean we know who the top three.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
To me, the biggest thing a linebacker is if you
need a fourth or fifth guy who kind of steps up.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
But we'll see that as the season goes along.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
The top three guys I think are terrific players for Indiana,
and you know, biggest thing is they stay healthy. I
think that's gonna be another productive, another productive year from
those guys.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
All Right, secondary here, We'll touch on cornerback in a second,
because obviously that that position battle has been fascinating. But
the big news of the past week or so Lewis
more so. He he's a guy that that's in a
weird boat where he's he's one of part of the
this whole Juco group that's trying to get an extra
your eligibility after the Diego Pavia ruling at Vanderbilt where
(24:12):
they said he's okay to play because the jugal years
don't count.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
But I guess I'm not.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
I'm not too sure how the Lewis Moore situation is
different from the Pave situation. But more filed for a
temporary restraining order last week and I believe he got it,
but that still doesn't clear him for the start of
the season.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
But he has been practicing.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
He did play in Indiana's last scrimmage, so that's gonna
be you know, my gut, says Matt, that he's gonna
be good to go for the start of the season.
Like I feel like they would have dragged this along
just to say, you know, two days before the start
of the season that you can't play. But I mean,
Indiana is gonna be put in a difficult spot here
if you know, something were to come up, and we've
(24:51):
talked about the safety depth and how that is a
bit of a question mark and if a guy like
Lewis Moore, who you're counting on to start for whatever reason,
isn't isn't you know, clear play, you know, any I
could find itself in a little bit of trouble lay
to start of the year.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Yeah, I'm exactly sure, exactly you know all the details.
I think the difference between him and the guy the
quarterback of Vandy he enrolled in college a year earlier,
so his clocks started when he enrolled.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
So I think that's so basically the pavia. If I'm
saying this, I said.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
His name right, He's like he's trying, Like I think
Tony said this, He's trying to do it within the
five year clock. More is trying his is like within
is a six year clock. So I think that's where
the difference is. I mean, it's kind of split in hairs,
and I understand why people like, you know, what's the difference,
But that to me is where I think d NCAA
is trying to draw the distinction.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Between the two. But yeah, it would be. It would be.
And I actually heard about this right after he committed.
Speaker 4 (25:46):
I didn't say anything because when he started going through springball,
I figured everything was okay, you know, and it was
a little bit off the record, But there's a there's
a real quick there's a basketball player Southern myths, and
I can't think of his name, but basically he's the
same scenario is More and Indiana's falling that case. It
was in the court system down there. They were falling
that closely, and I didn't honestly see what happened. I
(26:07):
think he's been declared eligible, but I could be wrong
on that, but yeah, if they don't have More, you know,
I mean, I we we both expect.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Byron Baldwin to play.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
But now Byron Baldwin, I think what happens is I
think Boykin was kind of in that in that slot position,
and More was back there with Amari Ferrell. I think
now Boykin goes over there, and maybe you see Baldwin
more kind of in that in that you know, slot
role for any that nickel back role. So it's, uh,
(26:35):
it would be a blow, There's no doubt about it.
And I think Byron ball can the heck of a player,
but that's that's asking a lot of a guy who's
not played it down in college football if he's got
to be either a starter or and then josh Al
Boyd's another guy, but then again, he also has not
played it down in college football. So either way, it's
you know, guys are gonna have to grow up quickly
and hopefully you know, more gets clear and he's out
(26:55):
there and this isn't a big deal, but it could be.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
It could you know, put them.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
In a spot where they're gonna have to rely on
some young guys and get them up to speed pretty quick.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
And you know one guy we didn't mention too, Bryson
Bonds Retchords seniors, So yeah, you do have some experience there.
Although he hasn't really shown starter level capabilities in the past,
but maybe this year, you know, he could take that
next step in his final year relibility.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
All right.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
On the cornerbacks here, Matt, it seems like Jamar Sharper's
really emerges that is that second cornerback starter next to
D'Angelo Ponds, you know, based on what we've seen in
camp and what we've heard. You know, if that's the case,
then you have, you know, your top four is Ponds
and Sharpers and Starters and then Rylean Gandy and Marion
knighton as the backups. You know, you're not gonna find
(27:40):
very many top four cornerback groups that good, that deep
in the big tenant.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
You know i'd have to look.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Around, but I mean, you got four guys who are
power for you know, caliber starters in that room. You
couldn't really go wrong with any of those three. But
I think Sharp his potential and his skill set, if
he can be more consistent on a gaming game, I
think he has maybe the highest ceiling of those three,
and that might be why Indian ultimately gave him the edge.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
Yeah, I think you're absolutely right. And on listen, I'm
not saying he's gonna play at the next level, but
he looks like an NFL corner. I mean, he's what
six to one, He's got long arms. I mean, you know,
he's a.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Guy that almost could be like he when you see him,
he and be like, is he a safety?
Speaker 4 (28:18):
But he's got all the hips, the fluidity, the feet,
all that kind of stuff that you're looking for from
a corner. And and you know, early on he showed
he flashed it. You know, he obviously came under Tom Allen,
and this is a guy that I have a ton
of respect for. He could have bailed so easily, especially
when they brought in those transfers, and he did not bail.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
He stuck it out. He's worked hard and and it
looks like it.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
Could pay off for him, and I think he's got
a chance to Like I'm with you, I think I
think he is physically the most gifted player at that
and obviously, when you're talking size, I let it says
them all the different things he's got.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
He's got everything you're looking for.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
And you know, I mean, I know it's just a video,
but I'm sure you saw the video the guy you
put out was it yesterday?
Speaker 3 (28:59):
And you know, I always look who do they probably show?
Who do they show a lot of?
Speaker 4 (29:02):
You see Sarah, you see Mendoza, and I saw Jamari Sorry,
Jamari Sharp, Sara, I said, I should have said, but
you see I saw Jamari Sharp in that video towards
the end a couple of times. And I mean, I'm
not saying that Nean does it on purpose, but I
think there's certain guys that you're kind of highlighting when
you put those videos out. So I like, I'm with you,
but you're if something would happen to one of those
(29:24):
top guys, and god forbid, obviously nothing happens to to Ponds,
Angelo Pond's but you've got two really good players who
will be waiting right there to play.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Who could be starting for a lot of B four teams. So,
and there's some young guys.
