Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 31 Days (Tyler Natee)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

#31

One month! We are just one month away from the Indiana Hoosiers beginning their 2017 season, the first under head coach Tom Allen, and aiming to make the school’s third-straight bowl game. The Hoosier Huddle Countdown rolls on towards that late-August night and today we focus on a fan-favorite, “Big Bacon” Tyler Natee.

Tyler Natee (Sophomore)

-Height: 6’0”

-Weight: 270 lbs.

-Hometown: Euless, TX (Trinity High School)

-Position: RB

Tyler Natee tends to stand out when he takes his place in the backfield. He is listed at 270 pounds and it would not be at all surprising if he actually weighed closer to 300 pounds during the 2016 season. He’s certainly not someone that would be considered out-of-shape as he carries the weight well and resembles a 6-foot wrecking ball. After an uneven, but mostly successful, freshman season, Tyler Natee is a very interesting piece to consider as IU moves to a new offensive system under OC Mike DeBord.

Natee came to Indiana after a very successful high school career at Trinity High School in Euless, Texas. He played quarterback and running back and averaged a whopping 8.6 yards per carry as he led his squad to a state title game appearance as a junior and a 10-1 record as a senior. The Hoosiers have placed a recent emphasis on recruiting the talent-rich state of Texas and Natee chose to come to IU and play for Kevin Wilson.

“From Tevin (Coleman) to Jordan (Howard) all the way back to OU (Oklahoma) with (Demarco) Murray and Trey Millard. I will fit as a bruising big back, expanding the offense to be able to do more and make more packages,” Natee told Hoosier Huddle after his commitment.

I then wrote in last season’s countdown piece that Natee would “immediately be a valuable piece of this offense. I think he’s going to become a fan favorite.” Well, I think Natee nailed his role in his post-commitment quote. He was a bruising big back that expanded the offense and helped IU have more packages on offense. The package we all remember so fondly was the “Bacon and Legs” package featuring the departed Zander Diamont and Natee as a read-option duo. The introduction of that package helped the Hoosiers revitalize their sputtering rushing attack and they used it to demolish the Maryland Terrapins. Natee had 111 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown. He also helped salt away the win over Michigan State as he battered away at their tired defense as IU’s offense ran the clock down. Natee was named a BTN.com All-Freshman honorable mention team member following the season.

It’s unclear what Natee’s exact role will be under Mike DeBord and with new RB coach Mike Hart. He is a terrific athlete and he proved his worth during his freshman season but he is a unique player with a unique body type. Will DeBord choose to use him exclusively as a short-yardage situational player? Will he carve out another package that pairs him with an option QB (maybe Peyton Ramsey to get him a few snaps or another athlete that presents no passing threat to the defense)? Will Natee be used as a more traditional tailback? Will there be package that uses Natee as a fullback? As I wrote earlier, Natee is a very interesting piece that could be used in many different ways. How the new offensive staff chooses to utilize his unique skillset will be fascinating to watch.

Please share any comments or thoughts in the comments section or in our message board. The countdown continues each and every day so make sure to check Hoosier Huddle daily as we churn towards the 2017 season!