2021 Indiana Hoosiers Offensive Line Spring Position Preview

Written by Zach Greene

2021 Indiana Hoosiers Offensive Line Unit Position Preview. Player Profiles and What to Expect

The offensive line is the most vital unit in the sport of football. The casual fan might not realize the impact that the offensive line can have on the game. This year’s Super Bowl, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Kanas City Chiefs 31-9 had the Bucs defensive line running right down the Kanas City Chiefs offensive linemen’s neck. The Chiefs missed three starting offensive lineman, including LT Eric Fisher, RT Mitchell Schwartz, and LG Kelechi Osemi, and the Bucs took notice. They were able to single handily win the game at the snap of the ball.

With that being said, let’s dive into this year’s Hoosiers team offensive line unit. As a unit, the offensive line ranked #16 in the country, allowing only ten sacks in eight games this past season, according to https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/468. They led the B10, only allowing 1.25 sacks per game. Tom Allen knows how to build a program. The Hoosiers will have many returning at the offensive line position. Depth and experience will guide the unit and team as spring camp starts up. Protecting Penix will be critical, considering he’s coming off his second ACL surgery. Games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage. Coming off a strong 2020 season, the offensive line unit will look to build on what they started. Ohio State has Haskell Garret, Zach Harrison, and others returning on the line; it will be essential to beat them on the line of scrimmage when they come to Bloomington on October 23. With the addition of Deland McCullough as Running Backs Coach/ Associate Head Coach and already a solid offensive line unit, expect big things from the running game.  Now, here are the players to watch on the offensive line this upcoming season.

Player Profiles- Projected Starters/Returning Offensive Line Man 

Zach Carpenter #50

❏    6’6, 329 pounds

❏    Center out of Cincinnati, Ohio

❏    Made starts this past season at Rutgers and Penn State

❏    Transfer from Michigan

Mackenzie Nworah  #51

❏    6’4, 322 pounds, Redshirt senior from Houston, Texas. Started all eight-game

❏    Six starts at Right Guard for the Hoosiers this past season.

❏    Will look to build off his strong 2020 season and hopefully be drafted

❏    Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List

❏    He needs to take his experience and help out his fellow teammates

Mike Katic #56

❏    6’4, a 311-pound redshirt freshman out of Gibsonia, Pa.

❏    He played in six games this past season

❏    Will look to build off a strong 2020 season at Right Guard

Aidan Rafferty #66

❏    He played in seven games this past season

❏    6’6, 305-pound Redshirt Sophomore

❏    Out of Kensington, Md.

Luke Haggard  #70

❏    6’7, 275-pound Junior

❏    Out of Petaluma, California. Santa Rosa J.C.

❏    Four starts this past season. Got into the game six times

❏    He appeared at Left Tackle while Caleb Jones was out

❏    He needs to put on a little bit more weight

Randy Holtz #71

❏    6’7, 350-pound Freshman

❏    Out of Fort Wayne, Ind.

❏    Got into three games at the guard position

Dylan Powell #72

❏    Transfer from Stanford

❏    6’3, 305-pound Redshirt Senior out of Hannibal, Mo.

❏    He appeared in eight games this past season

❏    Four starts at Left Guard, and two starts at Right Guard

❏    Awarded two seasons to play with the Hoosiers

Tim Weaver #73

❏    6’5, 307 pounds

❏    He appeared in five games this past season

Matthew Bedford

❏    6’6, 314 pounds

❏    Sophomore out of Cordova, Tenn.

❏    Started seven games at Right Tackle

❏    Has 16 games of experience in total

❏    Will look to take his knowledge and be a leader this upcoming season

Caleb Jones #77

❏    6’8, 362 pounds, yes, that’s right! 6’8 362 pounds.

❏    Redshirt Junior out of Indianapolis.

❏    Started four games at Left Tackle and one game at Right Tackle

❏    Earned all B10 honorable mention

❏    He needs to stay healthy. He can’t get beat off the line like he was in the Penn State game.

❏    More athleticism is needed

Britt Beery #78

❏    6’6, 315 pounds

❏    From Carmel, Ind.

❏    Redshirt Junior

❏    Got action in all eight games this past season

❏    As a sophomore appeared in 11 games

❏    Has experience

This Hoosiers offensive line unit is going to look to build off of their strong 2020 season. While the team did not reach their end goal, it is essential to look at the Hoosiers’ offensive unit this upcoming season. Merely the Hoosier’s offensive line unit’s size and weight will play a big part in stopping some of the best pass rushers in the B10. The experience will also lead the way. The unit as a whole knows how to get the job done. With many starters coming back and considering the Hoosier’s past two years ended in bowl losses in Flordia, it will only motivate the offensive line unit and guide them in crunch time. I am not worried about this unit at all. In fact, the Hoosiers have one of the best offensive line units in the B10. The numbers speak for themselves. Like I mentioned earlier, Tom Allen knows how to build a program. It all starts at the offensive line position. He is recruiting kids from all across the country and bringing them to B-town, where they are professionally disciplined kids. It will take time and patience to see the results, but continue to be patient Hoosiers fans. Overall, expect big e athletic players on the offensive line this upcoming season to lead the way to the B10 championship in Indianapolis.