Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Pre-Rose Bowl Game Defense Availability
12/28/2025 3:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– As Indiana Football's Rose Bowl matchup against Alabama on Thursday (January 1) approaches, defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Bryant Haines and players Aiden Fisher, Isaiah Jones, D'Angelo Ponds and Rolijah Hardy addressed the media inside the Don Croftcheck Football Team Room on Sunday (December 28).
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Bryant Haines | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
On the production of the defensive ends...
BH: Same with all positions, it is always next man up. So, I expect that when Daniel Ndukwe's number is called, he'll be ready just like everybody that came before him and everybody that is going to come after him, as well. That is regardless of position. You know, we had some [injuries] at linebacker during the middle of the year and whether it be Jeff Utzinger that shows up in there or Kaiden Turner. There is a job description that needs to be done, find a way to get it done.
Then, it is on me to adapt the scheme that fits what those guys are capable of; whether it is Daniel Ndukwe or whoever shows up at field end. I need to put them in a great spot to be successful. That is what I get paid to do and so I will fight my tail off to get that done.
On how his relationship with Mike Shanahan has grown...
BH: I can go a couple different ways with that.
Our time at IUP, coach Shanahan and I did not cross over. Funny story about that, though: Coach Cignetti had a house for all of the young coaches that weren't making a whole lot of money and the bathroom of the house actually ended up caving in right after I moved out and that house got annexed. So, I don't know where coach Shanahan lived. But, when I was there, we did kind of have the young, poor coaches house that unfortunately didn't make it.
Moving on to coach Shanahan, his evolution - I guess similar to mine - happened in such a way that I always respected him as a co-worker and a receivers coach who was always extremely organized and very efficient with his coaching. I remember when Shane Montgomery left [James Madison], I remember thinking and talking to other guys on the staff that Shanny's guy. He is a no-brainer hire here as the OC. I think we all felt that way because anyone that's been around Shanny knows how capable he is.
So, that is how the evolution came to be, we never lived together, and I can't say that we've ever had conversations about 'hey, when it's our time,' I just knew he was going to make it because he is phenomenal. He's a great coach, very smart and his organizational discipline is one of his elite qualities.
On Isaiah Jones development over the last two years...
BH: Bones has been awesome. I always knew he was capable of what you guys are seeing. There was never a doubt in my mind. I think he needed to earn the trust of the head football coach and earn confidence of the other guys that are on the field with him through his play at both sam backer and will backer. I think he definitely stepped into that role, like, 'guys I can get this done at a high level.' He's shown that.
Then, when Aiden went down, it was another situation. [I didn't have] One moment of fear that Bones couldn't go in and be the green dot (coach-to-player communication helmet). I knew he was going to communicate. He knows the defense as well as anybody - even Aiden [Fisher] - he is an elite mind, elite football IQ. One day, number four is not going to be out there for the Hoosiers playing mike linebacker and the next guy in that line is Bones Jones. I think he is up to that challenge.
Aiden Fisher | LB | Sr.
On scouting Alabama...
AF: I think [defensive coordinator Bryant Haines] said summed it up well. A really good offensive line: big, physical. A lot of playmakers on the edge and really good running backs, as well. Definitely have our work cut out for us.
These last couple of weeks they've been able to get their running game going and I think that has helped them a lot. The, obviously, have a quarterback that is playing at a really high level right now. Smart player that kind of knows what to do, how to get in and out of checks, does a really good job identifying blitzes and things like that, so definitely going to be a challenge for us. A really good football team.
On Alabama winning games in different ways during the season...
AF: I think for us, stopping the run is always priority number one. They did a great job in the pass game during the Oklahoma game, especially Ty Simpson did a great job extending plays, letting his receivers get down field and get open. A lot of scrambling. He did a good job running the ball when he had to.
For us, it's just about staying disciplined when he is on the move. Have to do a great job sticking to guys and making sure they are not getting opened down the field. Then, containing the quarterback when it comes down to needing to keep him in the pocket.
Isaiah Jones | LB | R-Jr.
