Countdown to 2018 IUFB Kickoff: 3 Days (Peyton Ramsey)

Written by T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Countdown to Kickoff: #2 – Peyton Ramsey

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 210 pounds

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH (Elder High School)

Class/Position: Redshirt Sophomore/Quarterback

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kickoff is nearly complete which means Indiana football is just about here! That’s right, we are only two days away from IU taking the field under the lights at Florida International to begin the 2018 season. Today’s countdown piece features one of the players that will be most heavily scrutinized on opening night, starting quarterback Peyton Ramsey.

The son of a coach, Ramsey came to Indiana after a successful high school career at powerhouse Elder High School in Cincinnati. He was a bit undersized but the running ability and toughness he showed in high school made him an interesting prospect. He redshirted as a true freshman and was firmly behind senior Richard Lagow entering the 2017 season. However, Lagow and the offense struggled and Ramsey was called upon during a game at Virginia to wake up the offense. He did just that, immediately sparking the attack and leading Indiana to a win in Charlottesville. Ramsey was 16-20 for 173 yards along with 42 rushing yards and he accounted for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). He was then awarded his first career start and performed very well against Charleston Southern in a blowout win. His success was continuing against Maryland before he suffered an injury that eventually sidelined him for the remainder of the 2017 season. In total, Ramsey threw 205 passes and completed 65.4 percent of them, a single-season Indiana record. He had ten touchdowns and added 226 rushing yards.

The Indiana Hoosiers added graduate transfer Brandon Dawkins and true freshman Michael Penix, a pair of players that many figured would push the redshirt sophomore to the periphery. However, Ramsey worked incredibly hard in the new strength program and impressed during spring practice. That carried over into the beginning of training camp as he displayed a mastery of the offense, an improved body and increased arm strength. While fans and the media have not been able to see full practices, Ramsey’s improvement has been evident and the players have a great deal of belief in him. He was named the starting quarterback for week one and will lead the Hoosiers offense when the season begins on September 1. Brandon Dawkins and Michael Penix are still expected to play and Ramsey will need to perform well to hold onto the job. Make no mistake though, the quarterback position is in better shape now than it was prior to the beginning of this offseason and Ramsey will now get a chance to begin receiving the payoff for all of his hard work.

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kickoff continues each and every day so be sure to check back often for the latest profile piece!