2021 Countdown to Kickoff: 26 Days (Jaren Handy)

Written by: Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

We continue our Countdown to Kickoff with the second part of day 26 as we take a look at incoming transfer defensive lineman Jaren Handy. Handy will be wearing number 13 for the Hoosiers this fall after coming to Bloomington from Auburn

Name: Jaren ‘Stone’ Handy

Hometown: Hattesburg, MS

Position: Defensive Line

Year: Redshirt Junior

Height/Weight: 6’6”/255 pounds

‘Stone’ Handy spent the last two seasons on the Plains at Auburn where he played in 14 games for the Tigers. In those 14 games, Handy made three tackles for loss and a sack. Handy’s cousin is current IU wide receiver Ty Fryfogle and was one of the reasons he chose to come to IU. The other, that he figured he’d find his way on to the field more.

The Hoosiers are looking for Handy to be an impact player along the defensive line. “"I'll be pass rushing and dropping back in coverage," Handy said earlier this summer. "Moving around. It will be a great chance to showcase my talent and show what I can do."

Even though Handy was playing at Auburn, he was locked into IU games because of Fryfogle. “I watched every game," he said. "I felt they should have won every game they played, even the Ohio State game. I was upset with them with the Ole Miss game. They could have pulled that one out."

Handy shed some of the weight he was playing with at Auburn in hopes that it will make him more productive at the ‘Bull’ position, which is Indiana’s hybrid DL/LB position.

While Handy isn’t guaranteed a starting position, he is firmly in the rotation and his play will help dictate how the defense plays.