Speaker 4 (29:36):
I mean, you're not gonna expect any of those freshmen
to play, but you never know. I mean they they've
got some talented guys on this roster, but their top four,
like I said, begin, I think it's the most I
think it's the deepest and most talented position. When you
talk about the depth chart, the top four or five
guys on the on the it's right up there with
receiver in my opinion.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Yeah, yeah, no doubt. Definitely.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Defensively, it's probably the deepest of the defensive positions. All right,
before wrap you up here, Matt, we should talk about
special teams a little bit, considering, uh we did hear
from the specialists last week, and then Kurtzygnetti had talked
about them a.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Little bit, Uh, Nego Ratichich.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
It seems like, you know, Signetti has has a ton
of confidence in him this year. Ratichich during his mediability
talked about, you know, he he wants those opportunities to
be able to go out there and kick the fifty
plus yarders. Like, like we mentioned, we haven't seen any
special teams, so we don't really know how his leg
has progressed over the last year or so. But yeah,
(30:30):
I think it's a situation where Indiana last year got
their first sort of glimpse of Ratatchich and he was,
you know, obviously very very consistent. Didn't miss an extra
point all year. I believe you only missed one field goal.
But that Yeah, that's gonna be the big question with
with the special teams group is can he step into
a big situation, you know, whether it be on the
on the road, at home, late game situation Indiana needs
(30:52):
a long field goal.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Can he be that guy? It's it's tough to say
for sure right.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
Now, but uh, you know, he's a guy that was
a was a high school All American. He has the talent,
but we'll see if it auto ultimately translates.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
Yeah, he kicked great last year.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
I remember he was basically that was only the first year
after I think he had like a hip injury or
some kind of leg injury.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
It was it was his kicking legs.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
So I I think he's a guy that definitely has
ranged fifty plus yards now whether I mean so he
was coaching dash of course, you know he was.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
I'm not.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
You know, we'll see if it happened.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
I mean, you know, I think if it's like a
fourth and two from the from the thirty eight and
you can either line up a fifty five yard or
go for it, or even fourth and four forth, whatever,
maybe my guess is he's probably gonna go for it
more times than not. But maybe, you know, if you're
at the end of the half, you know, and you
want to try to get points going into halftime, maybe
you run him out there and let him kick kick
that field goal.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
But yeah, he was, he was.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
He was great last year, and I think he's just
gonna keep getting better and better.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
You know. One, he's two years now removed from that injury.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
And you just as as any player, as you get older,
you know, you just get more coffee, you get more
used to everything, more comfortable. So I think there, I
think the kick game, and I think coach, and I
think he was asking he said he really. I mean,
he seems very comfortable with the specialist. Obviously, Langston is
a good snapper you brought in. I think who's a
great punter? Arth, Yeah, miss McCarthy, sorry for touch. Florida
(32:13):
James came me for a second. Then obviously we know
and then Frankie, I mean that guy almost every kick
he had last year was a was a you know,
he kicked out of the back of the end zone.
So and then we talked about rat Hicks. So I
think the specialists and for the most of the specialist
last year, we're good. Obviously, the host A game was
was not a great note for for them, but overall
I thought they played well. And I mean it's again,
(32:35):
it's another position group on this team where I think
they will be better than last year. You know, it's
even though they won eleven and two and went to
the playoff. I've said it before, I think this roster
is better. Now does that mean it's gonna be another playoff?
This This schedule is tougher too, But I think overall
this roster is better. They've upgraded in so many spots.
I mean that's not a knock on the guys last year.
(32:56):
They've just gotten good players and they and the players
that came back have gotten better. And I think this
roster is in a really, really good place.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
Yeah, and you know, I think that's been a prevailing thought,
especially you know, the national guy, the national reporters. You know,
I think there's a thought that Indiana will have a
better roster this year, but it doesn't necessarily mean they're
gonna have a better record than they did last year,
which would be tough. But just because of this, you know,
the schedule they played this year compared to last year.
(33:24):
And one thing too, Matt, that that really stands out
to me in fall camp before we wrap this up,
I've just been so impressed with the way they go
about their business and fall camp. You know, this is
not a team that you could tell they're not coasting
through you know, practice and you know, just hoping to
rest on the twenty twenty four season to translate to
twenty like they are getting after it every single day.
(33:45):
The coaches worked them so hard, and then that was
a key piece too, obviously their attention of all the
assistants except for Tino Sinceri, the the assistants.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Are getting after it every day.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
I've just been really impressed with how these guys have
come out all fall camp and really put in the work.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
Yeah, I mean, this is this is I mean and
I and I can't stay in say saying to tell you,
I know I've covered this program for a long time.
This is what it's supposed to look like. I mean,
this is what this is what a big time And
I'm not saying Indiana's Alabama, but my guess is this
is what it looked like a lot of Alabama when
when Signetti was there with Saban and when Saban, I mean,
you have coaches. You have a head coach who's a CEO.
He lets his guys do his job, do their job.
(34:21):
He hires him, and he's very very good at recognizing
not only player talent, but coaching talent. And that's the thing.
There's a These are young coaches. A lot of these
guys have not been coaches for a whole a really
long time and and been coordinators for a real long time,
at least not at this level, and you wouldn't know it.
I mean they are they're incredibly detailed. I mean, if
(34:43):
you remember I say this all the time, they used
to have a clock at the end of the at
the end of the field of practice. There's no clock anymore.
They just know when to go and they are always
on time. It's just it's really phenomenal, the attention to
detail and all that kind of stuff that they that
this staff and this team works with. I think it's
a credit to Chris Signetti, but you know the other
everybody has to do their job, and he does a
(35:05):
great job of getting the guys in the right seats
and then they go do it, and you know, I think.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Fans should be excited about this season.
Speaker 4 (35:10):
Again, the schedule's tougher, but I think this team is
gonna have a chance to win every game on their schedule.
Speaker 3 (35:16):
I'm not saying they will, but I think they will have.
Speaker 4 (35:18):
A chance to win every game. And we when's the
last time we could say that? But Indiana football like
basically never?
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Yeah, yeah, all right.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
We are less than two weeks away from the season
Oprah August thirty. I think it's Old Dominion. Indiana is
gearing up here for their game week prep. Chris and
I said it'll start probably towards the end of this
week as they'll look ahead towards Old Dominion. Fall camp
is about to wrap up here. Matt Weaver and I
have been there every step of the way. Obviously, we'll
have much more to come over the next week or
(35:46):
so until the season opener comes, but until then, keep
it locked into pegs dot com. We'll have much more
over there on the board. Come chat with us and
we'll see folks over there.
