Making the Transition – Michael Katic Ready to Roll
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Michael Katic spoke with the media last week Image: Matt Weaver Peegs,com
Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)
A few of Indiana’s true freshmen graduated high school early and have already enrolled at Indiana University to begin their careers as Hoosiers. Those players were available to the media and Hoosier Huddle is doing an article on each player’s brief media session. Next up: offensive lineman Michael Katic.
A 6’4”, 290-pound lineman from Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, Michael Katic chose to become a Hoosier despite offers from Army, Rutgers, Syracuse, Boston College, Virginia and local school, Pittsburgh. Indiana likes him as a big guard and his early start gives him a chance to build a strength foundation that can help him have an impact early in his collegiate career. The transition to college, as a student and as a player, can be a tricky one but Katic believes things are going well.
“It’s awesome. Smooth transition to say the least. When I came in here for the first lift, I knew right away with the intensity of everything and how (strength) coach (David) Ballou and Dr. (Matt) Rhea and his staff worked us, I could see my future here and how I would develop as a player,” Katic said. “The first week was very tough. Going from a high school workout to a college workout is much different. You’re always moving, always doing something. It’s a lot harder but it’s great.”
The young lineman has been thrust right into things, not only in the weight room but as a trusted member of the program. He was asked to host a fellow Pennsylvania lineman after only being on campus for a month.
“We were here for a team meeting and the O-Line stayed here after because we were having some guys come up here for an official visit. The guy that I hosted was from Pennsylvania and I’m from Pennsylvania. They were like ‘Katic, I know you’ve been here for like 3-4 weeks, but we’re going to put you on this guy’. I was excited to try that out.” The only offensive lineman that visited and hailed from Pennsylvania was Tim Weaver, a player that later pledged and signed with Indiana.
While Katic is enjoying his first semester on campus, he is definitely looking forward to his first spring practice. “Going up against great players, getting better. Just working on my craft. Working with (OL) coach (Darren) Hiller is going to be awesome. The first time working with drills, technique and stuff.”
It is difficult for any true freshman to have an impact on the field in their first season. That reality will be true for Michael Katic as well. However, having a head start in the spring is an advantage and getting better for the future starts now. IU is graduating a number of seniors along the offensive line after the 2019 season. While Katic can provide depth now, Indiana needs him working hard now to be in position to stake his claim to a spot in the future.