Countdown to 2019 IUFB Kickoff: 45 Days (Jake Hendershot)

Written by T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

2019 Countdown - #45

Name – Jake Hendershot

Position – TE (Fifth-year Senior)

Hometown – North Salem, IN (Tri-West High and Illinois State University)

Height – 6’2”

Weight – 262 pounds

The 2019 Hoosier Huddle Countdown is more than halfway over and the Indiana Hoosiers will battle the Ball State Cardinals only 45 days from now. Today, our countdown focuses on a fifth-year senior with an interesting story prior to arriving in Bloomington: tight end Jake Hendershot.

The Hendershot is familiar to IU fans. Peyton Hendershot is the starting tight end for the Hoosiers and primed for a breakout season. However, another Hendershot is now on the roster and ready to team up, once again, with his “little brother”. Jake Hendershot is one of four Hendershot boys and they all starred as athletes at Tri-West High School. Jake and Peyton are in the middle, Austin is the oldest and Bryce is the youngest. Jake started on the varsity football team for four years at Tri-West High School. As a senior, he started at quarterback and earned a Class 3A All-State selection. In addition, he was named an MVP and a team captain. In addition, he started for three years on the basketball team and played one season of baseball.

He committed to play for FCS squad Illinois State and redshirted the 2015 season. In 2016, he played in all 12 games as a backup fullback and a contributor on special teams. He then saw action in every game of the 2017 season as the primary blocking back. Illinois State had the Missouri Valley’s fourth-best rushing offense and Hendershot was a key part of that. He transferred to IU for the 2019 season, a chance to play with his brother, one final time.

Oldest brother Austin told a story in 2017 to the Indy Star about the relationship Jake and Peyton have. “They were in the car after a game. Peyton was in seventh or eighth grade, so Jake was a freshman or sophomore. They were arguing and Jake was in the front seat and he turned around and punched Peyton in the face. Jake started choking him. Dad had to stop the car.” “I’ll stand up for Jake, no matter what,” Peyton says. Jake responded with, “I’m super proud of him. He’s always been more athletic than me.”

Peyton considered going to Illinois State, just to play with Jake again. He said it would be “the best thing ever.” But he couldn’t say no to Indiana. Now, the two will both get to play for Indiana and the brothers will play on the same team once again.

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown continues each day so check back daily!