Welcome and everybody. It is Tuesday, August nineteenth. Indiana is
less than two weeks away from game day to season
open on August thirtieth against Old Dominion to kick off
the twenty twenty five season. Matt Weaver piace dot Com.
Jerry Kelly here to break everything down. We're in week
three of fall camp here, Matt. We've seen a lot
over the last three weeks. It should be knowned there
(00:25):
are some things we can't talk about in relation to
the depth chart, injuries of that kind of stuff, which
I'm sure you guys have seen over on the site.
But we will do our best to sort of give
you guys what we have seen throughout fall camp. Guys
that have stood out to us, you know, guys that
we think could emerge more than we thought earlier before
his fall camp. Matt, let's start with yesterday. We're here
from Kurt Signetti the third time I believe during fall camp,
(00:47):
to just give us an update on some different things.
He talked about Fernanda Mendoza. He talked about the progress
Indiana has been making. Obviously not satisfied with you know
where they are to this point, but you know this
is they're moving along, it sounds like. And then e
j Williams two Churtzinetti talked about he's had a pretty
good fall camp.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
After the first few practices.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Where do you want to start here, Matt, There's a
couple of different things. I know you wrote about a
couple of things this morning as well.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, excuse me, I put a notebook up and kind
of covered some things.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
I mean, not not everything he talked about, but just
kind of you know, things he kind of touched on.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
But you know that you know he's he.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
Was pretty tight. I mean, people asking about e j
or I'm sorry about Franam and Dooza, and you know
he's he's a coach. He's not going to talk about
exactly what he can do, but everybody's seen it. I mean,
we know, you know what he knows is going to do.
You know what a lot what he did at CALS
is what he's going to be doing in Indiana. I'm
sure there's some things that that you know, don't expand
on his game, but.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
You know, ej Ones, I'm really excited to see him personally.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
I know you've talked about him, We've talked about him
on here, but I know you've done stuff on him,
and Signetti, who's not usually a guy who throws out
a lot of praise, has been very high on him,
you know.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
So it's just an interesting.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Story because, like I said, you know, he jumped into
the portal, so it was pretty much, you know, he
was welcome back. And you know, receivers a position where
I'm not saying it's easy to get guys in the.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Porter, but it's one of the easier positions, I think
to reload from the portal because there's just so many
of them out there. And they took him back, So
it tells you that what they think of him as
a as a kid and as a player. And he's
got big time ability.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
I mean, we've seen it, you know a couple of
years ago when he was able to stay healthy for
a decent part.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Of the season.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
You made some big catches, a big catch at Illinois
at two point conversion late in the game to send
that into overtime. They end up losing, but he's he's
the guy that I think physically might be the most
talent receiver on the roster, and I'm really interested to see,
you know what kind of and it's a deep receiver room.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
But I think he's a guy that's really going to
impress this year. So you know, Aiden Fisher was that
he was asked about him. Yeah, I kind of put it.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
He's a guy that I mean, I don't know that
you could find a player who's more all in than
Aidan Fisher for what a program's trying to do than
he is with it.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
You know, I'm sure it's like that at j and
you we want to see him Indiana. And then I
thought his leadership reply was kind of interesting.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
About you can actually have too many chiefs and you
need you know, you need just a few voices or
few leaders and more guys who kind of, you know,
follow what they do.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
So then there's so many kind of things.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
The pump Runner returner, he wouldn't name, he wouldn't say
who was being back there returner and said they're down
to he said two or three guys maybe, so it'll
be interesting.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
I'm really curious. We have not seen I don't know,
I have not seen any special teams.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
No, so I have no idea who's even getting reps
back there.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
But I'm really interested if.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Lebron Bond is one of them, because I that's a
guy I know you're really high on him. You talked
about him, and he's a guy that I know's he's
a freshman. But if you can trust him to catch
the ball, I think he probably gives you the most
upside as far as a returner. But the biggest thing is,
like he said, you've got to keep possession of the
ball when it's punted to you.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, the powerturner spot. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Like you said, we haven't seen any of special teams,
Jean Valcamp, But if I had to guess, I mean,
like you said, I think Bond is probably in that
top three group. You'd think Jonathan Brady has some experience
as well from call.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
In Mexico State, Makai Jackson.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
And then I think a dark horse guy who could
maybe work his way up there, Omar Cooper.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
He's returned some kicks in his career.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
I don't know if AU wants to put him sort
of in that you know, dangerous spot there, you know,
because he really easy to get hurt on returns like that.
But I think he might be able to have a chance.
But obviously we don't know what they're looking at there.
I did want to get back to the receiver room
because I think it's a very interesting spot.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
You know, we've seen a lot of the receivers throughout
Fall Camp. You know, a lot of guys have have
worked in at different spots all over at receiver you know,
we talked of Roman Henvy, I think it was either
last week or two weeks ago, and he said the
Lebron Bond. First person he named when we asked him
about the receivers was Lebron Bond, you know. And we've
seen him get a chance to work, especially in Spring Camp,
(04:48):
work with you know, the the top offensive units. You know,
by all accounts, here's the Canety has talked, you know,
really glowingly about him. At this point, I would be
more shocked if he did red shirt and if he didn't,
just based on what we've seen and heard.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Yeah, I totally agree with you.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I think it would be far more surprising if he
doesn't play than if he does. And I think, you know,
last year, Charlie Becker played I think almost every game,
think maybe one game the first game of the year,
but it was pretty much it was like.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Ninety nine percent special teams.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
I don't know, I mean, I'm just kind of throwing
that number out there, but he only got a handful
of UH snaps and some in some blowout games. I
think Lebron Bond is actually more in the rotation receiver
than Charlie Becker was. That Now I'm not I'm not
saying he's gonna get thirty snaps a game, but I
think he's a guy that that you know will be
out there more, especially early on.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
I mean, you expect the first three games to go,
you know, the kind of the the U, the UH,
the way it.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
Should go, and that's you're up a lot UH in
the third quarter, late in that game, second half, and
so you can play some guys. But I think even
as you get into the Big ten season, I think
he's a guy that will be will give them some
some snaps UH in in in cruse times.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
And so you know, like I said, I know that
you've been hi.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
I'm really high on He's He's got something that while
there's a lot of good receivers on this team, he's
got that extra gear that maybe that's the one thing
you could say about this receiver Cord that there may
be lacking just a little bit.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
And he's not the biggest guy but man, can he
really scoot.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
I mean, he can run big time, and he's so
smooth and can you talk about this in one of
your practice trends. He's so smooth catching the ball just
I mean, he's just he looks he looks like a receiver,
looks like a guy that was born to play wide receiver.
