2023 Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 76 Days (Matthew Bedford)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The 2023 edition of the Hoosier Huddle Countdown is officially underway! We are counting down from 100 to the beginning of the 2023 Indiana University football season. Each day, we will take a look at one (or two) players on the current Indiana football roster and highlight the player’s role in the upcoming season. We are now in the offensive line portion of our countdown and today’s focus is an extremely important lineman returning from injury: Matthew Bedford.

Name: Matthew Bedford

Hometown: Cordova, Tennessee (Cordova High School)

Position: Offensive Line

Year: Redshirt Senior

Height/Weight: 6’6”/314 pounds

Indiana University’s offensive line was a problem in 2022. That won’t be a startling revelation for anyone that watched even one game for the Hoosiers in the past couple of seasons. The unit entered last season as a major concern and things got more dire in the first game when the Indiana Hoosiers lost starting right tackle Matthew Bedford to a knee injury. The Hoosiers beat Illinois but lost Bedford for the season and the offensive line never recovered. Position coach Darren Hiller was let go in the middle of the season and IU sputtered to another disappointing campaign.

Bob Bostad is the new offensive line coach after being hired away from the Wisconsin Badgers and there is cautious optimism he can turn the line from a glaring weakness to at least an adequate unit that will not be an anchor on IU’s chances. The return of Matthew Bedford is a key piece for the 2023 season and the veteran tackle is expected to be ready to go for the 2023 season opener.

Matthew Bedford came to Indiana after a stellar high school career in Tennessee. He was named IU’s offensive newcomer of the year in 2019 after taking over at left tackle and starting eight games. Bedford moved to right tackle and started all seven games in 2020. His versatility came in handy in 2021 as he started eight games at right guard, three at left guard and one at right tackle. Bedford was moved back to tackle during the offseason prior to the 2022 season but his injury in the opener threw everything into question for the IU line. Bedford has worked hard to be ready for the opener against Ohio State.

“I’m trying to get that confidence back in the knee,” Bedford told the media in May. “I feel I’m on my way. I test it every day. I’m pushing the bounds and making it hurt. I’m recovering well.”

Now a redshirt senior, Bedford is the veteran leader for the offensive line and he has started games at every offensive line position besides the center spot. He is best as a tackle and as long as he does not suffer any setbacks in his comeback, Bedford will line up as one of the starting tackles when the Hoosiers take the field against Ohio State.

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