Countdown to Kickoff: 96 Days (Derrian Meminger)

Written By Nick Holmes (Hoosier Holmes)

#96

There are now 96 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! The current IU player donning the number 96 is defensive lineman, redshirt sophomore Derrian Meminger.

Derrian Meminger

-Height: 6’4”
-Weight: 281 pounds
-Hometown: Sparta, Georgia
-Position: Defensive Line

Entering his third season with the program, Derrian Meminger is being presented with a golden opportunity this upcoming fall. With the departure of four key members of the defensive line, the Georgia native will have his best chance of seeing action since making his way to Bloomington. Also, with the move back to a more traditional scheme featuring four-down lineman, the need for big bodies up front increases even more.
 
Meminger played his prep ball in Sparta, Georgia at Hancock Central High School where he recorded 32 tackles with five sacks and 15 tackles for loss and earning all-region recognition on defense as a senior. He committed to Coach Wilson and the Hoosiers on Signing Day 2014. He redshirted his first season on campus and did not see any playing time in 2015, but played a key role in helping the team prepare for games, as he was named scout team player of the week twice (Penn State and Purdue).
 
Arriving on campus in 2014 at a slight 264 pounds, he, along with the help of the training and nutrition staff has assisted him in adding 16 pounds to his frame, giving the coaching staff additional flexibility where they could place him along the line. However, during the spring he saw plenty of action inside with the second and third team defenses. With the Hoosiers being in dire need of play makers in the trenches in Tom Allen’s new defense, Meminger will be presented with every opportunity to take the field and hopefully have an impact for Indiana this fall. But even with the departure of so many veterans upfront, the competition for playing time will be stiff, with the likes of Nate Hoff, Ralph Green III, Robert McCray III, Jacob Robinson, Ja’Marez Bowen, Michael Barwick and Joe Belden, among others all looking to make their mark in 2016.