And he's got all the physical ability even though he
may not be the biggest guy.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
But he's got a chance, I think, to really be
a contributor this year.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Yeah, yeah, I would be.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I would be surprised me he's not if we don't
see m a bunch of the field, you know, in
some capacity, we'll see. But yeah, they're gonna try to
get him the ball, I would imagine at some point.
All right, I do want to hop around here a
little bit. Maybe not touch on every position, but we will.
I didn't want to touch on the offensive line because
that's obviously been one of the big developments of this
fall camp, that everyone's looking at the first thing that
(06:59):
jumps off to me, out to me, And it did
during the spring, but even more so now. I think
Pat Coogan has been a tremendous addition. You know, just
watching him in practice watching him even just lead you know,
warm up stretches. He is in the center of it all.
You can hear his voice from you know, the opposite
side of the stadium. That's a guy that you want
on your team. He's been really impressive to me, Matt
(07:19):
and then also Drew Evans. Uh, you know, every I
think pretty sure every practice we've been able to be at,
he's been in there in the mix. You know, he
looks good coming off that Achilles injury. You know, So
having those two there and especially seeing Drevens back on
the field and as good as he has looked, it
makes me feel even more optimistic with this blocking unit
up front.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Yeah, I agree, And I mean, listen, I think we
all we both thought the world of Mike K.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Dick.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
He was he was a tremendous player for this program
for a number of years. But he was there was limitations.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
He wasn't the biggest guy, he wasn't the most athletic guy,
didn't have you know what you would consider, you know,
a great great length And I mean, you know, I
think Coogan's a bona fide and NFL type guy. And
if he goes out there and stays healthy and plays well.
I think he's going to be a guy, especially at
his size being able to play center. I mean he
I mean, he looks like a tackle when you see
him walk out, he looks like an offensive tackle. He's
(08:11):
a big, long guy. And you're right, he's been in
a big addition to getting the Revans back. I don't
think that's the whole reason why they struggled at the
end of the season on the old line, but I
do think it contributed. I mean, I think the talent,
the increase of talent was a big deal. Obviously to
playing against Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame when they didn't
have him, but it was a big deal. He's you know,
I remember today you talk about him last year. He's
(08:32):
a tough guy. And whenever a coach talks about guy
being a tough guy, that's what they want.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
I mean, that's what they love. And you know, he
and you know what a great story I'll walk on
at Wisconsin.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
You know, now he left after one year, so we
don't know what it would have turned out comes in
the end, and obviously this he is to me, he's
exactly what Wisconsin's done for years with both said, as
the old line coach, they take these guys that nobody
really wanted, they walk on and he turns them into uh,
you know, like almost all conference type players or guys
who start for you know, thirty forty games or whatever
(09:04):
it may be.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
So you know those, you know, I was, I don't
know about you. I was quite honestly shocked that Drew
Evans was ready to go day one.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I thought at some pointing right, but I thought I
would have been surprised if he missed the first two
or three games. But I mean he was that That
so makes me wonder. I don't know a lot of
it medically. Was it not a full tear. Maybe it
was just a partial tear.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
I'm not a doctor. But regardless, Uh, it's awesome for Indiana.
They've got six linemen have played major college football P four.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Football, and then you got some young guys who have
some talent. So I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
I think this whole line as good as it was
last year, I think it's gonna even be better this year.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Yeah, and you know we heard from Carter Smith, I
believe two weeks ago as well. You know, things are
looking up for him. I think he's gonna have a
huge season, all all conference type season, could go to
the NFL depending on how this year goes. So this
offensive line is really coming together. I think we're both
pretty high on how it's how it's shaping out here.
I did want to hit on tight end real quick
mat before we go to to defense, because you know,
(10:01):
Riley know Olkowski, he's a guy that you know, I
wasn't really too sure was to make of him when
he came in this past winner. You know, we knew
he was a great blocker at Wisconsin, but the more
we've seen him on the field during fall camp and
you know, just hearing from him last week talk to
the media, he's a really impressive guy. You can tell
he's played a ton of football. You know, he's he's
about the right things, and then you see him on
(10:22):
the field and it's like, this is a guy that
can do a lot more than just block. And you know,
I think most people thought he's gonna come in and be,
you know, sort of a sixth offensive line.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
I think he's gonna be a lot more than that.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
You know, he you know, I think think to the
spring game, he got the start during the spring game
with the first team, and then during the fall. You know,
he's got an he's gotten a you know, a good
deal of opportunities as well. So I think people are
kind of understelling how much Indiana might feature him offensively.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Yeah, I agree. I think we've and I've been guilty
of it.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
I've I've kind of been fixated on Holden States because
prototypically he looks the part. And then you have Rylan Newolkowski,
who's what maybe six to one maybe si, I mean
six to two probably at best, and he's not what
really the prototypical tight end, but he looks good out
there catching the ball. Obviously we know what he can
do blocking. He's a physical guy. I thought his I
(11:10):
thought his uh, you know, Q and A with the media.
I think it was last Wednesday. I think it was
last week was one of the better ones. I mean,
it's a guy you can tell. I mean, obviously he's
a hard worker, he loves what he's doing. But you know,
he made a joke I've been in college for like
seventeen years or whatever, and he talked about play what
he got offered to play either running back or tight
end with the new staff last year, he's like, you know,
we had or two years ago we had Braylen Allen,
(11:32):
we had these other guys.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
He's I'm never gonna be as good as it.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
I just it was kind of, you know, kind of
refreshing to see a guy and not take himself too seriously,
you know, understand his role and just go do it
like he's that's the kind of guy you win with.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
He's a consummate team player.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
I don't think he cares if he catches ten balls
or zero balls in a game.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
He just wants to go out there do his job.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
When you know, I you know, watching football, I loved
him talking about, Hey, well I like blocking because it's
just me and the other guy Mono, we Mono, and
who's tougher, Who's who.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Can who can dish out the biggest hits? So another
Wisconsonant guy.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
I mean, let's be honest, Wisconsin is one with a
ton of guys like this for years and years and years.
