Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 22 Days (Nick Tronti)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

#22

The 2017 season is now only just 22 days away! Can you feel it? Are you excited yet? In only 22 days, the Hoosiers will storm the field to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes under the lights at Memorial Stadium. ESPN will be covering the game and Tom Allen has already acknowledged that it is the biggest season-opening contest in IU football history. Today’s countdown piece focuses on a very intriguing incoming freshman that has not yet been assigned a number so we picked #22 for him for the purposes of this article. Let’s meet freshman quarterback Nick Tronti.

Nick Tronti (Freshman)

-Height: 6’2”
-Weight: 210 lbs.
-Hometown: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (Ponte Vedra High School)
-Position: QB

If you read this site regularly and/or listen to our podcast (you should!), you know that I am quite excited about the ability of Sunshine State product Nick Tronti. After all, it’s not often that “Mr. Football” from the football-crazy state of Florida ends up an Indiana Hoosier. Add in the fact that Tronti is a quarterback with mobility as well as a terrific young man that led his team to a state title game appearance and I get downright giddy.

Nick Tronti was overlooked by the major programs in the ACC and SEC, likely because he played for a small school and because his 6’2” frame is not ideal for a major college quarterback. He was committed to Charlotte when he former IU quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson decided to begin pursuing him. Tronti visited IU on January 24 and Watson saw enough to know that Tronti was the quarterback the Hoosiers needed to get. He ended up completing 217 of his 325 passes for more than 3,300 yards with 34 touchdowns compared to only four interceptions. He also ran for 615 yards with 19 touchdowns and he accumulated a number of incredible highlights that showed off speed, agility, toughness and athleticism. 

Tronti barely spoke to reporters during his career and he chose to avoid quarterback camps so his recruitment never really took off. He just kept on producing and winning games. His high school quarterbacks coach, Aaron Avery, believes there’s no reason for IU fans to be anything other than excited. “You can turn on his highlight film and see him make every throw you would ask a guy to make in college. His lower-body footwork in the pocket, it’s at a four- or five-star level. He’s one of the best guys in the pocket with his footwork.” 

He also appears to have all the intangibles you could ask for in your future quarterback. Tronti was a mentor in his school’s Best Buddies program and he was looked at as a role model by his coach’s children. Every person that spoke publicly about him raved about his leadership ability, his competitive spirit and his overall character. Nick Tronti was a very late addition to the recruiting class but he could very well end up being one of the biggest signees in the 2017 Hoosier Army in terms of impact. He joins a quarterback group that has senior Richard Lagow, redshirt sophomore Austin King and redshirt freshman Peyton Ramsey. Despite Ramsey’s impressive Spring game and potential for the future, Lagow is definitely the #1 quarterback entering the season. He is a senior and IU will have a new starting quarterback in 2018. I think Tronti will redshirt this season (barring injuries to Lagow and Ramsey) and he and Ramsey will dual throughout the offseason to determine who starts in 2018. Tronti is a bona fide winner and you don’t produce huge numbers in Florida without being a highly-capable player. He appears to be a great fit for Mike DeBord’s scheme and I think he’ll be a guy Indiana fans end up falling in love with and remembering for a long, long time. 

Please share any comments or thoughts in the comments section or in our message board. The countdown continues each and every day so make sure to check Hoosier Huddle daily as we churn towards the 2017 season!