DL Philip Blidi Chose the Hoosiers Because of the Culture and Hopes to Showcase his versatility

Written by: Zachary Greene (@zachegreene)

Indiana picked up a bright, young defensive tackle in Philip Blidi last week. Blidi has multiple years of eligibility left and an ability to be versatile for Tom Allen and Chad Wilt’s defense. He was recruited by Indiana and Paul Randolph out of high school and felt confident with his decision to play for the Hoosiers.

“First and foremost, the defense that Indiana runs is the defense that best fits me.” Blidi said. “They can really utilize my skillset. What’s important outside of that is the coaches. They really care about their players and really value their relationships. You want to be somewhere where they care about you outside of football. They are going to take care of you while you here.”

Blidi knew when he entered the portal that the Indiana football program is trying to build something special. Maintaining relationships and love for each other were two main traits that the program showed. Furthermore, Paul Randolph, who came to IU from Texas Tech, is one of the coaches who established a relationship with the young man out of high school.

“Coach Randolph recruited me out of high school. He is going to make me better as a man and challenge me to be the best player that I can be. I know coach Randolph and see that all the guys are the same. They all challenge you to be a better player and will try to add to your skill set. They really care about family, and it put ease to my decision.” Blidi said.

Blidi hopes to make an impact this season and grow his game with veteran coaches who know how to develop players on and off the field. That said, Blidi had this to say about how he’ll fit in with the defense.

“Coach Wilt’s defense allows you to make plays. It puts you at different spots in the defense. It really allows me to show my versatility. I am a versatile D-tackle. It’s an attacking defense. They're going to be a lot of tackles for losses and turnovers. It’s going to be a big thing for me this season.” Blidi explained.

Blidi learned about playing multiple defensive positions while at Texas Tech. In first season, the Red Raiders ran out three defensive tackles making him line up in multiple spots. This season, Blidi hopes to solidify playing time while showcasing his versatility.

“For me, my first year going into a 3-3-5 and then going into a multiple and playing multiple spots in a four-man front, I was able to see the spots that work for me.” Blidi said.

The Hoosiers open spring practice on March 4th.