And you know, Trey Wedding was great last year for IU.
We talked about Drew Evans and I think Riley Noilkowski's
gonna be obviously in a different role, but the same
kind of impact. I think he's gonna be really do
really well. I mean not just blocking, but I think
he's a guy. I mean I could see him being
a guy you slip out down. You know, he cats
(12:25):
some touchdown passes, get some passes on third and short
when you need a first down.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
But yeah, I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
I think he's going to be a much bigger part
of the passing game than we kind of all figured
because of you know, just we I think we kind
of kind of pre judge him. I know I did
because of his size. I thought, well, this is what
Hill's role would be. But I think I'm gonna be
wrong on that.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Yeah, and and him and Holden State, so who you mentioned.
I think they're the perfect compliment to each other, just
based on their different skill sets, you know, Signetti said,
I think it was a week ago that you know
Stace is still coming along as a as a blocker,
but obviously you know it's a supernatural guy as a
pass catcher, soft hands. So I think they're gonna compliment
each other really well. Which Indiana last year was at
(13:04):
Horton didn't really have a second guy to compliment Horton,
So so I could I could definitely see some situation
like that where Indian to try to use both of
them in different scenarios. They're uh the thing to Matt
with not Noa Kylse. Going back to him, he mentioned
last week that, you know, when he was visiting IU
and going through the transfer process, you know, he talked
(13:25):
a lot with Trey Wedding from last season about his
you know, experience at IU.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
I mean, I thought that was.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Just interesting, you know that that you know, two Wisconsin
guys obviously they have their relationship with Bob Bose Dad.
You know, those two guys kind of kind of linked
up and you know, talked it through. And this is
where because I imagine a guy like Noel Kilsey could
have found a spot a couple of different P four
schools just based.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
On his blocking ability.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
So I thought that was really interesting, and you know,
hopefully that for Indiana, you know, that Wisconsin pipeline sort
of thinking can keep taking shape over the next couple
of years.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Yeah, and you know, I I have to go back. Look,
I'm wondering I think they could have been in the
same recreding class.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Yeah, because I think Noel Kowski isn't I think this
is his sixth year and Wedding last year that was
his fifth year. If I'm not mistake, I could have
that wrong. But anyways, they were basically close. If they
weren't in the same class, they were one class apart.
So obviously they and playing moving.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
The tight end.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
He's going to be doing in a lot of the
same drills and working a lot with a guy like
Trey Wedding on the old line. So but yeah, it's
you know, listen, Wisconsin has been a great program for
a long time, and there's a reason why they don't
always get the best.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
They always get the best players not running back.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
They always got studs and they got but a lot
of the linemen were guys that were developed by both
stad who weren't really, you know, that highly touted. So
you know that they've got a winning mentality, and you know,
I think Noel Kowski he fits exactly what cursing that
he's looking for and real quick on that, I think
Bomba is a great trifecta for them to make. You know,
he he doesn't care about catching passes. He's you know,
(14:48):
he's obviously a program guy with his family connection to
the t IU and to the football program and He's a.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Big dude who gives you blocking.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
I mean, he can catch a pass year in there,
but his role is going to be doing the dirty work,
and I think I think he's perfectly okay with that.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Yeah, yeah, you know, the more I've seen that, I
think more and more highly of them and what they
could be capable of going into this season. All right, man,
unless you wanted to touch anything on anything else offensively,
I didn't want to move to the defense here a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
The defensive line.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Now this is you know, there were questions going into
fall camp, and now that we're sort of halfway through,
over halfway through, I think we've gotten a lot more
answers than we had, you know, most notably Kellen Why.
I was watching the Big Ten Network when they did
their tailgate thing at Indiana for fall camp. Brian Haynes
what was on the show, and he talked about Kellen
Why was a guy that was really standing out for them,
(15:39):
and up until that point we had heard a whole
ton of Kellen White's name, and then Chris Acnetti obviously.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Mentioned him as well. He's been kind of a surprise.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
For me because I didn't I didn't know sort of
what his role was going to be moving from that
linebacker spot to up to the line of scrimmage. But
it seems like he's gonna be in line for a
big role this year.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Yeah, and real quick for I start, anybody who's who
listens us here checked out check out Jared's d lin
prev that he put up this morning.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
It's uh, I think it was this morning. Yeah, this afternoon.
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
It's really good either way put it up. He does
a great job breaking it down. But yeah, you know,
Wyatt to mean was always intriguing because he was a
bit he was he's built like an edge guy, but
he was playing linebacker and I didn't follow Maryland close enough.
They know exactly what they were doing defensively. But he's intriguing.
I think he's a guy that could play both spots.
So maybe I don't know what he has gonna do.
(16:27):
But maybe there's situations where you kick Kamara inside. Maybe
it's like a third and long. It's you some teams
called the NASCAR package where you have all pass rushers
out on the line, and maybe he's the guy that
goes to that that side over there and you put
more or you know, somebody at the strong side.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Dam but he's he he sounds like he's at a
great camp. He's another impressive guy. These guys who have been.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
Out of school for four years, I mean, they really
stand out their maturity.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
They're kind of perspective on things.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
You know, these guys him and Nolakowski's other guys that
we get, we get to talk to. They're just it's
a little bit different in a good way. One guy
we haven't heard a.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Lot about it.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
I'm not saying this is a negative is Steven Daily,
But I mean I think Willy expect him to be
in the mix on that end position with Wyatt, you know,
and then and then I know we'll get to it more.
But I'm really intriguing, really interesting to see how those
inside guys look. I mean, we know Tyreek Tucker, what
you got there, Landino.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
We don't know what.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
We don't know exactly what he'll look like inside, but
I think he I mean, we saw what he did
last year on the edge. He played well for him.
