Countdown to Kickoff: 58 Days (Patrick Dougherty)
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Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
#58
There are now 58 days remaining until the Indiana Hoosiers kick-off the 2016 season in Miami against the Florida International Golden Panthers. Join us each day for each part of our 100-day countdown to the opener! Redshirt junior Patrick Dougherty is the number 58 for the Hoosiers.
Patrick Dougherty (Redshirt Junior)
-Height: 6’5”
-Weight: 290 pounds
-Hometown: Aurora, Ohio
-Position: Defensive Line
The Indiana Hoosier defensive line is a giant question mark heading into 2016 after losing three starters to graduation and the NFL. That should open things up for players to rise up the depth chart and make a difference. One of those players who may be able to step in and fill a crucial reserve role is defensive tackle Patrick Dougherty.
Dougherty will be a redshirt junior and has the bulk, at 6’5” and 295 pounds, that IU needs along their four man front. Dougherty was a force in his final two years at Aurora High School when he posted 120 tackles 12 sacks and 15 pass breakups. He earned First-Team All-State honors for his efforts during his senior season.
The big guy out of Ohio was part of the highly hailed 2013 recruiting class. He redshirted his first season in Bloomington and did not appear in a game in 2014. Dougherty finally got a taste of game action in 2015 when he made his first appearance in the season opener against Southern Illinois. He went on to play in five games last season.
In 2016 Dougherty has a shot to step up and earn some reps in big spots if he can put it all together. He should be able to get in games at defensive tackle behind Ralph Green and Nate Hoff. If he can give IU 10-12 good plays a game it will go a long way to improving the defense and can keep the players along the defensive line fresh.
Share any memories or recollections you have of Patrick Dougherty as a player in the comments section (or on the message boards) and be sure to come back to Hoosier Huddle each day during our countdown!