2024 Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 73 Days (Austin Barrett)

Written By Evan Alvarez

Welcome back to the 2024 Hoosier Huddle Countdown! From now until Indiana’s opening day against the FIU Golden Panthers, the Hoosier Huddle staff will feature every player on the Hoosiers football roster for 2024. Today, the featured player as we are 73 days out is #73, Austin Barrett.

COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: #73 – Austin Barrett

Height: 6’ 6”

Weight: 295 pounds

Hometown: St. Charles, Illinois

High School: St. Charles East High School

Class/Position: Redshirt Freshman / Offensive Line

Entering the 2023 season, Austin Barrett joined what has become a transformed offensive line unit in Bloomington, led by Coach Bob Bostad. Coach Bostad, in a very short amount of time, has instituted a culture of growth, development, and hard work. Bostad’s efforts have attracted and retained top talents from across the country, which is where Austin Barrett comes in. Barrett is listed as a 3 star recruit by 247 Sports Composite rankings and had offers from 18 different schools, including Duke, his hometown Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Syracuse, Toledo, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.

Certainly this immense offer list is indicative of the talent Barrett brings to the Hoosiers. While he did not see game action in 2023, he projects to continue to work his way into reps as his athleticism (dual sport athlete as a wrestler in high school, per iuhoosiers.com) and tall frame will no doubt force this coaching staff’s hand in due time as he continues to grow under Bostad’s tutelage.

The Indiana offensive line room is talented, experienced, intelligent, and led by one of the best coaches in the country. Expect Barrett to be a sponge around his fellow teammates and coaches. He will learn a lot from this offensive line room and it will help him to be the best Hoosier he can possibly be in the future.

The Hoosier Huddle countdown to kickoff continues with day 72 tomorrow.