And then you know, I know you you're high on
jose A Wheeler. I mean, I don't want to say
he's CJ. West, because that's unfair to him. But I
think he's got that kind of ability. I think you've
kind of mentioned that too. I think the ceilings there
for him, and he's even he's a little bit bigger,
(17:42):
he's got a little bit more length than athleticism than C. J.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
West.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
Now, West had a tremendous motor, so we'll have to
see how that plays out.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
But I think this I.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
There's there's some unknowns on the D line, but I
think there's also a lot of potential and a lot
of reason to be optimistic about him.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
One of the things the motor part with with Wheeler
and West that you just mentioned, that's one of the
things that stood out to me and I wrote about
this too.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Uh, he had the most snaps played of a.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
New defensive tackle in conference to USA last year. Yeah, So,
I mean he's a worker. He's basically on the field
the entire time.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
And his numbers were his numbers were ridiculous for a
D tackle.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Yeah, seventy five, Yeah crazy. So if he can come
even close to what CJ. West gave the Indiana last year,
which fifth round NFL talent, obviously, is has nothing to
sneeze at. If Wheeler can be even close to that.
You know, I feel really good about Indiana's you know
up the middle there in the trenches now the nose
(18:37):
tackle spot mouth with Tyrek Tucker Dominique Radcliffe. Haven't heard
a ton about them this year. You know, I really
like Tyrek Tucker last year. He graded out as the
ninth best Big Ten defensive tackle last year, which you know,
unlimited snaps is is you know, really high praise for him.
You know, Radcliffe's guy coming from Texas State, which obviously
(18:57):
is is a much lower.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Level than Indiana in the ten.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
But uh, those two guys, you know, did their veterans,
they've done it before, they played a lot of snaps.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
I feel good about those two in the middle.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
I you know, I'm still kind of waiting for one
of them to take over that sort of alpha role
that that James Carpenter was in last year. But uh,
that might be a spot where you kind of have
to wait through the first three knock on games to
see to see one of them really emerge.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
Yeah, I mean it was pretty obviously the leader of
that room was last year with James Carpenter.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
So and there may be somebody we don't know about.
Speaker 4 (19:27):
We just kind of saw it with Carpenter because when
he came in, you know, we got to talk to
him and stuff. And also, I mean I think I think, uh, Wheeler,
you can see him at the three tech. But he
also I know, he's a guy he could bounce back
and forth. He's got the size to play some nose.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
You know.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
I think with his athleticism, you probably put him more
at three tech, but I could see him bounce them
back and forth. But yeah, Tyer mc tucker every week
when I did the PFS story was one of the
top guys. Like he was just I mean, and his
snaps were obviously not as high as you know some
of the time, but it wasn't like he was only
getting like sevens. I mean, he was playing significant amount
of reps for IU and he was producing weekend and
(20:03):
week out.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
So you know, he does Again, it's not a guy
that looks apart.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
I think he's maybe six foot six one, you know,
but he you know, but sometimes those shorter guys, those
guys are are are tougher to block because they get
that great leverage, you know, and that's so important inside.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
But you know, I like it.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
You know, another guy he hasn't done anything in his career,
but you know, can Jim JAMARIW Monette give him something.
We talked a little bit about Landino, you know, but
that to me, it's gonna be you know, Wheeler.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Radcliffe, Tyree, Tucker, Landino.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
And then you know, is there a fifth and sixth
guy who've been kind of emerged to give you a.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Few snaps here and there when you may need it.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
In these first three games, that's the opportunity for somebody
to kind of, in my opinion, to kind of, you know,
to show the coaches, hey, I I deserve to be
in the rotation going forward.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Yeah, and then at the end spot to the one
guy we even talked about Daniel and Duke Way. I've
wrote about him a little bit in my notes and observation.
I'm I'm really really impressed, uh with with the transform
the body transformation of him this offseason. I don't know
if you've gotten a chance to look at like, look
look at him up close, Matt, but he's put on
so much good, good muscle, both lower and upper half.
(21:11):
Which last year, you know, he was obviously super long,
super twitchy, all those things, but he was you know,
for for a true freshman what you would expect.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
He was pretty lean.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
The fact that he's put on so much muscle this
offseason gives me confidence that he'll he'll find a way
to work into that rotation defensively. And if he does,
I mean that you're looking at you know, three four
maybe five d nz you know, at edge rusher guys
that you can put in there, and you know, hopefully
for Indiana's sake, that there's not too much of a
drop off.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Yeah, I agree, and I mean obviously he made it.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
He didn't play hardly at all in defense, but he
blocked two punts last year, and he was basically rushing
almost not right over the center, but kind of right there.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
I mean almost like he was coming off the edge
and just run. I mean he was.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
He would have to use power and explosiveness to get
to the punter, and I mean that really stood out
to me. I mean, he is he is a like
you said, I think Twin achieved. The word you use
is fantastic. That's exactly what he is. And now he's
got the side to go with that athleticism and and.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Who better to learn behind the mccau kamara.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
I mean, like I I I think my I mean,
we haven't said, but my guess is he's he's gonna be,
you know, playing that position behind macarr on the edge.
And like I said, you know who better, who better
to kind of learn the tools of the trade than
a guy like that who was an All American and
is going to be, you know, getting paid to play
football a year from now. So yeah, I like the
(22:31):
d NS and and you know, I mean, I think
it will be tough for these young guys, but you've
got some really promising Abram Burris, you got some. And
Quentin Clark you talked about him. He's a guy, he's
got a lot of twitch to him to know, he's
brand new to the position. There's some other guys in there,
you know, William to pay pay hopefully, I'm saying that right.
They read shirted him last year, you know, so we'll see.
(22:53):
But I think this Dee Lion's got a lot of potential.
I know you're high on it, and and I'm equally
as high too.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Right linebacker, I feel like we haven't you know that
there hasn't been a whole lot talking about linebacker this year.
Aidan Fisher clearly the leader of this team offense, defense,
special team, doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
He's the guy in the middle.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Elijah Hardy, he was dinged up in practice with a
growing thing, but he's been back on the field, so
she should have, you know, ample time to get back
up to speed for the start of the season. We've
seen Isaiah Jones and the Kadie Turner in there as well.
