Hoosiers Now

Jacob Mangum-Farrar is Ready for 'Big-Boy Football' in the Big Ten

Jacob Mangum-Farrar played five seasons at Stanford under coach David Shaw, but decided to transfer to Indiana this offseason. The new Hoosier linebacker said on Thursday that he's ready for the jump in physicality that come with Big Ten football.

Daniel Olinger

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Jacob Mangum-Farrar knew he needed to make some changes to play in the Big Ten. 

One of the biggest things he had to do — start eating a whole lot more. 

There will always be outliers, but the Pac-12 is generally thought of as a softer, pass-first league, while Big Ten matchups can turn in to rock fights with heavy emphasis on establishing and stopping the run. 

So when Mangum-Farrar decided to join the Hoosiers after five seasons at Stanford, he made adjustments both on and off the field.

"Because the Big Ten is big-boy football, I'm playing at a heavier weight," Mangum-Farrar told media on Thursday. "It's more physical, which I like."

Playing against the air-raid offenses in the Pac-12, Mangum-Farrar maintained his weight between 233 and 235 pounds, but he's now clocking in at roughly 242 pounds in Bloomington. He was forced to improve his stamina while playing Mike linebacker at a new weight, but he was more than happy to beef up for the ground-and-pound Big Ten.

"I'm able to eat a little bit more," Mangum-Farrar said. "I'm still fairly lean, so it's been good, but it wasn't hard to gain weight at all."

Similar to nearly every position group on the roster, coach Tom Allen bolstered the Indiana linebacker room with several transfers this offseason. Mangum-Farrar came over from Stanford, and Josh Rudolph transferred up from the FCS level at Austin Peay to play in Bloomington. Linebackers Anthony Jones and Darryl Minor Jr. left Oregon and UTEP, respectively, to wear the cream and crimson.

Even a player like Lanell Carr Jr. — who was a defensive lineman at West Virginia — is expected to play the "Bull" position in Indiana's defense, which combines the role and responsibilities of the traditional defensive end and outside linebacker spots. 

Having played five years at Stanford for coach David Shaw, Mangum-Farrar is one of the most experienced players on the entire roster. He's already become a team leader, and will likely be paired with Aaron Casey as one of the two starting middle linebackers on the defense. 

"Jacob came in and was a leader right away," Matt Hohlt, who appeared in 10 games for Indiana at linebacker in 2022, said. "[He's] just very, very vocal, each and every day. And I think people are starting to pick up on that, and people are starting to follow him."

The linebacker group already had a veteran leader in Casey before Mangum-Farrar transferred to IU. After spending four seasons as a backup, Casey broke out as a star defender for the Hoosiers in 2022, leading the team with 86 tackles and being named to Pro Football Focus's third team All-Big Ten. 

While Hohlt is correct saying that Mangum-Farrar has stepped up as a leader, the Pac-12 transfer didn't do it haphazardly. He knew that this was Casey's position group, and to a certain extent, Casey's defense. 

"He wasn’t trying to be the assertive guy, he wasn’t trying to be the dominant personality in the room," Indiana linebackers coach Chad Wilt said. "He understood where Ace [Aaron Casey] was. ‘Let me figure out the dynamics. Let me figure out what I can contribute.'"

"He also has used his voice in the position rooms, and the defensive unit room and the team room pulling guys together. He’s proving himself to himself but also proving to others he’s worthy and capable of having that voice and they’re listening."

Mangum-Farrar said that he's relied on Casey for leadership as well, particularly in regard to how to play the Mike linebacker position. Casey has played both Mike and Stinger linebacker at Indiana, so he's helped Mangum-Farrar grow into the Mike role, which operates as an off-ball linebacker, while Casey plays Stinger.

The Stanford transfer knew he needed to add muscle and bulk on his own, but he was also encouraged by coaches. They wanted to see physical development from the sixth-year college football player, and that's exactly what they got. 

"He came in, just put his nose to the grind, went to work, just kept developing," Wilt said. "You’ve seen his body develop and grow. As his body has grown and developed, his comfort in the scheme has grown and developed."

Whether it's physical growth or leadership in the locker room, Big Ten football requires a lot. This is at worst the second best football conference in the country, and Mangum-Farrar will be introduced to it in perhaps the most drastic way possible when Indiana opens its season on Sept. 2 against Ohio State. 

It's a tall task, not one that is meant for little boys. 

Thankfully, Mangum-Farrar knows that he's ready. He's ready for some big-boy football. 

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Daniel Olinger
DANIEL OLINGER

Daniel Olinger is a Sports Illustrated/FanNation reporter for HoosiersNow.com. He graduated from Northwestern University with degrees in both journalism and economics. 

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