Coy Cronk Still Finding Ways to Help Hoosiers Win

Written by Amanda Pavelka (@amandapavelka3)

It has been seven long weeks since Indiana’s offensive line has seen Coy Cronk assume position to the left of the quarterback. With his season-ending ankle injury suffered in week four, he’s taken on his chosen role as team captain, assistant offensive line coach, and traveling cheerleader— a contributor to the Hoosiers’ success from the sidelines, making his team a priority by choice. 

“It’s not where I want to be at but I also feel like I have a lot to offer to my teammates,” Cronk told the media on Monday, “I know a lot of people when they get hurt for the season they kind of step away a little bit. They don’t really travel. They don’t really do that. That’s never really been who I am. I am a part of this team. They listen to me because I’ve been in this starting role for four years.”

Cronk refused to let pain, crutches, or a scooter get in his way, not wasting any time getting back to where he spent his Saturdays. Since his ankle surgery the week after his injury against Connecticut, he has not missed a single game. He scooted his way through College Park, Maryland and Lincoln, Nebraska, desperate to do whatever he could to help the Hoosiers win. 

“I just felt it was my duty to travel very week even though for the last two away games I couldn’t even stand how I’m standing now,” Cronk said. “I had to scoot around. I couldn’t put any weight on it. It’s frustrating at times, kind of humiliating. At times it was really tough, but these are my guys out there. I played my heart out an I give them everything I got. Instead of giving them four quarters, the biggest part of my day is trying to win the coin toss on away games. That’s kind of what I look forward to every week.”

A month into rehab, Cronk addressed the million-dollar question— Will he take advantage of the new redshirt rule and come back next season or instead declare for the NFL draft? 

“I think it really just depends on how it heals,” Cronk said Monday, “I’ll make a decision on that definitely after our bowl game. As for now, I’m part of a 7-2 football team and it’s pretty good to be around here right now.”

His number one priority the last month has been preparing Matt Bedford who was called ‘next-man-up’. The Cordova, Tennessee product has done a solid job filling his cleats, on a whim as a freshman lacking experience. 

“I thought we were going to have a really good offensive line coming into this year with or without me. Obviously, I pictured it with me,” Cronk said. “Now Matt’s playing really well for a freshman and not really for a freshman, I think he’s just playing well in general.”

The real difference-maker in the O-line transition from Cronk’s inside perspective? Indiana’s new offensive coordinator, Kalen DeBoer.

“I think the thing I’ve been happiest about is Coach DeBoer,” Cronk explained, “I tell him everyday I think he’s a rock star. I think he calls the right plays. I think he gets us in the best positions. We switched up our protections a little bit when I got out because it’s not really fair to ask a true freshman to be an island for four quarters against elite pass rush defenses. So the way Coach DeBoer’s been able to scheme things up and then Matt (Bedford) accelerating his play.”

Allen’s eye for excellence in the players he recruits is paying off— Bedford and Caleb Jones on the offensive line being perfect examples. 

“Obviously, Caleb Jones, a first-year starter, I’ve been extremely happy with him,” Cronk said, “just his attitude and the way he approaches the game. Then Simon (Stepaniak) and Hunter (Littlejohn), you kind of knew what you were going to have there. Caleb Jones really stepped up and then Harry Crider. Him and Caleb had something to prove and they’ve proved it 10-fold.”

Indiana’s offensive backbone continues to hold itself up, allowing the Hoosiers to score over 30 points against every opponent except Ohio State. Depth and youth continue to pay off for the Hoosiers, as well as Cronk’s dedication to the offensive line’s success in his absence.