Matthew Bedford Sets the Standard of Accountability and Leadership for Hoosiers

Matthew bedford returns to the field for 2023 Image: Indiana Athletics

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Matthew Bedford’s 2022 season ended before halftime of the season opener against Illinois. It was a devastating blow for a unit that would struggle for most of the next 11.5 games. The senior could have peeled off his pads and called it a night, however his team needed him. He stayed dressed and engaged on the sideline to do what he could to help pull out the season opening win.

“I know that I physically (couldn’t) go, but emotionally I'm still here. I'm saying like ‘I'm still able to lift guys up’. I'm still able to push guys. Focus on the guys that are having a tough time and help them through that.” Bedford said of his time on the sideline after getting hurt. “They focus on you. Going through adversity, you need to focus on the people around you not yourself.”

Bedford is back on the field as a fifth-year senior and the leader of the offensive line in 2023 and he is ready to be the leader IU needs.

“I've been itching to get back out there and trying to get back home on the field. Being next to Kahlil [Benson] again, seeing my guys and being comfortable and understanding the mission. I just tried to have a high attention to drill work, high attention to detail, making it look crisp and putting the fine note details on those things. It felt so great to be back out there.” Bedford said after the Hoosiers first fall practice.

Bedford is ready to set the standard not only for the offensive line, but the entire offense and hold people accountable to that standard.

Bedford told reporters that there is no excuse to not help the quarterback up or to run to the ball so it could be snapped quickly and do all the little things. There will be player led accountability as well.

“First off (if you don’t meet the standard), you're gonna hear it while you’re on field ‘run to the ball’ and then you get to the sideline readdressing but there's gonna be more so you got about 10 push-ups you got something physically remind you.” Bedford explained.

Indiana offensive line coach Bob Bostad is happy to have Bedford back as well saying, “It’s good to have him back. I never worked with him in the past, but it’s just really good to have him out there. I think he’s getting into it.”

The Hoosiers offense struggled mightily the last two seasons, mostly because the offensive line did not meet the standard that they need to play at to be a solid Big Ten group.