2022 Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 28 Days (Charlie Spegal)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The 2022 Hoosier Huddle Countdown is more than 70% complete and we are less than one month from the beginning of the 2022 Indiana Hoosier football season! Today’s profile article focuses on a walk-on with a chance to earn his way onto the field: running back Charlie Spegal.

Name: Charlie Spegal

Hometown: New Palestine, IN (New Palestine High School)

Position: Running Back

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

Height/Weight: 5’10”/217

The most prolific high school running back in the history of Indiana high school football is a walk-on at IU. That’s a bizarre, but true, statement. Spegal had a remarkable career playing for Kyle Ralph at New Palestine High School. He was a four-time all-state selection, rushing for 10,867 yards and 175 total touchdowns. Please don’t just gloss over those numbers. Think about them for a few seconds: 175 touchdowns! He had 70 touchdowns as a junior and 55 as a senior. He rightfully earned Indiana’s 2019 Mr. Football award and the Dragons won state championships in 2018 and 2019. The system Spegal played in certainly helped him but it takes a remarkable amount of talent, hard work and durability to achieve those numbers. It’s clearly not all coaching or system because New Palestine has lost six games in the past two seasons. That’s not bad at all but Spegal is clearly a difference maker.

So, why is he at IU as a walk-on? He’s 5’10” and lacks the ideal build for a high-end running back. Running backs that are sub-six feet need exceptional “wiggle” and very good breakaway speed. Coaches for FBS schools determined Spegal did not have enough of those things and he turned down some lower-level scholarship offers to earn his way at Indiana. This was a big get as a preferred walk-on and Spegal quickly made an impression, notching special teams scout player of the week during the 2020 season. He appeared in four games in 2021, rushing 19 times for 62 yards. Due to injuries and defections, Spegal had nine carries for 37 yards in the season finale against Purdue.

Everything has changed for the running backs at IU. The personnel has turned over, the offensive coordinator is new, the position coach is new. In fact, Spegal’s 62 yards make him the leading returning rusher in Bloomington. The starter figures to be transfer Shaun Shivers and fellow transfer Josh Henderson is likely right behind him entering the season. Returnees David Holloman and Trent Howland along with explosive incoming freshman Jaylin Lucas will factor in as well. The odds are against Spegal getting a lot of carries but he’s going to be involved in some way and still has plenty of eligibility to impress Craig Johnson and make an impact in this program.

The countdown continues with a new profile each and every day so come back to hoosierhuddle.com daily!