On Coach (Bryant) Haines saying he had to put Isaiah on the field…
IJ: For myself, obviously each player has their own goals, but for me it's what's best for the team. As long as we're winning games, I'm going to be happy. You might have a good game, you might have a bad game. Obviously knowing that, knowing he has confidence in me and pretty much the whole defense, kind of lets us play free and lets us play fast. Just for me on that kind of side of things, he puts me in a lot of positions that are advantageous and then he talks about just winning one-on-ones and I feel like I've been able to do that this year and it's kind of what made it successful.
On keeping his head up when he wasn't getting a lot of reps…
IJ: I have my own aspirations and goals, but we were winning a lot of games last year and I had a crucial role on special teams and then going in when my number was called and just being able to play to the best of my ability. Obviously, that's part of the gig, you have to earn your position coach's trust and then the head coach's trust. Being here a while now I feel like I have that, I think that's why you're seeing a lot more playing time. As long as I feel like I keep my head on straight and do what they coach me to do, we'll be alright.
D'Angelo Ponds | DB | Jr.
On keeping a strong mentality with a talented offensive core to defend…
DP: I think it's very important to keep that same mentality. They got talented players just as well as we do, they do have a great quarterback and great receivers as well, but I feel like we match up pretty well with them.
On his intense level of focus at practice…
DP: I feel like that's just a mentality I play with. It does kind of take a while for you to get used to in practice to go that hard, even this late in the season. I feel like that's just me as a person, it's always going to be that way no matter what. It's definitely going to be that way, iron sharpens iron every day.
Rolijah Hardy | LB | So.
On preparing for Ty Simpson and versatile quarterbacks…
RH: For our defense it's always about containing the quarterback. With a guy like (Ty) Simpson, you want to have those DBs playing coverage a little bit longer if he does escape. And then, you want to have those d-linemen try to contain the quarterback and just be able to do their assignments. And then of you course have the linebackers, you see him, go get him, just want to execute at a higher level.
On the chemistry between him and the other linebackers and how that opens the playbook…
RH: We do a lot of preparation, a lot of talking on the field with each other. And then you've got a guy like Bones (Isaiah Jones), you've got myself, you've got Fish (Aiden Fisher). You can almost bring any one of us in, it just shows different looks, so it's hard to play against a team that has a lot of versatile linebackers.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Bryant Haines | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
On the production of the defensive ends...
BH: Same with all positions, it is always next man up. So, I expect that when Daniel Ndukwe's number is called, he'll be ready just like everybody that came before him and everybody that is going to come after him, as well. That is regardless of position. You know, we had some [injuries] at linebacker during the middle of the year and whether it be Jeff Utzinger that shows up in there or Kaiden Turner. There is a job description that needs to be done, find a way to get it done.
Then, it is on me to adapt the scheme that fits what those guys are capable of; whether it is Daniel Ndukwe or whoever shows up at field end. I need to put them in a great spot to be successful. That is what I get paid to do and so I will fight my tail off to get that done.
On how his relationship with Mike Shanahan has grown...
BH: I can go a couple different ways with that.
Our time at IUP, coach Shanahan and I did not cross over. Funny story about that, though: Coach Cignetti had a house for all of the young coaches that weren't making a whole lot of money and the bathroom of the house actually ended up caving in right after I moved out and that house got annexed. So, I don't know where coach Shanahan lived. But, when I was there, we did kind of have the young, poor coaches house that unfortunately didn't make it.
Moving on to coach Shanahan, his evolution - I guess similar to mine - happened in such a way that I always respected him as a co-worker and a receivers coach who was always extremely organized and very efficient with his coaching. I remember when Shane Montgomery left [James Madison], I remember thinking and talking to other guys on the staff that Shanny's guy. He is a no-brainer hire here as the OC. I think we all felt that way because anyone that's been around Shanny knows how capable he is.
So, that is how the evolution came to be, we never lived together, and I can't say that we've ever had conversations about 'hey, when it's our time,' I just knew he was going to make it because he is phenomenal. He's a great coach, very smart and his organizational discipline is one of his elite qualities.
On Isaiah Jones development over the last two years...
BH: Bones has been awesome. I always knew he was capable of what you guys are seeing. There was never a doubt in my mind. I think he needed to earn the trust of the head football coach and earn confidence of the other guys that are on the field with him through his play at both sam backer and will backer. I think he definitely stepped into that role, like, 'guys I can get this done at a high level.' He's shown that.
