2023 Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 84 Days (Aaron Steinfeldt)
/Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)
The 2023 edition of the Hoosier Huddle Countdown is officially underway! We are counting down from 100 to the beginning of the 2023 Indiana University football season. Each day, we will take a look at one (or two) players on the current Indiana football roster and highlight the player’s role in the upcoming season. Today’s countdown focus is on the man expected to be the leader of the tight end group: Aaron Steinfeldt.
Name: Aaron Steinfeldt
Hometown: Bloomington, IN (Bloomington North High School)
Position: Tight End
Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Height/Weight: 6’5”/254 pounds
The Indiana Hoosiers have a number of young pieces in the tight end room. Freshman Sam West is an exciting athlete, redshirt freshmen Ryan Miller and Brody Foley were well-regarded prospects from Ohio and redshirt sophomore James Bomba looked like a solid piece before his season-ending injury. Indiana really needs one guy to emerge as a clear difference-maker at tight end. AJ Barner was expected to be that guy but he disappointed in 2022 and has transferred to Michigan. The most likely candidate for a breakout performance at tight end is redshirt sophomore Aaron Steinfeldt. The Bloomington native has the athletic tools to be a very good receiving threat and he got some experience in 2022 that sets him up to make a leap this coming season. The stars are aligned but Steinfeldt must seize the opportunity.
Aaron Steinfeldt starred at Bloomington North High School and was awarded the Mr. Football honor as the state’s best tight end. He was twice named to the All-State team and he was a top ten in-state prospect when he came to IU. Steinfeldt redshirted the 2021 season and then played in every game as a redshirt freshman in 2022. The offense struggled mightily but there were some flashes from Steinfeldt in his limited time. He started a pair of games and caught his first touchdown in the fourth quarter against Maryland. No matter which player wins the quarterback competition in 2023, the Hoosiers will be rolling with a very young and inexperience signal-caller and a reliable tight end can be a very helpful security blanket. Steinfeldt doesn’t have much experience but he does have the tools to emerge as a good weapon and Indiana will need the hometown kid to step up earlier than expected.
The countdown continues with a new profile each and every day so come back to hoosierhuddle.com daily!