Player Q&A: Indiana football players Amare Ferrell, Miles Cross preview Charlotte

Indiana football returns to Memorial Stadium following the team’s first conference game of the season, a 42-13 victory on the road at UCLA. The huge team win continued to put the program on national watch.

Indiana football players Amare Ferrell and Miles Cross spoke with the media on Tuesday night

More: Two Indiana football receivers headline PFF highest graded receiver list

Below are full Q&As and key notes of Indiana football players Amare Ferrell and Miles Cross.

Amare Ferrell | DB | So.

Q: On playing a position that requires a lot of versatility and responsibility… 

AF: It feels really good playing DB. It gives you a chance to really show off your versatility and play different spots on the field. I feel like I’ve been doing a good job in learning those responsibilities. 

Q: On the difference between this season and last season and experience…

AF: Last season I played a lot of roles, but really no high safety or strong free safety, so this year I’m actually playing all of them and learning more things. 

Q: On when you start to feel comfortable in this role…

AF: I’d probably say sometime in the spring when everyone first got here. In the spring we had a lot to learn. After the spring, I felt more comfortable going into fall camp and the season. 

Q: On if he immediately took on his role…

AF: That evolved from spring practice and being able to show those different things that I can do. 

Q: On the differences between the rover spot and the high safety spot…

AF: In the rover spot, you’re covering the run and pass more while in the high safety spot, you’re covering a lot of field. 

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Miles Cross | WR | Sr.

On the first time he met Kurtis Rourke and the relationship they developed at Ohio…

MC: I don’t remember the first time what it was like, but I just remember I always knew he was a good leader. Being at Ohio, you can make a good play or make a bad play it’s the same from him. He’s going to uplift you, and he expects and demands the best from you. So, he’s just a good leader, smart player to be around, and I’m just happy to be able to play with him another year.  

On his relationship with Kurtis Rourke…

MC: We’re cool, I can talk to him about anything. He’s great off the field. Actually, when I first got down here, I didn’t have a car, he would give me a ride to the stadium every day. So, like I said, I have a great relationship with Kurtis off the field. It’s definitely helped on the field. Most of the time we are on the same page on the field. It’s definitely helped having that connection with him, and I just continue to build upon that.  

On how he feels he and Kurtis have grown since transferring from Ohiol…

MC: For me, I definitely think as a player and receiver over my past four years, I’ve definitely gotten better at reading coverages and getting open in zone coverages, and just learning how to create separation better. I’ve been watching film a lot.  I think Kurtis has gotten better just going through progressions and going through his degrees over here. As you can see now, he’s starting to get more comfortable with the offense, and he started to make those plays I knew he was capable of. 

On how Curt Cignetti prepares the team leading up to games during the week…

MC: He just tells us to take every play and every practice one play at a time. (He wants us) getting better every single day, and just not letting complacency (get to us).

On Curt Cignetti’s standards for his team…

MC: He definitely holds everybody to a high standard and demands nothing but the standards from everybody. He’s not going to give anybody a playoff, or if you do something wrong, he’s not going to just let it go by, he’s going to let you know about it.  

SEE ALSO: 3 Storylines to watch for in Week 4 when Indiana football hosts Charlotte

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