Indiana University Athletics
Jones Finally Has His Day
9/5/2015 10:45:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
Ricky Jones said time after time that he wanted to prove himself.
Saturday, the redshirt junior receiver got his chance.
In a tie game and the ball on Indiana's 28-yard line, IU senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld's eyes caught Jones streaking downfield. With just over a minute left, Indiana needed to make a play, and Jones was there to make it.
Jones looked over his shoulder, found the ball and made a 71-yard catch in stride. He was taken down at the 1-yard line, setting up junior running back Jordan Howard's game-winning touchdown rush in IU's 48-47 win against Southern Illinois.
The receiver teammates are calling "Grandpa" finally had his day.
"I've been telling you guys, Ricky's back," Sudfeld said. "He's back. He's got confidence and swagger, so it was good to see him make some big plays out there."
Jones' key catch wouldn't have been possible had it not been for the previous play being botched.
Indiana ran the same play on first-and-10 one play before, which resulted in an incompletion intended for sophomore receiver Simmie Cobbs, Jr. After the ball fell to the ground, Sudfeld looked to the sideline to find head coach Kevin Wilson calling for the same play to be ran again.
"It worked like a charm the second time," Jones said, smiling.
The redo worked better because it had more time to develop, Sudfeld said. He was able to hang onto the ball a bit longer, throw it up and let Jones go get it.
"That was an eye-opener," sophomore running back Devine Redding said. "I didn't know Ricky had that speed. Ricky's fast. Real fast."
Jones' career day saw him make six catches for 186 yards and a touchdown. In three previous years in Bloomington, Jones had just four catches for 60 yards.
"Really great to see Jones play the way he played," Wilson said. "It was great to see that as an old guy."
Jones is expected to be relied on early and often this season as his role develops.
Already the eldest receiver in the locker room, Jones has taken on a leadership role in one of Indiana's youngest positions. It's a responsibility he said he doesn't take for granted, but at the same time, he still said he felt he never had a chance to prove himself.
That changed Saturday. For the first time, Jones got to show the world the player he's always been.
His next job is doing it again.
"I've been waiting for this for a long time," Jones said. "I took the opportunity I had and felt like I converted on it, but I've got to bring it next week."
Notables
Howard has career-day in debut
In his Indiana debut, junior running back Jordan Howard rushed for 145 yards on 20 carries and scored a career-high three touchdowns. The UAB transfer appeared as advertised, complimenting sophomore Devine Redding's 16-carry, 68-yard day.
"How about Jordan?" Redding said. "He was great. That's my guy there. He played really well. That's the guy you guys are going to see."
Mangieri sets new career mark
Indiana senior Nick Mangieri didn't appear to have any trouble adjusting to his first game at defensive end after spending last season as a bandit.
Mangieri had a career-high 11 tackles, matching junior linebacker T.J. Simmons' total to lead Indiana.
He also played a key role in holding Southern Illinois scoreless in the third quarter, allowing Indiana to make up lost ground.
"Honestly, I think it's just a couple guys stepping up and making plays," Mangieri said.
Oliver continues to make plays
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Marcus Oliver forced two fumbled in his first game back from suffering a season-ending ACL tear last September.
Oliver's initial forced fumble led to an Indiana touchdown on the ensuing drive. The second put a stop to Southern Illinois' momentum early in the fourth quarter.
Wilson's word:
"We have to tighten up a lot of stuff for sure…But those kids buy in. The chemistry of the team is very solid, the strong buy-in and what we did for us was unusual, because like last year, we've been places where we could implode and we stopped imploding. Now we have started progressing. It's time to see that."
IUHoosiers.com
Ricky Jones said time after time that he wanted to prove himself.
Saturday, the redshirt junior receiver got his chance.
In a tie game and the ball on Indiana's 28-yard line, IU senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld's eyes caught Jones streaking downfield. With just over a minute left, Indiana needed to make a play, and Jones was there to make it.
Jones looked over his shoulder, found the ball and made a 71-yard catch in stride. He was taken down at the 1-yard line, setting up junior running back Jordan Howard's game-winning touchdown rush in IU's 48-47 win against Southern Illinois.
The receiver teammates are calling "Grandpa" finally had his day.
"I've been telling you guys, Ricky's back," Sudfeld said. "He's back. He's got confidence and swagger, so it was good to see him make some big plays out there."
Jones' key catch wouldn't have been possible had it not been for the previous play being botched.
Indiana ran the same play on first-and-10 one play before, which resulted in an incompletion intended for sophomore receiver Simmie Cobbs, Jr. After the ball fell to the ground, Sudfeld looked to the sideline to find head coach Kevin Wilson calling for the same play to be ran again.
"It worked like a charm the second time," Jones said, smiling.
The redo worked better because it had more time to develop, Sudfeld said. He was able to hang onto the ball a bit longer, throw it up and let Jones go get it.
"That was an eye-opener," sophomore running back Devine Redding said. "I didn't know Ricky had that speed. Ricky's fast. Real fast."
Jones' career day saw him make six catches for 186 yards and a touchdown. In three previous years in Bloomington, Jones had just four catches for 60 yards.
"Really great to see Jones play the way he played," Wilson said. "It was great to see that as an old guy."
Jones is expected to be relied on early and often this season as his role develops.
Already the eldest receiver in the locker room, Jones has taken on a leadership role in one of Indiana's youngest positions. It's a responsibility he said he doesn't take for granted, but at the same time, he still said he felt he never had a chance to prove himself.
That changed Saturday. For the first time, Jones got to show the world the player he's always been.
His next job is doing it again.
"I've been waiting for this for a long time," Jones said. "I took the opportunity I had and felt like I converted on it, but I've got to bring it next week."
Notables
Howard has career-day in debut
In his Indiana debut, junior running back Jordan Howard rushed for 145 yards on 20 carries and scored a career-high three touchdowns. The UAB transfer appeared as advertised, complimenting sophomore Devine Redding's 16-carry, 68-yard day.
"How about Jordan?" Redding said. "He was great. That's my guy there. He played really well. That's the guy you guys are going to see."
Mangieri sets new career mark
Indiana senior Nick Mangieri didn't appear to have any trouble adjusting to his first game at defensive end after spending last season as a bandit.
Mangieri had a career-high 11 tackles, matching junior linebacker T.J. Simmons' total to lead Indiana.
He also played a key role in holding Southern Illinois scoreless in the third quarter, allowing Indiana to make up lost ground.
"Honestly, I think it's just a couple guys stepping up and making plays," Mangieri said.
Oliver continues to make plays
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Marcus Oliver forced two fumbled in his first game back from suffering a season-ending ACL tear last September.
Oliver's initial forced fumble led to an Indiana touchdown on the ensuing drive. The second put a stop to Southern Illinois' momentum early in the fourth quarter.
Wilson's word:
"We have to tighten up a lot of stuff for sure…But those kids buy in. The chemistry of the team is very solid, the strong buy-in and what we did for us was unusual, because like last year, we've been places where we could implode and we stopped imploding. Now we have started progressing. It's time to see that."
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DE
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballFB: Fernando Mendoza - Heisman Trophy Press Conference (12/15/25)
Monday, December 15
FB: Curt Cignetti - Pre-Heisman Press Conference
Wednesday, December 10
FB: Fernando Mendoza - Pre-Heisman Press Conference
Tuesday, December 09
FB: CFP Quarterfinals (Rose Bowl) - Student-Athlete Press Conference
Monday, December 08