Indiana Football’s Aaron Casey: ‘He’s Been Huge For Us’

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — When staff captain and beginning linebacker Cam Jones went down with a foot harm within the Nebraska sport on Oct. 1, somebody wanted to return to the rescue, and quick. Enter redshirt senior linebacker Aaron Casey.

“An incredible instance of once you lose anyone so proficient and so precious as Cam Jones, you need anyone else to step up,” Indiana coach Tom Allen stated.

“Aaron Casey has been right here. Had a very disappointing season final 12 months. He knew that. We met and challenged him. He actually attacked this complete low season.”

Final season, Casey appeared in all 12 video games and totaled 25 tackles, however tallied no interceptions or sacks. He made his first begin of his profession versus Rutgers and totaled eight tackles however by no means matched that efficiency or got here shut the rest of the season.

“You consider Aaron Casey, a man final 12 months who in all probability didn’t carry out in addition to some had hoped and contribute the way in which that he had hoped,” defensive coordinator Chad Wilt stated.

“(Now) each week, each month, you simply see his confidence rising.”

With Jones out, Casey shifted from mike to stinger linebacker seeming unbothered by the adjustment. Jones nonetheless ranks second on the staff with 54 whole tackles, however Casey surpassed the injured participant with 66 and counting.

“He is actually hit this factor in stride,” Wilt stated. “It hasn’t actually fazed him bumping over and altering the positions.”

Not solely is Casey main the staff in whole tackles, however he is additionally third within the Massive Ten with 42 solo tackles, fourth with 1.5 sacks and seventh with 66 whole tackles, an enormous change of tempo from final season.

“I am simply so pleased with him for the way he is responded,” Allen stated. “Probably not shocked. I’ve all the time believed within the child. I assumed he was a very proficient participant. We took him as a highschool security to develop right into a linebacker. He brings athleticism to that place.”

Allen stated Casey has nice size and is robust, robust and might run. He used to lack confidence however has now developed into a frontrunner much like Jones.

In the meantime, simply because Jones is on the sidelines doesn’t suggest he is inactive. Wilt stated the coaches give Jones a script for every observe. He sits in on each assembly taking notes and is all the time mentally engaged.

Wilt stated he is seen gamers try after they’re injured since they don’t seem to be in a position to bodily play. Not Jones. He is staying forward of the curve ready to be put again within the sport all on the mercy of his week-to-week restoration course of.

Up subsequent the Hoosiers will face Penn State inside Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET following a bye week. It is unsure if Jones will probably be again out on the turf, however one factor’s for sure. Casey will probably be stepping up as soon as once more.

“It is a man that is going to proceed to be an enormous a part of what we do right here,” Wilt stated.

“He is been enormous for us,” Allen stated.

Associated tales on Indiana soccer:

• WEEK 10 DEPTH AND INJURY CHART Heading into Indiana soccer’s matchup with No. 16 Penn State on Saturday, try a couple of harm notes to control, in addition to the Week 10 depth chart. CLICK HERE
• UNCERTAINTY AT QB: Indiana soccer coach Tom Allen and offensive coordinator Walt Bell are evaluating totally different choices at quarterback heading right into a Week 10 matchup towards Penn State. CLICK HERE
• CAMPER TEARS ACL: Cam Camper made a right away impression at Indiana after transferring kind Trinity Valley Neighborhood Faculty, however he’ll miss the remainder of the 2022 season with a torn ACL. CLICK HERE