Unless you had anything else on linebacker, Matt, I feel
like we just focused on the secondary here, especially with
the Lewis Moore stuff.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Yeah. Absolutely, I mean we know who the top three.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
To me, the biggest thing a linebacker is if you
need a fourth or fifth guy who kind of steps up.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
But we'll see that as the season goes along.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
The top three guys I think are terrific players for Indiana,
and you know, biggest thing is they stay healthy. I
think that's gonna be another productive, another productive year from
those guys.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
All Right, secondary here, We'll touch on cornerback in a second,
because obviously that that position battle has been fascinating. But
the big news of the past week or so Lewis
more so. He he's a guy that that's in a
weird boat where he's he's one of part of the
this whole Juco group that's trying to get an extra
your eligibility after the Diego Pavia ruling at Vanderbilt where
(24:12):
they said he's okay to play because the jugal years
don't count.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
But I guess I'm not.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
I'm not too sure how the Lewis Moore situation is
different from the Pave situation. But more filed for a
temporary restraining order last week and I believe he got it,
but that still doesn't clear him for the start of
the season.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
But he has been practicing.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
He did play in Indiana's last scrimmage, so that's gonna
be you know, my gut, says Matt, that he's gonna
be good to go for the start of the season.
Like I feel like they would have dragged this along
just to say, you know, two days before the start
of the season that you can't play. But I mean,
Indiana is gonna be put in a difficult spot here
if you know, something were to come up, and we've
(24:51):
talked about the safety depth and how that is a
bit of a question mark and if a guy like
Lewis Moore, who you're counting on to start for whatever reason,
isn't isn't you know, clear play, you know, any I
could find itself in a little bit of trouble lay
to start of the year.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Yeah, I'm exactly sure, exactly you know all the details.
I think the difference between him and the guy the
quarterback of Vandy he enrolled in college a year earlier,
so his clocks started when he enrolled.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
So I think that's so basically the pavia. If I'm
saying this, I said.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
His name right, He's like he's trying, Like I think
Tony said this, He's trying to do it within the
five year clock. More is trying his is like within
is a six year clock. So I think that's where
the difference is. I mean, it's kind of split in hairs,
and I understand why people like, you know, what's the difference,
But that to me is where I think d NCAA
is trying to draw the distinction.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Between the two. But yeah, it would be. It would be.
And I actually heard about this right after he committed.
Speaker 4 (25:46):
I didn't say anything because when he started going through springball,
I figured everything was okay, you know, and it was
a little bit off the record, But there's a there's
a real quick there's a basketball player Southern myths, and
I can't think of his name, but basically he's the
same scenario is More and Indiana's falling that case. It
was in the court system down there. They were falling
that closely, and I didn't honestly see what happened. I
(26:07):
think he's been declared eligible, but I could be wrong
on that, but yeah, if they don't have More, you know,
I mean, I we we both expect.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Byron Baldwin to play.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
But now Byron Baldwin, I think what happens is I
think Boykin was kind of in that in that slot position,
and More was back there with Amari Ferrell. I think
now Boykin goes over there, and maybe you see Baldwin
more kind of in that in that you know, slot
role for any that nickel back role. So it's, uh,
(26:35):
it would be a blow, There's no doubt about it.
And I think Byron ball can the heck of a player,
but that's that's asking a lot of a guy who's
not played it down in college football if he's got
to be either a starter or and then josh Al
Boyd's another guy, but then again, he also has not
played it down in college football. So either way, it's
you know, guys are gonna have to grow up quickly
and hopefully you know, more gets clear and he's out
(26:55):
there and this isn't a big deal, but it could be.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
It could you know, put them.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
In a spot where they're gonna have to rely on
some young guys and get them up to speed pretty quick.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
And you know one guy we didn't mention too, Bryson
Bonds Retchords seniors, So yeah, you do have some experience there.
Although he hasn't really shown starter level capabilities in the past,
but maybe this year, you know, he could take that
next step in his final year relibility.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
All right.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
On the cornerbacks here, Matt, it seems like Jamar Sharper's
really emerges that is that second cornerback starter next to
D'Angelo Ponds, you know, based on what we've seen in
camp and what we've heard. You know, if that's the case,
then you have, you know, your top four is Ponds
and Sharpers and Starters and then Rylean Gandy and Marion
knighton as the backups. You know, you're not gonna find
(27:40):
very many top four cornerback groups that good, that deep
in the big tenant.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
You know i'd have to look.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Around, but I mean, you got four guys who are
power for you know, caliber starters in that room. You
couldn't really go wrong with any of those three. But
I think Sharp his potential and his skill set, if
he can be more consistent on a gaming game, I
think he has maybe the highest ceiling of those three,
and that might be why Indian ultimately gave him the edge.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
Yeah, I think you're absolutely right. And on listen, I'm
not saying he's gonna play at the next level, but
he looks like an NFL corner. I mean, he's what
six to one, He's got long arms. I mean, you know,
he's a.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Guy that almost could be like he when you see him,
he and be like, is he a safety?
Speaker 4 (28:18):
But he's got all the hips, the fluidity, the feet,
all that kind of stuff that you're looking for from
a corner. And and you know, early on he showed
he flashed it. You know, he obviously came under Tom Allen,
and this is a guy that I have a ton
of respect for. He could have bailed so easily, especially
when they brought in those transfers, and he did not bail.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
He stuck it out. He's worked hard and and it
looks like it.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
Could pay off for him, and I think he's got
a chance to Like I'm with you, I think I
think he is physically the most gifted player at that
and obviously, when you're talking size, I let it says
them all the different things he's got.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
He's got everything you're looking for.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
And you know, I mean, I know it's just a video,
but I'm sure you saw the video the guy you
put out was it yesterday?
Speaker 3 (28:59):
And you know, I always look who do they probably show?
Who do they show a lot of?
Speaker 4 (29:02):
You see Sarah, you see Mendoza, and I saw Jamari Sorry,
Jamari Sharp, Sara, I said, I should have said, but
you see I saw Jamari Sharp in that video towards
the end a couple of times. And I mean, I'm
not saying that Nean does it on purpose, but I
think there's certain guys that you're kind of highlighting when
you put those videos out. So I like, I'm with you,
but you're if something would happen to one of those
(29:24):
top guys, and god forbid, obviously nothing happens to to Ponds,
Angelo Pond's but you've got two really good players who
will be waiting right there to play.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Who could be starting for a lot of B four teams. So,
and there's some young guys.
