Countdown to 2020 IUFB: 57 Days (Harry Crider)

The Hoosier Huddle countdown to kickoff has begun! Fifty-seven days remain until the Hoosiers kickoff the 2020 season at Camp Randall Stadium against the Wisconsin Badgers. Today, we’ll highlight fourth-year offensive lineman, Harry Crider.

Harry Crider (Senior)

Hometown: Columbus, Indiana

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 311 Pounds

Position: Offensive Line

Harry Crider is no stranger to the center position, and that familiarity will be key heading into the 2020 season. Hunter Littlejohn has exhausted his collegiate eligibility and in will step Harry Crider. Crider anchored the center of Columbus East’s offensive line in high school and was ranked the number two center in the Midwest by Scout as a recruit. In his first year on campus with the Hoosiers, Crider appeared in eight games – all at center. Now, with two seasons under his belt at guard, Crider will be tasked with moving to the middle once again.

“Even when I’m at guard, I’m still thinking like a center all the time when he comes to reading defenses and getting my job done anyway,’’ said Crider in October of last season. “I have that center background, so I’ve always thought that way.’’

“I love playing center. I really do. As a center, you definitely feel a lot more involved, a lot more like a leader. You need to let everyone know what’s going on.”

Crider did get one game at center last season on the road against Maryland when Littlejohn was injured. He casually took over the role and the Indiana offense amassed over 500 yards of total offense, including a 100-yards of rushing performance by Stevie Scott, in a 34-28 road victory.

“Harry did a great job snapping the football,’’ Tom Allen said in College Park after the game. “That's a dynamic that you forget about — until you get a bad snap. He's a good center, he really is. He's got a good base to him, he's strong, he's smart.

And smart may be putting it lightly. Crider has been an Academic All-Big Ten selection the past two seasons and was a December 2019 criminal justice major graduate – a feat he accomplished in just two and a half years.

Crider’s biggest challenge in 2020 will be embracing the role of a vocal leader. Offensive line coach Darren Hiller identified this as a working point for Crider but sees great potential. Similar to former “quiet guy” Wes Martin, Hiller thinks Crider could grow into the vocal anchor of the offensive line. While socially distanced off of campus, Hiller wanted Crider to pretend as if he was Peyton Manning, reading a defense and calling out what he is seeing to his fellow lineman.