Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 78 Days (Harry Crider)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

#78

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kickoff rolls along as we move to number 78! Yes, the season opener against the Ohio State Buckeyes is only 78 days away. The countdown today features a look at a player that figures to be a very important piece of the Indiana offense. His playing time this season is yet to be determined but I am very confident he will eventually be the starting center for the Indiana Hoosiers. Let’s meet true freshman Harry Crider.

Harry Crider

-Height: 6’4”

-Weight: 260 pounds

-Hometown: Columbus, IN (Columbus East High School)

-Position: Center

Players that come into college as experienced centers are a rarity but that’s exactly what incoming freshman Harry Crider is. He began his career at Columbus East High School playing baseball, basketball and receiver and tight end for the football team. However, heading into his sophomore season, Crider had grown too big to play receiver and Columbus East had a hole at center. The coaching staff moved him to the position and he took to it instantly, developing into one of the top high school centers in his class.

Columbus East head coach Bob Gaddis spoke very highly of his former player to Indy Star writer Zach Osterman upon Crider’s signing with IU. “He is a great athlete for the position. He used to be a skill player but he’s a big kid and an athletic-looking guy. He’s an impeccable character guy, a great leader not just in our football program but in our school and our community.”

Crider has overcome a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes that he received as a ten-year old child. Since his diagnosis, he has worked as a “Riley Champion” as he’s served as an advocate for the Riley Children’s Foundation by organizing and leading a fundraiser for Diabetes awareness and spoken at Riley-sponsored events.

His commitment came as a big boon for the Hoosiers as he decommitted from the University of Virginia and pledged his allegiance to his home-state school. Crider is a polished true center that has an obvious feel for the position and he comes in at a time when the offensive line and the center position is in-flux. The Hoosiers graduated last year’s starter (Wes Rogers) and there is no clear successor on the roster. Simon Stepaniak and Hunter Littlejohn are candidates but the most intriguing option is junior Brandon Knight. Knight has played both tackle positions and has been a guard but new offensive line coach Darren Hiller might see him as a great fit at center. Whether or not Knight makes the move to center will likely depend on the development of players like DaVondre Love, Grayson Stover, Ryan Smith, Delroy Baker and Tyler Knight.

If IU can find two or three reliable options besides Coy Cronk to play tackle, it seems likely Brandon Knight will move to center in order to get the five best linemen onto the field. That would allow Harry Crider to redshirt and battle for the starting center job in 2018 and beyond. However, if Hiller doesn’t feel good about the other options at tackle or if Crider proves to be a superior option at center, he could very well find himself as the starting center in Bloomington as a true freshman. 

Regardless of the immediate status of Harry Crider’s playing time, he appears to be a tremendous addition to the IU offensive line and a player that will be a staple up front for much of the next four years. 

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 roll towards the 2017 season!

 Remember if you'd like to help support Hoosier Huddle you can buy all your IU gear through our Amazon Ads.