Indiana Football: Can Hoosiers sustain newfound success in 2021?
By Shane Lunnen
Tom Allen preaches takes pride in defense
The Hoosiers are loaded at defense with nine returning starters. Kane Wommack took the head coaching job at South Alabama so Charlton Warren is the new defensive coordinator after spending the last two seasons as the defensive backs coach at Georgia.
Up front in the 4-2-5 defensive scheme, all four starters return from a unit that led the Big Ten a year ago with 25 sacks. Even with all four starters returning, now some of them will be depth guys because of the talent the Hoosiers added. Defensive end Ryder Anderson transferred from Ole Miss and he’ll be joined by James Head, DK Bonhomme, and Michael Ziemba in the rotation.
The linebacking corps is led by Micah McFadden. The junior is one of the Hoosiers’ best linebackers of all time. His high motor and sideline to sideline play makes it seem the man never takes a play off. At the other spot, Cam Jones is another disruptive talent and the Hoosiers also have Marcelino McCrary-Ball back from injury. He will play the hybrid position between linebackers and secondary.
In the aforementioned secondary, sophomore Tiawan Mullen is a lockdown corner who makes quarterbacks think twice before throwing his way. Last season he became the first-ever Indiana cornerback to earn first-team All American honors.
At the other cornerback spot, Reese Taylor and Jaylin Williams combined for five interceptions a year ago. At the safety positions Devon Matthews and Raheem Layne return, bringing with them plenty of experience.