Then, when Aiden went down, it was another situation. [I didn't have] One moment of fear that Bones couldn't go in and be the green dot (coach-to-player communication helmet). I knew he was going to communicate. He knows the defense as well as anybody - even Aiden [Fisher] - he is an elite mind, elite football IQ. One day, number four is not going to be out there for the Hoosiers playing mike linebacker and the next guy in that line is Bones Jones. I think he is up to that challenge.
Aiden Fisher | LB | Sr.
On scouting Alabama...
AF: I think [defensive coordinator Bryant Haines] said summed it up well. A really good offensive line: big, physical. A lot of playmakers on the edge and really good running backs, as well. Definitely have our work cut out for us.
These last couple of weeks they've been able to get their running game going and I think that has helped them a lot. The, obviously, have a quarterback that is playing at a really high level right now. Smart player that kind of knows what to do, how to get in and out of checks, does a really good job identifying blitzes and things like that, so definitely going to be a challenge for us. A really good football team.
On Alabama winning games in different ways during the season...
AF: I think for us, stopping the run is always priority number one. They did a great job in the pass game during the Oklahoma game, especially Ty Simpson did a great job extending plays, letting his receivers get down field and get open. A lot of scrambling. He did a good job running the ball when he had to.
For us, it's just about staying disciplined when he is on the move. Have to do a great job sticking to guys and making sure they are not getting opened down the field. Then, containing the quarterback when it comes down to needing to keep him in the pocket.
Isaiah Jones | LB | R-Jr.
On Coach (Bryant) Haines saying he had to put Isaiah on the field…
IJ: For myself, obviously each player has their own goals, but for me it's what's best for the team. As long as we're winning games, I'm going to be happy. You might have a good game, you might have a bad game. Obviously knowing that, knowing he has confidence in me and pretty much the whole defense, kind of lets us play free and lets us play fast. Just for me on that kind of side of things, he puts me in a lot of positions that are advantageous and then he talks about just winning one-on-ones and I feel like I've been able to do that this year and it's kind of what made it successful.
On keeping his head up when he wasn't getting a lot of reps…
IJ: I have my own aspirations and goals, but we were winning a lot of games last year and I had a crucial role on special teams and then going in when my number was called and just being able to play to the best of my ability. Obviously, that's part of the gig, you have to earn your position coach's trust and then the head coach's trust. Being here a while now I feel like I have that, I think that's why you're seeing a lot more playing time. As long as I feel like I keep my head on straight and do what they coach me to do, we'll be alright.
D'Angelo Ponds | DB | Jr.
On keeping a strong mentality with a talented offensive core to defend…
DP: I think it's very important to keep that same mentality. They got talented players just as well as we do, they do have a great quarterback and great receivers as well, but I feel like we match up pretty well with them.
On his intense level of focus at practice…
DP: I feel like that's just a mentality I play with. It does kind of take a while for you to get used to in practice to go that hard, even this late in the season. I feel like that's just me as a person, it's always going to be that way no matter what. It's definitely going to be that way, iron sharpens iron every day.
Rolijah Hardy | LB | So.
On preparing for Ty Simpson and versatile quarterbacks…
RH: For our defense it's always about containing the quarterback. With a guy like (Ty) Simpson, you want to have those DBs playing coverage a little bit longer if he does escape. And then, you want to have those d-linemen try to contain the quarterback and just be able to do their assignments. And then of you course have the linebackers, you see him, go get him, just want to execute at a higher level.
On the chemistry between him and the other linebackers and how that opens the playbook…
RH: We do a lot of preparation, a lot of talking on the field with each other. And then you've got a guy like Bones (Isaiah Jones), you've got myself, you've got Fish (Aiden Fisher). You can almost bring any one of us in, it just shows different looks, so it's hard to play against a team that has a lot of versatile linebackers.
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/ FootballFB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (12/30/25)
Tuesday, December 30
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (12/29/25)
Monday, December 29
FB: Bryant Haines Media Availability (12/28/25)
Sunday, December 28
FB: Aiden Fisher Media Availability (12/28/25)
Sunday, December 28