'Football is still football': It's a new system for Roman Hemby but he comes to Indiana ready 'for the challenge'

When Indiana looked at the positions of need this offseason, running back was at the top of the list. After losing its top three rushers and all but one member of its running back room from a season ago, a total rebuild of that group was needed. One place the Hoosiers looked was in the Big Ten at Roman Hemby.

Hemby played four years at Maryland and was one of the most effective running backs in the league despite not always getting the volume.

Hemby combined for 2,347 yards across four seasons with 22 touchdowns and a 4.9 yard per carry average with the Terrapins. He also had nearly 1,000 yards receiving and five touchdowns throughout his career. And, Indiana saw that diverse skillset on full display earlier this season.

Indiana’s defense gave up 100+ yards to just three players all year long — one being Roman Hemby. He had 117 yards and one touchdown in what was a 42-28 Indiana win. But, both the IU coaching staff and Hemby came away impressed with the other during that tilt.

“Yeah, I was impressed with his game against us here in the fall and obviously been watching tape of him for a while,” IU head coach Curt Cignetti said earlier this spring. “He’s got a lot of experience. Got a lot of career total yards, whether it’s rushing or receiving.

“Kind of fits the bill what we look for because our backs do catch a number of passes also … And we lost our top two guys. So he was a perfect fit for what we were looking for.”

“You know what a program stands for when you have to face them,” Hemby said on Tuesday. “So me being on the other side of things and seeing the morals, the standards of this program, the culture that showed up. The close knit brotherhood and how the coaches believed in their players.”

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So when Hemby hit the transfer portal, there was an immediate connection — and mutual interest. While other programs were looking into the Maryland back, it was a no-brainer to end his recruitment once he visited Indiana.

“I was in the portal for a week and a half, two weeks. I wanted to keep my head down and see what came to me,” Hemby said. “I had a few opportunities, but when I came on my visit here, I fell in love with the university. There was nothing else that needed to be said, nothing else that needed to be done. It was a done deal.”

Hemby had 134 carries for 607 yards and six touchdowns this past season — his lowest usage rate of his career. He also caught 40 passes for 273 yards and one touchdown. In 2023, Hemby ran for 680 yards and had four touchdowns, adding 349 receiving yards on 38 catches, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention.

That type of multi-dimensional skillset is something Roman Hemby is looking to bring to the Hoosiers offense this season — and one that is needed.

“I feel like I bring a lot to the table, the same with a lot of the backs in the room,” Hemby said. “The ability to do a little bit of everything … who can play on third down, who can be that guy looked at in a time of need. That’s what I try to do. Since being here, I’ve been trying to do better in the run game because I feel like I’ve always been pretty good in the pass game, catching screens, catching swings, check down routes like that. But making myself available in pass protection. I want to fine tune everything so I can better suit my team and help myself have success.”

It’s no secret that Indiana relies heavily on the rushing attack in its offense. But this year, the expectation and hope from the coaching staff is that their runnings backs will be used heavier in the passing game. So, Hemby’s skillset it ideal for what the IU offense will look like.

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Indiana showed its ability as an offense last season when it was one of the most prolific scoring and yardage teams in the Big Ten, and around the country. That stuck out to Hemby, and does even more now since being in Bloomington.

“I really love the offense here,” Hemby said. “It feels like a similar system (to Maryland), pro style system, spread offense where a lot of people can touch the ball and make plays. The biggest difference here from Maryland — a lot of players are gritty, do things the right way here and a lot of people hit the ground running every day and that really inspired me.”

While he has been a fixture in the Big Ten each year of his career, the production hasn’t always been there. His best season came in 2022, his freshman year, when he had 989 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry — both career highs. He also had 298 receiving yards on 33 receptions.

After seeing his numbers decrease over the course of the past few seasons, he didn’t blame Maryland’s coaches or the system — he looked at himself. That’s something that has allowed him to head into his final season with a clear mind.

“When the season ended and I got into the weight room, the film room, I looked at myself first,” he said. “What can I do better? It started with my mentality, how I go about things.”

His team-first mentality is exactly why he and the Indiana coaching staff connected quickly. Seeing what Curt Cignetti did in year one, with the buy-in from each and every player was noticeable for even someone on the opposing sideline.

“The thing that set this team apart was the culture,” Hemby said. “From the staff, the coaches, the players. Everyone here wants to see each other’s success.

“I knew getting the opportunity to come here, and seeing what happened last year and the success the whole program had — if I could somehow submit myself as a player to contribute, I would be doing a good thing.”

While Roman Hemby will be stepping into a new program and system, with new coaches and teammates, he knows that his skill and talent will fit in. He also is’t going to shy away from the hard work that comes with.

“Football is still football, but the magnitude changes a little bit,” he added. “And I’m here for the challenge.”