1/22/2017 football Edit

Hard-Hitting Jordan Jusevitch Commits To School He Grew Up Rooting For

Sam Beishuizen • TheHoosier

Staff Writer

Jordan Jusevitch didn't need to waste much time mulling over a school once Indiana offered.

Jusevitch, a hard-hitting 2018 safety from Lowell, Indiana, committed to IU on Sunday, assuring himself a spot on a team he grew up rooting for.

"I've always loved Indiana," he said. "I love Indiana basketball and I love Indiana football. I grew up here. It's my home state, and it's what I want to represent on the front of my jersey."

Jusevitch committed to the Hoosiers on an unofficial visit to meet with coaches and watch Indiana basketball beat up on Michigan State. He picked up his scholarship offer Dec. 10 after visiting campus about half a dozen times prior to that.

"It's just felt like home ever since the first time that I got there," he said.

A two-way player at Lowell High School, Juseveitch projects to play at the husky linebacker/safety hybrid spot when he gets to college. Rising sophomore Marcelino Ball started there for the Hoosiers last season.

"That position is just awesome," Juseveitch said. "They cover, they can come down and play outside linebacker. It's a great position."

Jusevitch played mostly safety as a high school junior, racking up 104 tackles, seven of which went for a loss, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and five interceptions en route to being named the Northwester Indiana Times area Defensive Player of the Year.

Because he's been leaning towards Indiana for quite some time now, Jusevitch has already discussed the possibility of playing at a husky-like spot for Lowell next season. His coaches like to use a similar style of player already.

"I'm probably going to be playing that a lot more this year just to learn the angles and everything," Jusevitch said. "I want to get used to it and get ready to play there for college."

Jusevitch packs quite the punch in his 6-foot, 199-pound frame, which is in line with the types of players safeties coach Noah Joseph tends to recruit. Even when he first started playing football in first grade, Jusevitch enjoyed the chance to lay down hits on opposing players.

Region football players have found that out the hard way.

"I'd definitely say I'm a physical, physical hitter," Jusevitch said. "Ever since I was little, I just liked hitting people. You can ask my parents. I'm always hitting somebody. It's my style.

"I know I'm not the fastest. I'm not the biggest. But I know if I'm hitting you my hardest, you're going to go down."

New Indiana head coach Tom Allen played a significant role in landing Jusevitch, especially over the last few weeks.

Jusevitch said he can trust Allen because of the open communication they've had. Allen told him he wanted someone strong to form the base of the 2018 class, and Jusevitch was happy to be that guy.

"He believes in me, and I just believe the program is heading in the right direction," Jusevitch said. "It's something I want to be involved with."

Chris Jusevitch, Jordan's father, was a basketball standout at Lowell High School where he's still the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,716 points. He went on to play at Kaskaskia College and Lindenwood College before returning to Lowell where he's been an assistant coach for 14 years.

Jordan was always around basketball but unlike his father started to lean more towards football in middle school. He figured if he worked hard enough that he could go on to play football in college.

Now it's become clear the decision paid off.

"It's definitely a blessing," Jusevitch said. "Ever since I was a little kid I dreamed of playing college football one day. Now it's actually happening."