2024 Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 57 Days (Heath Kizer)

Written by T.J. Inman

We hope everyone had a terrific Fourth of July and are enjoying a long weekend. We are 57 days away from the kickoff of the Indiana Hoosiers football season. Today we look at local product Heath Kizer, a defensive back from North Central High School in Indianapolis.

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 200 pounds

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN/North Central High School

Class/Position: Freshman/Defensive Back

Heath Kizer fulfilled a dream in late March when he accepted a preferred walk-on offer from the Indiana Hoosiers. The North Central High School athlete knew there was nowhere else he wanted to play and when the Hoosiers came calling, he quickly signed on.

“I attended my first IU football game when I was six months old,” Kizer told 247Sports’ Matt Weaver. “I have gone to games and tailgated with my family every year since. It has always been a dream of mine to one day play in Memorial Stadium.”

Heath Kizer comes from an IU football family as his father played tight end for Bill Mallory from 1990 to 1994. Kizer played quarterback for North Central as a senior and the plan was to play him on both sides of the ball as the Panthers tried to survive in the rugged Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC). His backup was injured in the second game of the season and they were forced to keep him full-time at quarterback until the sectional game. During that contest, Kizer played linebacker and quarterback and that was enough to show coaches what he was capable of. Curt Cignetti’s staff invited Kizer to a practice in the spring and he loved the mentality of the new staff.

“I’m really impressed with the new coaching staff’s vision for the program. They’re dedicated to building a winning culture. They plan to change the mindsets of the players and the fans,” Kizer said.

The coaching staff is going to begin his collegiate career as a defensive back and he’ll begin fall camp working with the safeties. Kizer is not going to make an impact immediately but he is the kind of versatile athlete that ends up making plays on special teams later in his career.

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kickoff continues each and every day so be sure to check back often for the latest profile piece!