2021 Countdown to Kickoff: 66 Days (Aiden Rafferty)

Written by: Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The 2021 Countdown to Kickoff continues as we are nearly one-third of the way through. Today we take a look at another offensive lineman who could crack into the rotation after a few seasons of development in tackle Aiden Rafferty.

Name: Aiden Rafferty

Hometown: Kensington, MD

Position: Offensive Line

Year: Redshirt Junior

Height/Weight: 6’6”/298 pounds

Rafferty is entering his fourth year in the Indiana program after joining the squad out of high school in 2018. The Maryland native was named his high school’s player of the year and earned plenty of regional and local recognition.

After a redshirt season in 2018, in which Rafferty won Scout Team Player of the Week twice, he has played in 11 total games. The potential has always been their with Rafferty, but he just has not gotten the opportunity to gain playing time. That should change this season as the redshirt junior is the primary backup for the tackle positions.

Rafferty looks to capitalize on a 2020 season that saw Indiana, and all teams, test and develop program depth. “You just never know in this situation that we are in with COVID-19 and all that creates with your depth and guys staying healthy for a variety of reasons. We are going to have to have depth on that offensive line. There are going to be many more guys that are going to have to play at the tackle position as well. Aidan Rafferty has done a great job of improving.” Indiana head coach Tom Allen said last season.

The Hoosiers have depth at the tackle position with Matthew Bedford, Caleb Jones and Luke Haggard all playing significant snaps in 2020. Rafferty figures to be the main backup should Bedford be kicked in to guard in an effort to put their best five linemen on the field at the same time. Should Rafferty continue the improvement Allen alluded to the Hoosier line gets that much deeper and that could be the difference in a win or two in the Big Ten.