Countdown to 2019 IUFB Kickoff: 84 Days (TJ Ivy)
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Written by T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)
2019 Countdown - #84
Name – TJ Ivy
Position – Tight End (Freshman)
Hometown – Chicago, Illinois (Marist)
Height – 6’5”
Weight – 256 pounds
The 2019 Hoosier Huddle Countdown is rolling along and today’s featured player is a tight end with a whole lot of potential: redshirt freshman TJ Ivy.
Our countdown feature from five days ago focused on a tight end from the state of Illinois. We head back to the same position group and the same home state to preview #84 TJ Ivy. Ivy played for Marist High School, a successful program in Chicago. He was briefly high school teammates with current Hoosier Gavin McCabe and was a three-year football letterwinner. He was an all-state and all-conference player in 2017 and reeled in 57 passes for 936 yards with 13 touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons. In addition to a prolific football career, Ivy lettered in wrestling and track and field, showing his athleticism.
Ivy was expected by most to contribute at tight end because he physically looked ready to play in the Big Ten upon arriving on campus. However, it was Matt Bjorson that played in all twelve games while Ivy redshirted. That season will hopefully be looked back at as a blessing as Ivy is now a redshirt freshman and a new offensive coordinator is expected to figure out more innovative or creative ways to utilize his personnel. The 6’5” Ivy won scout team player of the week twice and is now pegged as a player to watch on a young and talented tight end group.
Peyton Hendershot is expected to be the “#1 tight end” and Matt Bjorson has to be considered right behind him and ahead of Ivy because we have seen much more of Bjorson to this point. The Hoosiers are also bringing in talented prospect Gary Cooper, a player that could factor in as a pass-catcher. The tight end position is a bit of a mystery this season because we don’t know for sure how Kalen DeBoer will utilize this collection of players or what he thinks of each of them. It seems likely that TJ Ivy will have a chance early in the season to make an impact. Games against Ball State, Eastern Illinois and UConn in the non-conference slate should provide opportunities for him to produce and show the coaches he is ready to help the Hoosiers in the Big Ten this season. If he performs, I expect to find Ivy as the third member of the tight end rotation.
The Hoosier Huddle Countdown continues each day so check back daily!
HUTCH’S TRIVIA QUESTION
In honor of the late Terry Hutchens, we are including a daily IUFB trivia question from his book So You Think You Know Indiana University Football. Hutch is dearly missed and this is our way of keeping his memory with us this season. Please leave your answers in the comments section.
This IU player was the first in NCAA Division I-A history to pass for 40 touchdowns and score 40 or more non-passing touchdowns?
(check back tomorrow for the answer)
Yesterday’s Answer: Pete Pihos