Countdown to IUFB Kickoff:74 Days (Nate Hoff)
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Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)
#74
The Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kick-off is now more than one-quarter complete! Yes, the season opener against Urban Meyer, JT Barrett and yes, Kevin Wilson, and the Ohio State Buckeyes is now only 74 days away. Today’s countdown piece focuses on the anchor of the Indiana defensive line, redshirt senior Nate Hoff.
Nate Hoff (Redshirt Senior)
-Height: 6’2”
-Weight: 310 pounds
-Hometown: Solon, Ohio (Naval Academy Preparatory School)
-Position: Defensive Tackle
The Hoosier Huddle countdown has already focused on several defensive linemen, many of them with potential and promise and question marks surrounding their playing time heading into the 2017 season. Today, we reacquaint ourselves with the rock in the middle of the line, Nate Hoff. Hoff came to Indiana after playing on both sides of the ball at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Rhode Island. He arrived in Bloomington in 2013 and redshirted. He impressed during his “year off”, earning co-Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year honors. His rise continued during the 2014 season as he started eight times and appeared in all 12 games at nose tackle. Hoff finished the season second on the team with 3.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. His play turned heads and he was named a Freshman All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com.
Expectations were high for Hoff entering the 2015 season but he only started one game during the season and only made four solo tackles. It was clear that the nose tackle position in the 3-4 system didn’t quite fit his game. Thankfully for Hoff, the Hoosiers brought in Tom Allen and Mark Hagen and switched to a four-man front. The powerful Ohioan took full advantage of the change of scheme, leading all IU defensive linemen with 38 tackles (23 solo) as he started all 13 games at defensive tackle, primarily next to Ralph Green. Hoff is ridiculously strong and his work in the weight room earned him the “Hoosier Iron Award” for outstanding weight room performance. Playing defensive tackle in a four-man front has been a much better fit for Hoff and he enters 2017 as the unquestioned leader of a young group of tackles.
While the starting front four has yet to be decided, the one guy that seems most sure to be starting come September 1 is Nate Hoff. He is a steady force in the middle of the IU defense and I fully expect him to have a shot at making an All-Big Ten squad in his fifth and final season if his tackle partners (Jerome Johnson, Juan Harris and Ja’Merez Bowen) can develop and prevent teams from double-teaming Hoff. The departure of Ralph Green has left a lot of responsibility resting on the broad shoulders of Nate Hoff but as one of the strongest Hoosiers in history, I’m confident he can handle the weight.
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 roll towards the 2017 season!