Indiana University Athletics
SPRING SESSIONS: Spring Practice No. 6
4/7/2026 3:57:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– The Indiana football program wrapped up practice six with a media session in the Don Croftcheck Team Room inside Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium on Tuesday (April 7). Linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones both spoke with the media following practice.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found in the links above or at IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Rolijah Hardy | LB | Jr.
On his number change...
RH: It was just my high school number and has always been my favorite number. With [D'Angelo] Ponds leaving and having a great year, I just want to be able to do the same thing [in that number].
On if there has been a time at IU that he has surprised himself...
RH: Not really. I have always been confident in my ability to play football, always been smart on and off the field, always been disciplined. My year at Navy [Prep School] gave me a lot of discipline ... Coming to Indiana made me just work hard and it just started with the coaches believing in me and taking that step forward.
On how his role changes this year...
RH: From a leadership standpoint, I want to be able to be more vocal. With Fish [Aiden Fisher] gone, me and Isaiah [Jones] are going to have to lead the room, lead the defense. And not just the defense, but the whole team: being more vocal. Then playing-wise, just making more plays and knowing the system. The more experience I get the more I know the system, just like any player. From a leadership standpoint, just building off of last year.
Isaiah Jones | LB | R-Sr.
On what he learned from the leaders last season...
IJ: Leadership is not just about your words; it is about your actions. Those guys led by what they did, they led by example. You can go out there and say let's have a tough, physical practice and everyone is working hard, but to actually go out there and do it, that is what those guys did. That is kind of what I learned: you can't just be all talk; you have to walk the walk.
On what it will take to make this defensive unit as dominate as the last two...
IJ: I think everyone on the team takes personal pride in that. As a defense, we pride ourselves on stopping the run and when you can do that you open up a lot of things - you know like you start to blitz. Personally, I take a lot of pride in it. In the linebackers' room we take a lot of pride in stopping the run. It starts with the basics, starts with spring ball, starts in fall camp and hopefully by the season we have it down and are ready to roll.
On Tyrique Tucker's emergence as a leader...
IJ: Tuck, just his maturity level, he has really stepped up leading the young guys in the defensive line room, being a leader on the team and stepping outside of the d-line room is what we have seen the most. He's not just trying to coach the d-line, he is encouraging the safeties and linebackers, the ends, and being more of a team leader.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found in the links above or at IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Rolijah Hardy | LB | Jr.
On his number change...
RH: It was just my high school number and has always been my favorite number. With [D'Angelo] Ponds leaving and having a great year, I just want to be able to do the same thing [in that number].
On if there has been a time at IU that he has surprised himself...
RH: Not really. I have always been confident in my ability to play football, always been smart on and off the field, always been disciplined. My year at Navy [Prep School] gave me a lot of discipline ... Coming to Indiana made me just work hard and it just started with the coaches believing in me and taking that step forward.
On how his role changes this year...
RH: From a leadership standpoint, I want to be able to be more vocal. With Fish [Aiden Fisher] gone, me and Isaiah [Jones] are going to have to lead the room, lead the defense. And not just the defense, but the whole team: being more vocal. Then playing-wise, just making more plays and knowing the system. The more experience I get the more I know the system, just like any player. From a leadership standpoint, just building off of last year.
Isaiah Jones | LB | R-Sr.
On what he learned from the leaders last season...
IJ: Leadership is not just about your words; it is about your actions. Those guys led by what they did, they led by example. You can go out there and say let's have a tough, physical practice and everyone is working hard, but to actually go out there and do it, that is what those guys did. That is kind of what I learned: you can't just be all talk; you have to walk the walk.
On what it will take to make this defensive unit as dominate as the last two...
IJ: I think everyone on the team takes personal pride in that. As a defense, we pride ourselves on stopping the run and when you can do that you open up a lot of things - you know like you start to blitz. Personally, I take a lot of pride in it. In the linebackers' room we take a lot of pride in stopping the run. It starts with the basics, starts with spring ball, starts in fall camp and hopefully by the season we have it down and are ready to roll.
On Tyrique Tucker's emergence as a leader...
IJ: Tuck, just his maturity level, he has really stepped up leading the young guys in the defensive line room, being a leader on the team and stepping outside of the d-line room is what we have seen the most. He's not just trying to coach the d-line, he is encouraging the safeties and linebackers, the ends, and being more of a team leader.
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DL
/ FootballFB: Isaiah Jones - Spring Practice No. 6
Tuesday, April 07
FB: Rolijah Hardy - Spring Practice No. 6
Tuesday, April 07
FB: Spring Practice - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Thursday, April 02
FB: Tyrique Tucker - Spring Practice No. 4
Thursday, April 02