Tom Allen Confirms Tayven Jackson as Starting QB, Injury Update on Cam Camper, Dexter Williams II
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Coach Tom Allen said Monday that Tayven Jackson will remain Indiana's starting quarterback and that the team is getting healthier as the Hoosiers prepare for Saturday's game against the No. 2 ranked Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
One topic that Allen mentioned early and often during his press conference was the health of his football team. In most years, that wouldn't be too unusual. However, through the first six weeks of the season, the Indiana football coach has side stepped almost every injury related question. For more than a month, Allen would tell any reporter who asked about a player's injury that he wouldn't answer that question and would use the mandatory availability report that's published two hours before each game.
But in a change of pace, Allen was openly talking Monday about his team's health, especially coming off a week of rest.
"I wouldn't say everybody, [but] I would say hope to get several back," Allen said when asked whether Indiana players who missed the Week 5 game against Maryland will play in Week 6. "Some guys that have been out, and [I] won't get into details, but obviously [with] the bye week, one of the goals was to help get some key guys that have been out for a little bit — to get those guys back. And [I] hope to do that as well. Don't know for sure on all of them."
Against Maryland, Indiana listed seven players as out on the pregame injury report — quarterback Dexter Williams II, wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr., cornerback Jamier Johnson, running back Josh Henderson, offensive lineman Max Longman, linebacker Jackson Schott and tight end Bradley Archer.
One player not listed on that pregame injury report, though, was wide receiver Cam Camper.
The team captain and standout wide receiver entered Week 5 with 13 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown. He leads the team in receiving yards and has been the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver since day one. So it was surprising when he finished the Maryland game with zero catches and just five snaps played, according to Pro Football Focus.
On Monday, Allen suggested Camper had been injured and was doing better with the week off but provided no specifics.
"Bye week was really good for [Camper]," Allen said. "He took full advantage of it. I like where he's at. Definitely was not where he needed to be. We're always going to take care of our guys and not put them in that position if they're not ready to go. But, yeah, he's definitely progressing in a very positive way."
Camper's return would obviously be a huge benefit to the Hoosiers as they prepare to face Michigan as huge underdogs. But more specifically, it could help quarterback Tayven Jackson.
The redshirt freshman has his worst game as a starter against Maryland. He completed just 17 of 29 passes for 113 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception. There were murmurs of another quarterback flip with Brendan Sorsby leading two touchdown drives late in the game at College Park, but Allen confirmed on Monday that Jackson is the team's starting quarterback right now.
Going up against Michigan's defense is no small task, but it sure would help Jackson if he could get Camper back and throw deep down the sideline to him.
Jackson and Sorsby weren't the only quarterbacks discussed by Allen on Monday. The Indiana coach also talked about Dexter Williams II — who started the final two games of the 2022 season for the Hoosiers before suffering a torn ACL.
"[Dexter] is getting closer. Every passing week, even this past week, was another chance to continue to get closer and closer to be able to allow him to play," Allen said. "That will be good discussion for us as a staff and to kind of make that opportunity. So I'd like to be able to ease him into that opportunity as well. So we'll see how that plays itself out."
A few weeks ago, after Jackson lit up the Louisville secondary during the second half inside Lucas Oil Stadium, the idea of Williams taking the job back seemed unlikely. Now, with Indiana at 2-3 and projected as an underdog in its remaining seven games, there's more credence to the theory that the dynamic Williams could once again be Indiana's starting quarterback later in 2023.
"Once he feels, [and] the doctors feel he's 100 percent ready to go — we're not going to put him out there until he's 100 percent ready to go," Allen said when asked for a timetable on Williams' return. "But he's getting closer to that, which is good news for everybody."
"For him, he's worked extremely hard to come back, and it's been a real battle for him. And it's not that easy. It's been a long process to go through, especially a second time. Takes a lot of mental toughness to do that when you know how hard it's going to be. I just love the young man and his grit and toughness and everybody respects him on our team. And he's one that everybody just wants to see come back and do well. So that day is getting closer, and we'll continue to evaluate when that day comes and how he'll be utilized."
"I believe he can help our football team win games."
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