By: Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The defensive tone starts with sixth-year senior linebacker Aaron Casey. It has to. He’s the veteran, a team co-captain, the catalyst for all the Hoosiers want to defensively accomplish.
There is much to accomplish, starting with Saturday’s season opener against No. 3 Ohio State at Memorial Stadium.
“I try not to think too much about it,” Casey says. “Keep my head down and do the work. Now that I’ve gotten to this position, I can’t let my foot off the gas. Attack every day with an edge.”
Attacking comes while wearing No. 44, which was George Taliaferro’s old number. Taliaferro was the former IU All-American, first African-American drafted by the NFL and, ultimately, a Hall of Famer. Indiana selects one player each year who best reflects what Taliaferro represented on and off the field to wear No. 44.
Add Casey’s co-captain duties and it’s quite an honor for a guy who didn’t emerge until last year’s breakout performance.
“I started as a young guy not getting on the field that much, and being able to trust the process and work my way up,” he says. “Being in the position I’m in now is a blessing, knowing that I was able to work for it and my teammates voted me for it.”
Now comes the chance to turn that vote into some Cream & Crimson history against Ohio State, a national title contender once again rich in talent.
The Hoosiers haven’t beaten the Buckeyes since the late 1980s during Bill Mallory’s coaching peak. They came close during Tom Allen’s head coaching debut season of 2017, leading in the third quarter before fading, and once again in 2020.
“Knowing that they’re one of the most respected teams in the nation, and having them for Week One, it’s exciting,” Casey says. “Getting them first will show what the Indiana Hoosiers are about this year.”
IU seeks to bounce back from consecutive losing seasons with a revamped roster that includes 36 newcomers — 24 college transfers, 12 true freshmen.
The result is a sense that something special is coming.
“Everybody is coming in hungry,” Casey says. “We have a group of guys who are willing to work. They’ve worked all camp. That’s something I’m excited about.”
Excitement includes an IU attacking defense seeking disruption at every level. It wants to pressure the quarterback relentlessly, without blitzing if possible. Casey, who had a team-leading 10.5 tackles for loss last season, including 1.5 sacks, will lead the way.
“We’ll be able to get after the quarterback,” he says.
Sacking the quarterback, Casey adds, comes down to lots of film study.
“I’ve been trying to master the defense. Learn how different parts and positions work together. Having that mindset to play faster, move faster, make checks and adjustments, and do different things.”
Blitzes will be in play, but having a rebuilt defensive line with pressure-the-QB transfers such as Andre Carter and Philip Blidi might limit their necessity.
“We still are creative in our blitzes,” Casey says, “but our group up front are big guys. They are moving people around. They can get knock back against the O-line. We’ve seen that in camp. It’s exciting what they are able to do.”
Stanford transfer Jacob Mangum-Farrar will join Casey as a linebacker leader. In 25 career college games, Mangum-Farrar has totaled 87 tackles, 4.5 for loss.
“Jacob is adding exciting things to our defense,” Casey says. “He can play multiple positions. He’s an athletic guy. He’s really good.”
Depth comes from Austin Peay transfer Joshua Rudolph and redshirt sophomore Matt Hohlt, a former walk-on who was recently put on scholarship.
“Matt is really stepping up,” Casey says. “He’s one of the smartest guys I’ve been around. He knows how to play the linebacker position well. He’s switching between the two linebacker positions and has really accelerated his game.
“He was so honored and blessed to earn a scholarship. He really did earn it. I’m glad it paid off for him.”
As for Rudolph, who had 94 tackles in two seasons at Austin Peay, Casey says, “Josh Rudolph is a workhorse. He’s one of the hardest-working guys I’ve been around. I’m excited for him.”
Ohio State presents a formidable offensive challenge, but not an unbeatable one. Co-defensive coordinator Matt Guerrieri tells the Hoosiers to approach the Buckeyes as “nameless, faceless objects.”
“That’s how we’ll attack them,” Casey says. “Take the name off the jersey, just go against them as an opponent, not as Ohio State. They are just the next opponent to narrow it down and lock into our responsibilities and do our jobs.”