Speaker 4 (29:36):
I mean, you're not gonna expect any of those freshmen
to play, but you never know. I mean they they've
got some talented guys on this roster, but their top four,
like I said, begin, I think it's the most I
think it's the deepest and most talented position. When you
talk about the depth chart, the top four or five
guys on the on the it's right up there with
receiver in my opinion.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Yeah, yeah, no doubt. Definitely.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Defensively, it's probably the deepest of the defensive positions. All right,
before wrap you up here, Matt, we should talk about
special teams a little bit, considering, uh we did hear
from the specialists last week, and then Kurtzygnetti had talked
about them a.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Little bit, Uh, Nego Ratichich.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
It seems like, you know, Signetti has has a ton
of confidence in him this year. Ratichich during his mediability
talked about, you know, he he wants those opportunities to
be able to go out there and kick the fifty
plus yarders. Like, like we mentioned, we haven't seen any
special teams, so we don't really know how his leg
has progressed over the last year or so. But yeah,
(30:30):
I think it's a situation where Indiana last year got
their first sort of glimpse of Ratatchich and he was,
you know, obviously very very consistent. Didn't miss an extra
point all year. I believe you only missed one field goal.
But that Yeah, that's gonna be the big question with
with the special teams group is can he step into
a big situation, you know, whether it be on the
on the road, at home, late game situation Indiana needs
(30:52):
a long field goal.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Can he be that guy? It's it's tough to say
for sure right.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
Now, but uh, you know, he's a guy that was
a was a high school All American. He has the talent,
but we'll see if it auto ultimately translates.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
Yeah, he kicked great last year.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
I remember he was basically that was only the first year
after I think he had like a hip injury or
some kind of leg injury.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
It was it was his kicking legs.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
So I I think he's a guy that definitely has
ranged fifty plus yards now whether I mean so he
was coaching dash of course, you know he was.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
I'm not.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
You know, we'll see if it happened.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
I mean, you know, I think if it's like a
fourth and two from the from the thirty eight and
you can either line up a fifty five yard or
go for it, or even fourth and four forth, whatever,
maybe my guess is he's probably gonna go for it
more times than not. But maybe, you know, if you're
at the end of the half, you know, and you
want to try to get points going into halftime, maybe
you run him out there and let him kick kick
that field goal.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
But yeah, he was, he was.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
He was great last year, and I think he's just
gonna keep getting better and better.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
You know. One, he's two years now removed from that injury.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
And you just as as any player, as you get older,
you know, you just get more coffee, you get more
used to everything, more comfortable. So I think there, I
think the kick game, and I think coach, and I
think he was asking he said he really. I mean,
he seems very comfortable with the specialist. Obviously, Langston is
a good snapper you brought in. I think who's a
great punter? Arth, Yeah, miss McCarthy, sorry for touch. Florida
(32:13):
James came me for a second. Then obviously we know
and then Frankie, I mean that guy almost every kick
he had last year was a was a you know,
he kicked out of the back of the end zone.
So and then we talked about rat Hicks. So I
think the specialists and for the most of the specialist
last year, we're good. Obviously, the host A game was
was not a great note for for them, but overall
I thought they played well. And I mean it's again,
(32:35):
it's another position group on this team where I think
they will be better than last year. You know, it's
even though they won eleven and two and went to
the playoff. I've said it before, I think this roster
is better. Now does that mean it's gonna be another playoff?
This This schedule is tougher too, But I think overall
this roster is better. They've upgraded in so many spots.
I mean that's not a knock on the guys last year.
(32:56):
They've just gotten good players and they and the players
that came back have gotten better. And I think this
roster is in a really, really good place.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
Yeah, and you know, I think that's been a prevailing thought,
especially you know, the national guy, the national reporters. You know,
I think there's a thought that Indiana will have a
better roster this year, but it doesn't necessarily mean they're
gonna have a better record than they did last year,
which would be tough. But just because of this, you know,
the schedule they played this year compared to last year.
(33:24):
And one thing too, Matt, that that really stands out
to me in fall camp before we wrap this up,
I've just been so impressed with the way they go
about their business and fall camp. You know, this is
not a team that you could tell they're not coasting
through you know, practice and you know, just hoping to
rest on the twenty twenty four season to translate to
twenty like they are getting after it every single day.
(33:45):
The coaches worked them so hard, and then that was
a key piece too, obviously their attention of all the
assistants except for Tino Sinceri, the the assistants.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Are getting after it every day.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
I've just been really impressed with how these guys have
come out all fall camp and really put in the work.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
Yeah, I mean, this is this is I mean and
I and I can't stay in say saying to tell you,
I know I've covered this program for a long time.
This is what it's supposed to look like. I mean,
this is what this is what a big time And
I'm not saying Indiana's Alabama, but my guess is this
is what it looked like a lot of Alabama when
when Signetti was there with Saban and when Saban, I mean,
you have coaches. You have a head coach who's a CEO.
He lets his guys do his job, do their job.
(34:21):
He hires him, and he's very very good at recognizing
not only player talent, but coaching talent. And that's the thing.
There's a These are young coaches. A lot of these
guys have not been coaches for a whole a really
long time and and been coordinators for a real long time,
at least not at this level, and you wouldn't know it.
I mean they are they're incredibly detailed. I mean, if
(34:43):
you remember I say this all the time, they used
to have a clock at the end of the at
the end of the field of practice. There's no clock anymore.
They just know when to go and they are always
on time. It's just it's really phenomenal, the attention to
detail and all that kind of stuff that they that
this staff and this team works with. I think it's
a credit to Chris Signetti, but you know the other
everybody has to do their job, and he does a
(35:05):
great job of getting the guys in the right seats
and then they go do it, and you know, I think.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Fans should be excited about this season.
Speaker 4 (35:10):
Again, the schedule's tougher, but I think this team is
gonna have a chance to win every game on their schedule.
Speaker 3 (35:16):
I'm not saying they will, but I think they will have.
Speaker 4 (35:18):
A chance to win every game. And we when's the
last time we could say that? But Indiana football like
basically never?
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Yeah, yeah, all right.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
We are less than two weeks away from the season
Oprah August thirty. I think it's Old Dominion. Indiana is
gearing up here for their game week prep. Chris and
I said it'll start probably towards the end of this
week as they'll look ahead towards Old Dominion. Fall camp
is about to wrap up here. Matt Weaver and I
have been there every step of the way. Obviously, we'll
have much more to come over the next week or
(35:46):
so until the season opener comes, but until then, keep
it locked into pegs dot com. We'll have much more
over there on the board. Come chat with us and
we'll see folks over there.
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